Behind the Boiler Room

Behind the boiler room
in the basement of the school
there is a small office with a desk
where the janitor keeps his dirty magazines.

Behind the boiler room
in the basement of the school
there is a small child, no more than eight
who grits his teeth and tries not to cry out.

Behind the boiler room
in the basement of the school
the child lies on top of the desk
and feels the janitor pushing into him.

Behind the boiler room
in the basement of the school
memories are being fashioned
smells and sights and sounds of childhood.

Behind the boiler room
in the basement of the school
the child learns about desire and self interest
about the scent of a man aroused.

Behind the boiler room
in the basement of the school
the child learns about sex and pain
and how they are linked.

Behind the boiler room
in the basement of the school
is where the child will still be
when he wakes up sweating thirty years later.