The Last Ones To Know
&
Fourth Grade Drill

The Last Ones To Know


In Miss Langford's fifth grade class
at the old Benton School,
we could not have known
as we stood
hands to heart,
side by side,
voices lifted
to brisk November air.

We did not know,
as we pulled hands from heart
and clasped them over breast;
small voices lifted in prayer,
eyes shut tightly against
the approaching decades of our reform;

we could not have known,
we would be the last generation
to stand united in a small school yard,
heads bowed with innocence
under red stripes, white stars,
and God's blue heaven.



Shirley Alexander


© 2008




~~~~~~~~~~O~~~~~~~~~~



Fourth Grade Drill


Russia was going to attack,
and we were told to hide
under our little desks;
seeking protection
from atomic fallout.

In the basement below,
the janitor sat smoking a cigar,
knowing
he was safe from bombs
and children.



Shirley Alexander


© 2007

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