After math came lunch
Recess then the rosary
Classrooms full of boomers
Before we knew we had boomed
Before we bloomed

Wooden desks in precise rows
Uniforms neatly identical
Two feet on the floor
Bodies and faces forward
Both hands on the desktop
With the rosary

One nun walked the halls
To ensure order
While the others ate

We stationed a lookout at the door

When the monitor was down the hall
We rosary raced
HailMaryfullofgracetheLordiswiththee

As the monitor drew near
The lookout returned to her seat
And we slowed to a drawl
Blessed…art…thou…among…women

There was no reason to do that
No reward
Only the possibility of punishment
If caught

No reason except we needed it
That small measure of control
That small rebellion
After math, after lunch, after recess