SUPERNOVA

Astro,

I scan the room for watchful eyes.

Take a seat,

Dylan whispers happy belated birthday,

asks how I am,

says he’s left several messages,

he’s heard, he’s really sorry.

Tell him I’m fine, try to focus.

Mr. Lamb defines supernovas:

A rare phenomenon

involving the explosion—

The school secretary marches in,

of most of the material in a star,

resulting in an extremely bright—

hands him a note, leaves.

short-lived object that emits

vast amounts of energy—

He reads it.

Mira, come up here.

I can feel all of their stares,

walk quickly to the front.

Could the colleges know how badly I’m doing already?

Mr. Lamb’s face floats above

in a cloud of fluorescent light,

he whispers

Mira, your dad’s in the emergency room.

Go get your sister, here’s your pass.

Then, voice booming:

Class, turn to assignment 5B, and start working.