Curriculum

He stood by the freezer case

holding a Salisbury steak.

The lines across his face

were a map of some old ache.

In tenth grade he was a king

of dates and bloody wars.

Now he’s a fragile thing

walking through automatic doors.

A damp receipt stuck to his shoe.

His hand shook for the bill.

The man who knew history by heart

is just waiting for the world to be still.