Image above by Chad MCail

Abecedarian for Higher Education

A news account some years ago said several
Bereaved parents formed a group,
Commissioned a report into student
Deaths. Why so many suicides
Entering the final year? Was it fear of
Failed exams, or as written in the note a
Girl scrawled just before an overdose – knowing
Her entire life was trapped in debt? No job
In the world would ever pay it off. She
Just preferred to sleep for good. Still, no one
Knows why the boy with a large allowance
Leapt from a nearby cliff in front of friends,
Most of whom were stoned, arrested at the scene.
No charges in the end. Police were called-
Out by the press, pilloried for weeks when
Parents made complaints, though every
Question was ignored about a boy who
Relished every breath, his father
Said at the funeral, using words
That seemed high flown – My son was an
Unrivalled scholar, not some
Victim of self-harm. He tried to carry on but
Wept into the grave, then went to
Xerox the report at home, sent it to the press,
Yelling in a camera – The tutors here are
Zombies who led my son to death.

alternate words for education
after Danez Smith

1. forbidden fruit for the enslaved
2. bible as their only book
3. prayers a way to spell out god
4. reading over master’s shoulder
5. sharing words inside the slave house
6. singing spells cutting cane
7. fire on a whip when caught
8. welt a sign the words go deep
9. blood as ink
10. finger as a pen
11. land a blood-soaked page
12. land sold
13. a far-off view
14. trees bearing fruit
15. starving as another eats
16. apple core thrown wide
17. tree growing from a core