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A scene from my Classical Education

Enda Boyle

Picture an eight-by-four Mock-Edwardian school library,
the shelves made of black-glossed Mahogany wood.
The walls bare save for four copper-framed portraits
of bald or greying dudes in black and lavender
vestments, their eyes permanently cast downwards
watching against impiety, immodestly and rowdiness.
From the Greek and Latin stacks I took down two books,
Sallust’s Catiline’s War and Cicero’s Letters to Atticus
both hard-back brown leather Everyman’s editions,
Once I found my books I returned to my desk near the back
ready for an afternoon’s monastic study .
After ten minutes my bubble of concentration was ruptured
as I caught sight of the deputy headmaster sleuthing though the desks
trying to sniff out pupils with Mobile Phones, MP3s and sweets.
On arriving at my table he stopped to examine the books I had
fixing his eyes on Sallust and Cicero he nodded in dismay
leaning in he whispered something about a better translation.
No sooner had he left than I heard a buzz in my blazer pocket
discreetly glancing at my phone I saw the message from Amy
inviting me to spend the afternoon in a nearby public park.
Reluctantly I declined sending her a picture of my notes
With a quote from Cicero in it
“We may, indeed, indulge in sport and jest after our serious task is finished”.
To this I received a photo of Amy lying in a field of daisies
on a green patchwork blanket holding two ninety-nine ice-cream cones
after this I left my desk putting the books in the math section.
Leaving the library I went to the carpark and leapt over the barrier that divided life and work

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