In 1987 while student teaching at Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor, I created this poem. Published in the San Fernando Poetry Journal, Volume IX, No. 2, page 18.

As a seventh grader I
had no fear of nuclear war.
I was a "Be Prepared" Boy Scout,
had my "Official" Civil Defense pin.

One day I listened to two of my seventh
grade students talking about nuclear war.
"Why learn,
when we won't be here
to do anything with what we learn?"
a tall black kid asked.
"I'll be here," the other student bravely
countered, wearing my psychically
molted skin.