<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hey Annie,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I really like this poem, as it’s almost a flash fiction piece, telling a story in so few words. Thanks for sharing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Stylist <stylist-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ann Chiappetta via Stylist<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, January 5, 2023 1:34 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Ann Chiappetta <anniecms64@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Stylist] a poem<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To the Young Second Lieutenant Standing Behind Me in Line<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rob Greene<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>at the Keesler AFB Post Exchange in 1987 (Biloxi, Mississippi)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>No one looked after me or my brother back then, no CPS, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>no Social Workers, the SP’s couldn’t be trusted,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the off-base cops even worse.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When the P-EX mini-mart clerk told me<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I wasn’t supposed to be there<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and had to leave my Pork & Beans<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and bread on the counter, you caught up to me in the parking lot,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>my items in your tote bag.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I got caught stealing a sleeved stick of butter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the week prior, but today had returned<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>with the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin I found in the gutter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All I had was that and my pocketknife for opening cans and gutting fish,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the reason my privileges were revoked.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I wish I had answered your questions—What’s going on?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Why can’t you shop here? Where are your parents?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>before darting off into the night with the can and bread,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>dropping the piece of money at your feet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Copyright © 2023 by Rob Greene. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on January 5, 2023, by the Academy of American Poets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rob Greene<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rob Greene is the founder of the Raleigh Review and an assistant professor at Saint Augustine’s University. He lives in North Carolina.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Ann M. Chiappetta, M.S.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Making Meaningful ConnectionsThrough Media <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>914.393.6605 USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Anniecms64@gmail.com">Anniecms64@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All things Annie: <a href="http://www.annchiappetta.com">www.annchiappetta.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>