-Michele and the Arena Girls. A dream in one act-

the girls remained
unimpressed.

they seemed curious, but

involved with themselves

more-so than a desire

for an involvement with us;

unaffected and autonomous. 

we fought one another
courting their attention.

this noontime they gather
at the schoolyard fence
near the woods,—
their starched dresses reflecting

their attitude toward
the recess-scheduled fistfight
between two
fourth-grade combatants.

soon the vanquished

is dragged away at their feet
by his attendants.
the victor continues to be dismissed.


It's old Mr. Coyte who's left to hose

the tarmac of the bloody arena down.

Michele Sperling

is standing alone by the stream

of water,

its spent blood flowing

to the narrow strip of grass

at the chain-

linked fence where it

submerges into the soft ground.

then Michele is seen running

to join her friends

on the other side of the schoolyard.

                                  Hugo A. Dubuque School
                                  Quequechan