Gary Galvin sits at the desk in front of me
Mr. Schwartz writes dates on the blackboard
Gary reaches a hand back
and shimmies it up my leg
I stand, extend my left arm like an eagle in flight
Hook its talons into Gary’s left cheek
Just as Mr. Schwartz turns around
to see history reversing itself
I am not called into the principal’s office
But into a flock of women with machismo
Ellaraine Lockie is widely published and awarded as a poet, nonfiction book author and essayist. Tripping with the Top Down is her thirteenth chapbook. Earlier collections have won Poetry Forum’s Chapbook Contest Prize, San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival Chapbook Competition, Encircle Publications Chapbook Contest, Best Individual Poetry Collection Award from Purple Patch magazine in England Competition, and The Aurorean’s Chapbook Choice Award. Ellaraine teaches writing workshops and serves as Poetry Editor for the lifestyles magazine, Lilipoh.