Day 29

 Day 29, Albatross

In elocution exam, level 3

She recited the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, 

stood in the arc of sunlight in the salon

of the old Foundlings school,

a sea of polished floorboards, shrinking

She saw the words scrolling in her head

and at the 'Albatross' the bird itself appeared

absurdly grand and white in the airless room,

its feathers shedding, aftermath of pillow fight

Circled without landing- years and years at sea

and raised its neck, opened up its voice to shriek. 

The words stuck in her throat, the rite

and rote faltered 

All this fuss, just to smooth her accent,

and her hesitation, the sharp edges of which, 

they said would hang around her neck.

The albatross still flew