J.W. Surface

Sylvia Plath and Mathematics Worksheets J.W. Surface

At the flat top podium Bordered with worksheets. In the comfort of my classroom, With Sylvia between my hands And butterflies﹘ Or rather, Maniac bees﹘ In my stomach. Surrounded by young minds Eating up the poetry Like the cookies I baked them. And yet, Among these minds And worksheets, There is no room. There is no equation-filled board. No cookies For this after school club. No eager eyes upon me. No… In this moment there is just Sylvia And I. And her hard And her firm Words. The boldness of her voice Speaks through me, Guiding me along her syllables,

Insistent That respect be given To her bees, To her work, To her.