ON FIGHTS AND FASCINATION
Emily Griskavich
Gabrielle punched Sarah yesterday
In the parking lot after school.
Her fist connected three times
before the police liaison got there.
My students said it was about a boyfriend,
or a stolen walkman, or spreading gossip
or a grudge so old
that nobody, especially not the girls involved
can pinpoint its origin.
Last month, the liaison had to pepper spray
a gigantic special ed. kid who wailed on a guy
that made fun of him.
From the staff lounge, I heard the scream,
the thud as 6‹4" and 225 pounds
hit the dingy hallway tiles.
My colleagues and I
just listened to the moans
My eyes, it burns, let me go!
and the barks of stay right there, don’t move.
Completely unprofessional to go out and watch it,
but impossible not to be fascinated
by others’ suffering
while fearing it might become ours
Just like the day in ‘98
When my bio class
told me Emily your pothead brother
kicked the shit out of Cody Malone
during B lunch.
Was he high?
I heard the cops searched his car
and he had to take a piss test.
What’s his problem?
I still have no answers.
