Seven Goldfish" from Out Late: a memoir, a fiction
	  			by Larry Corse

Seven goldfish graced the window 
in the shaded classroom,
Bright water filtered the broken light.
His students delighted in his soft wit.
Mr. Frederick gently taught us how to feed the fish.

Told us stories of Greeks and snakes,
Showed us how to make salt maps of all the states.
His golden hair, combed perfectly in place,
His dark blue eyes, guarded by thin glasses,
A study in beauty and perfection.

Mr. Frederick coached the baseball team
And we beat Lee Elementary in the All-City League.

Mr. Giles remembers Saturday;
Mr. Frederick needed a ride to the school.
"Working on Saturday?"
And what work:
		 Papers stacked and neatly graded- 
	  Art work orderly displayed-
		 Red carnations on the table-
	  A small box of redhots on each student's desk-
	  Books rigid, straight, and dusted-
	  Next week's lesson plans 
      in the middle desk drawer-
	  Attendance forms ready to be marked 
		    with the black pen resting 
      parallel to the right edge-
	Near the carnations was the open box of poison,
		   The goldfish dead.
	Near the poison was the open box of bullets.
 He rested, still, quiet, 
 Till the janitor found him on Monday.
 They closed school that day 
      while Mr. Giles buried the fish.