Marilyn

Table after Table

I wander between the tables on art
Glancing down at everyone's drawings
Except Marilyn's
I daren' t go near her

Because she might see me
Or worse
She might talk to me
Or worse
She might like me
Or worse
She might not

I absent mindedly
unfold a paperclip in my hands
as I walk
Table after table
Drawing after drawing
All variants
Of the same thing
All telling similar stories

Marilyn stands up,
glancing at the clock
Floats to the cupboard
And tosses her paper in the bottom shelf
Where no one puts their paper

She swings her backpack into
One shoulder
Snatches her camera bag
Off the table
Checks her ear buds
Pushes in her chair
And walks to the door

Same routine
Every other day
Every art
Same routine

She chats with Avva at the door
Listening to music
Probably pop
My backpack is near hers
At the empty desk
The only desk
Near the door

I walk towards the desk
Determined
I grab my bag off the desk
And walk away

I can hear the music
Playing from her ear buds
And I recognize the song
Immortalized by Disturbed
Good taste
Not pop