exploring the 5th grade history of penmanship

vignette

the cursive. step back. see me.

face so close to the page

I can sense the agony of its pulp,

fingertips at the silvery nib.

take a long look at the effort

to do the assignment;

to write a letter to someone in ink;

to anyone, to make someone

out of nobody if privacy's an issue.

there's a prescription for doing it correctly

in how to start how to proceed and how to end.

but I’m left-handed. that’s two strikes

against me in the crowded 5th grade field.

look how the wet ink smudges below the hand

of what’s already been accomplished.

mark's "D for neatness".

complain to who or what but the right-handed system of things.

—— the big finish:

except for the girls

I didn't like the 5th grade

except for the girls.