::02:10:08::

::: Paperclips :::

It was the teacher’s
Policy
To put Tape on the
Mouths
Of Students who
Talked
Too much.

The teacher put Tape
On the girl’s Mouth
But the girl removed
It, less than a minute
Later.

The girl continued to
Talk and Laugh
With her Friend
--So the teacher
Returned to the girl
Re-taped her Mouth
And threatened:
If you remove
This piece of
Tape, I will
Come
Over to you
And Staple
Your Lips
Together.

The girl’s eyes widened
Her Imagination
Went to work...

Thin metal
Piercing
Her Plump
Pink lips
As Blood
Dripped
Down
Her chin
And Neck
Staining
Her dress.

Then she
Awakened
From her
Daydream
Which revealed
Her Subconscious
Fears
And she chose
At last
To shut-up.

Then the little
Girl grew up
And she came
To the epiphany
That by far
She preferred
To gather
Her papers
And hold them
Together, using
Paperclips

Written by: ~ Rachel Eagle Reiter