“Mrs. Alexander” by Beebe Barksdale-Bruner

Artwork by David Laity

She loved English
on both sides of the ocean,
phrasing it with her whole body
and was something
for the boys to behold:
skinny skirt, ample skin,
dark cherry lips, spit curls.
I imagined a goldfish
swimming in the clear liquid
of her plastic high heels.
Red lacquered finger
pointing, she would
glare over us
as perspiration locked us
waiting for her finger to spark.
The high-water nerd
in white socks spoke up,
so eloquently energized.

 

 

Beebe Barksdale-Bruner has an MFA in poetry from Queens University and a forthcoming book from Press 53 in 2007.