I Sort of Do, Yeah

The turnaround of homework is quick.

Lucy lines up more and more customers,

everyone pleased with what I’ve produced –

someone even asking if I can put together a

poetry portfolio.

What about their exams? I ask.

What’s the point of all this if they fail in the end?

Lucy snaps her chewing gum,

hands me eighteen pounds and fifty pence

plus some history-homework guidelines.

I don’t really care about their lives. Do you?