Like the pearl of a cut worm
dark in silver queen 
it was startling, that’s all 
“What are you thinking?” he said.

She remembered a boy
from high school who drew
detailed pictures of naked women
how he knew where everything went 

Now she felt the full charge 
of their futures
She never asked for that
For needy kids in canvas shoes
who had minor parts in school plays
and fresh hair cuts in highlight reels
they cut away to his mother
sitting with her hulk and hungry look
in the stands

She felt it then,
there in the downstairs dark room
with the janitor’s broom swiffling
in the hall and outside
the clang of the flag pole
who he would be someday 
and how he would love