Substitute

I stood as still as water in the doorway,

As the room grew smaller.

Your ghost greeted me in your Home Depot Office chair.

As it was being squashed by someone wearing all black. 

I sat down in my seat and started to play the game we were supposed to

My joy replenishing when we won.

But fail when being denied our winning prize of sweet Jolly Ranchers,

The sweet taste that I’d always assonated with you.

She tried to teach us a lesson that I didn’t understand.

Or, didn’t want to.

She tried to use examples that didn’t make sense,

But they would have,

If you were teaching them.

She told us to be “zen”,

But how could I be?

My favorite teacher isn’t here.