Dismissed
a poem

Neverending lockers glowing like a brush fire. Each separated with a fine sepia line that at times could be jimmied with a protractor. Slowly increasing digits to infinity. Hinged on wires above, years encased, glass-pressed faces sporting period trends.

Checkered teal tiles extend throughout the cafeteria. Formica surfaces, like lifeboats they hover. Royal blue plastic chairs placed in formation, some tables carry more or less depending on status. An unplaceable space for eyes to graze, while bodies digest.

The backwards illuminated path from “Poltergeist” leads me toward the gym. The air is heavy with a haze of floor polish and sweat. Bleachers line the walls. Their steel catacombs contract, waiting for the next event. Rolled mats invoke fear of rope climbs and backflips.

Unshielded and exposed, these walls lack sympathy. Time looms overhead while memories stain, mingling decades and blurring the lines.