School Rules

Books and pens and scratching chalk

Gotta think but you’d better not talk

Stop that running. Can’t you walk?

You must obey the rules.

Rewrite this page – and keep it neat.

Please don’t fidget with your feet.

Please sit properly on your seat.

Don’t you know the rules?

Perhaps you did not hear me mention

that you have to pay attention?

If you don’t you’ll score detention

writing out the rules.

Writing rules? I’d like that gig.

Creative writing’s what I dig.

Woo hoo! Stand back for something big

when I write the rules.

Kate O’Neil

• Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #4