On the State Mandated Moment of Silence in Illinois Public Schools: A Terzanelle

just what is needed—to take the attention away
from the half that won’t graduate, the already deprived,
the prophets in Springfield have been busy today,

already half asleep, in class half alive,
the moments add up to years steadily taken
from the half that won’t graduate, the already deprived,

reading, writing, arithmetic—a Trinity forsaken,
in silence each morning, they stand misled
the moments fade into years readily taken,

if God is a textbook, then God is dead
not computers or books—but prayer we seek?
in silence each morning, we stand misled,

the earth shall be inherited by the poor and meek—
those blesséd souls whose minds we’ve failed?
(not computers or books—but silence we seek?)

in lieu of action, our leaders have unveiled
just what is needed—to take attention away
from the blesséd souls whose minds we’ve failed,
the prophets in Springfield have been busy today.

Author: Laura Stidham

Student - English: Literature

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