SLAPS
then on Wednesday
I learn who
Shunta spreads the news
that it was
the fish-shop owner’s
youngest son
Yuki’s cousin
who set the fire
angry that his father
wouldn’t lend him
money to cover his debts
to a pachinko parlor owner
again
a whole day passes
without Yuki smacking me
a whole day when Yuki looks
not fierce but ready
to cry
Shunta milks it
tells of other times that son
was in trouble
drinking
starting fights
stealing
he says that
people say trouble
runs in that family
like a bad gene
all day long Yuki
trembles and fumes
a volcano
ready to erupt
then last period
when Shunta makes
one more
stupid wisecrack
about pachinko balls
Yuki stands
throws her chair
right at Shunta
then Shunta throws
his chair back
and we all duck
and move away
and the teacher hollers
and shoves them both
into the hall
we right the chairs
and sit still and jittery
in the classroom
as the teacher yells
and once
then twice
slaps
in Massachusetts
at my old school
some parents wanted
a no-touch rule—
no hugging
no holding hands
no wrestling or poking
no hitting
a rule that some teachers refused
and most parents ridiculed
as out of place
in elementary school
but inside the Dragon’s Mouth
I’d vote in a minute
for that no-touch rule
or at least a no-hit rule
some parents here say
words are not always enough
and even Yōhei, Shō, and Ken say
sometimes a teacher needs to slap
but I think really?