Kindergarten Recess
Poem by Karen Abeyta
NOTE: The following piece contains strong language and may be triggering for some readers.
Kindergarten recess––
Skip, jump, slide!
Over a swarm of busy bees
Miss Gloria did preside.
Miss Gloria stood reigning
with an eyeroll, giggle, wink,
missed three small boys scheming
up something you wouldn’t think.
Kindergarten recess––
Tag, ball, run!
Three naughty boys slithering
up behind me to have some fun.
Good ‘ol Miss Gloria
“Boys-will-be-boys” chiding
behind her tall black beehive,
three precocious boys a’ hiding.
Kindergarten recess––
Let’s swing to and fro!
Thrusting hips entrap, I
scream silent as falling snow
Miss Gloria, Miss Gloria
Please won’t you take a peek?
I smell his milk and cookies breath
my ear glued to his cheek.
Kindergarten recess––
Now it’s time to play!
I’m not sure what they’re doing
but I cannot get away.
Miss Gloria with beehive swiveled
allowed the boys to buzz
‘round my naïve honeycomb
she never saw it ‘cause, it’s
Kindergarten recess––
Let’s climb a tree!
I wish I’d smashed knuckles to teeth
or their crotches with my knee.
Even now I feel their breath
their voices always pushy
chanting aloud for all to hear
“I’m gonna get me some p––––.”
I didn’t even have a cat.
If you have experienced sexual abuse in any capacity, we encourage you share your story with a trusted professional. We recommend contacting RAINN. You can visit their website here or call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
KAREN ABEYTA
Karen lives in Vermont with her husband and (sometimes) her two kids who attend college. A true theology geek, she enjoys helping people understand the Bible. Her work has been published in Fathom Magazine, Heartstrong Faith, Sacred Stories Ministries, Saturday SOULfood (Living by Design Ministries), and Just Between Us (Summer 2022).
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