Swizzle Stick

Sock Puppets

My class of boys
hated school
could barely read
& had to Do Macbeth

so I modified
my curriculum
& our focus
was the three witches

of the opening.
We spent time
learning the lines
& learning to sew

buttons for eyes
onto socks.
The boys were
initially angry

learning girls’ shit
like sewing
but I insisted
they learn this skill.

We made witch hair
from steel wool
& sheep’s wool
& laddered stocking

& my tough boys
to my delight
played like happy
children with their witches.

When shall we three
meet again?
cackled the witchy socks
on their hands.

Years later I have lost
our short films
of Macbeth
Act I Scene I

but I have faith
that the boys
long past school
now

might have forgotten
Macbeth, but know
how to sew
on a button.