The Poetry Lesson Poem by Sheena Blackhall

‘5 minutes to chat to a friend'
I told them. ‘The theme today is reflection.
On someone with whom you've had a close connection.'

A black eyed boy with Byronic hair
Told of a runaway wheelchair. We had to laugh!
Another, spoke of Husky pups in Alaska.
Teenage banter flew like harvest chaff

So it went on at a tangent until
A tentative hand rose up,
Apologetically. ‘It's a bit deep really
When my friend was two, her father left
She's never seen him since.
She pretends he's there, all the time
Even a made-up father's better than none.'

The thin sun struggled to warm the chilly room
‘Is that what you mean, Miss, by the word reflection? '

I had opened a running sore with a single word
How deep and aching the cut of such rejection.