Any American High School

When the first period bell rings
one of the assistant principals
chimes in on the P.A.
with the obligatory moment
of silence followed by the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Everyone stands.

From that point on, rest
assured, we take great care
to indoctrinate no one. We do require
they stay at one desk for
the duration; raise hand
to speak; follow instructions;
use the e-hall restroom pass app
when they muster up the courage
to ask permission for their
bodily functions. Thank goodness

we don’t spend that time
indoctrinating. The Army recruiter
sets up tables at lunch.
A local pastor is welcomed in
to counsel a child he’s cleared
to talk to. Every afternoon there’s
fitness training for the JROTC.
No indoctrination here, thank
the lucky Lord. Once, a man
came to be celebrated for his
participation in the Iraq War.

He said the enemy over there
isn’t too bright. He said
it’d take 3 or 4 of them to add up
to the brains of one U.S. Armed
Forces man. A child asked a question
from the audience and he said
“I’m not a politician.”

Thank goodness no one at that speech
nor anytime after was subjected
to indoctrination. Some mornings
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
“gather round the pole” at 7:20,
just in time to show everybody
driving their kids or riding in busses
that they’re darn good nationalists
conflating their country with
religion. They’re doing
the right thing. Doing things
the way they’re supposed
to be done. Don’t let anyone
ever tell you the Good Lord
doesn’t bless this nation.

Steve Henn wrote American Male, Guilty Prayer, Indiana Noble Sad Man of the Year, and two earlier collections from NYQ Books. He’s finishing his 21st year teaching high school English in northern Indiana. Find books, poems, essays, etc at therealstevehenn.com.