Valeria

Valeria

"You better use that sc'atch paper, now"
     She warned, with feigned alacrity,
"I don't wanna see no mess."
     "Don't come in here with no foolishness."
     "C'mon, now, show yo' work."

Linking twenty bussed-in kids, mostly
      white and mostly lousy with math,
To Euclid: the street off Keech,
      She was the curvy embodiment
      Of its Greek-honed hero.

Word problems, in this sweet world of Slate,
     Chalk, sweat, unhidden erections
And harsh, innocent cruelties,
     Faded behind stifled chuckles and
     Algebra: its own sake.

Day's end sneakings back for extra help,
     Lips parting, white and gold-toothed grins,
She taught more than "solve fo' X."
     She shared lilac-wrapped humanity
     Within tight, buxom hugs.

That we cherished but dared not admit,
     Re-ordering operations,
 As our A-D-Ds allowed:
     Latch-keyed, lanky, and fearing failure:
     Always show our work.