-Miss Wardell the music teacher-

Miss Wardell’s wide girth

served her stability as the beam of the boat

serves the boat in turbulent waters.

from her pitch-pipe

stains in stale red lipstick pressed

selected pitch

as each hole produced

its unique note of sound.  

the lower registers resonated

within the human breast.

the highest pierced the ears of dogs.

Miss Wardell sweated profusely

and the space between her nostrils and upper lip

where a stand of little black hairs grew stiffly

was dotted in beads of moisture resembling dew-

drops found on rose petals, but not as sweet.

from the Hugo A. Dubuque School archives,

 Fall River / c.1954