Green and yellow buses belched us out
Like bits of unwanted laundry
At the gates of the Guggenheim Dental Clinic.
Matron marched us solemnly
Up groaning marble steps
To the Coat Room
Where she administered a box on the ears
And a coat check based on your school colors.
"But I'm not from around here," I pleaded-
these were all public school kids.
I went to catholic school.
In fact, was the only one
Who did.
Matron's eyes turned wolfish
As she handed me a coat check
She fastened in the shape of a crucifix
And I prayed to it that all the drills
In the place had gone on vacation.
Ron Spurga grew up during the anti-war movement of the 1960's and worked as a community organizer on Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign. He subsequently founded L.E.S.C.I.A., a political satire theatre company which is producing his latest play about the aftermath of 9/11, "Alphabet City." His poems have been published in France and in the Netherlands.