Ernesto

“Absolutely not!

You can’t let him in.”

            These words came down

            from the top.

Ernesto burned his bridge

            After just two weeks

            last year.

Sitting backwards on his chair

Loudly scoffing at the rest.

For civility he had no clue.

With my softest firmest words I guided,

            and then began to plead.

Abstinently ridiculous this scene became.

            Everyday of two weeks.

“OUT!” I shouted!

And everybody jumped!

            Except Ernesto.

            He grinned.

            I didn’t.

Softly. “Pick up your things.

            Get out of my class.”

Slowly. He moved through the door.

            To see the dean.

            To throw stones.

            And seek revenge.

OUT! That was the final word.

His application today showed

            He was trying to cross

            the bridge he burned

            last year.

I hoped they’d let him in.

But,

“Absolutely not!

You can’t let him in.”

            These words came down

            from the top.

Dayvid Graybill © 2013