KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

Not like any patina-ed, pigeon stained giant in a text book
with an arm raised like she’s going to war,
here at the bus loop, the car lot, the playground stands
an Adidas-clad woman holding a Hello Kitty keychain
and a #2 pencil. In her classroom, there’s a lesson
on please and thank you. In the hallway, they practice
silent lines. Even though her eyes droop like wet bags of tea
and her back feels like a lawn chair supported by duct tape,
her arms are open, and from her mouth she commands:
“Parents, keep your emails. Give me your cooperation and support.
Students, practice spelling your names for homework.
Turn in your drawings, my crayons, your IEPs
and Media Release Forms. Don’t forget to drop 
your permission slips for the field trip in the mailbox
on my door. Have a nice day, Suneal. I love you too, Mikia.
Tyler, keep your hands to yourself. Goodbye, children,
go home, please. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.
Come hungry, children. Tomorrow they’re serving rice and pork.”

Parker Logan is originally from Orlando, Florida, but he currently lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where is finishing his final year at LSU earning his MFA in creative writing. His work can be found in SplitLip, Ghost City Review, and is forthcoming in Gulf Coast and Pleiades. He is the current editor in chief of the New Delta Review.