Missus Walker's Fence/Freundschaft Jesu

[joel]

When Missus Walker used to be our guide
at recess, bullies had to stand beneath
her schoolyard chain-link fence, await her grace
to take their place at play again— but I
was hardly any trouble and I lacked
much need for discipline and played alone
and quietly; I hadn’t many friends
except for Make-Believes and Let’s-Pretends
and Missus Walker’s Fence, where on my own
I sometimes stood and hid my loneness, backed
against self-punishments a passerby
might trust that I deserved— but there, that place
assured me company like Jesus’ wreath
of criminals who couldn’t leave his side.