Detention at Luther North

When I was a high school student, I did things like violating dress code

sometimes, to rebel, to show that I didn’t care

and a portion of the time this led to- DETENTION.

The first time it was a blow to my pride, but after a while,

it wasn’t a big deal- especially because of how unexpectedly entertaining

it could be-

At detention my spot in the upper left corner of the room fit me well-

at Luther North; the girl who I transferred with, whom I did

not know well and who had a reputation,

threw her head back with laughter and clapped after

“The Car Wash” was referenced, and the proctor told stories about punk kids

who did things like deal drugs, and my fellow detainees

 sat like raindrops on a leaf

like those leaves that shimmered, in the breeze outside,

quivering in front of the window,

and the main office was across the hall, the spot where I would go

sometimes to find refuge from bullies,

and the Russian girl that sat, front row center, smiled too much,

and the situation made me wonder if I would ever befriend these people,

being a junior year transfer student, but I couldn’t have had more fun,

during detention: a chance, a place, where one might be able to meditate, if

one had a peace of mind (that I didn’t)