Norman in the back row of the class

you had to keep

an eye on

Norman, the kid in the back

row of the class.

you never

knew what he might say

or do.

always blurting out

a crude joke,

or making noises

with different parts of his body.

sometimes he'd

punch you in the hallway,

just for fun.

he was the wild card in the class.

a strange bird.

so it was odd

when i ran into him

years later, wearing a bow tie

and married to the English

teacher we both

once had.