Mastery

how are we ever
going to get concentrated
while our thinking fluid
spills out all over and we
have no cons son tration?

maybe the child cycologist
will help. she’ll probably
play some smoothing
music that will ease the
stinging arrows from our
trains of thought

then we’ll go home and
live happily ever after
but before that
we’ll eat our dinner










Sharon Ankrum has been writing for years, and has recently begun sending work out once more. Earlier, she was published in The New York Quarterly, The Ultimate Chicago Poetry Anthology, and New Texas ‘92. She grew up in Southern California and has lived in New York City, Oak Park, IL, and now San Antonio, Texas. This poem is a mix of words from essays by kids for language arts writing prompts and Ankrum’s additions and reactions.