Occasional Poem

Ms. Marcus says that an occasional poem is a poem

written about something

important

or special

that’s gonna happen

or already did.

Think of a specific occasion, she says—and write about it.

Like what?! Lamont asks.

He’s all slouched down in his seat.

How about your birthday? Ms. Marcus says.

June, Lamont says. As a matter of fact,

he says, it’s January and it’s snowing.

Then his voice gets real low and he says

The whole class looks at Ms. Marcus.

Some of the kids are nodding.

Outside the sky looks like it’s made out of metal

and the cold, cold air is rattling the windowpanes

and coming underneath them too.

I seen Lamont’s coat.

It’s gray and the sleeves are too short.

It’s down but it looks like a lot of the feathers fell out

a long time ago.

Ms. Marcus got a nice coat.

It’s down too but real puffy so

maybe when she’s inside it

she can’t even tell January from June.

Then write about January, Ms. Marcus says, that’s

But she looks a little bit sad when she says it

Like she’s sorry she ever brought the whole

occasional poem thing up.

I was gonna write about Mama’s funeral

but Lamont and Ms. Marcus going back and forth

zapped all the ideas from my head.

I guess them arguing

on a Tuesday in January’s an occasion

So I guess this is an occasional poem.