if at a certain point a comma heralds
an independent clause; however,
FANBOYS listed on a whiteboard
crammed with content but
lacking State Standards,
can be more than mere
mnemonic device:
displayed in accordance with Roy G Biv, for
it is one of few ways to show acceptance yet
still be on the payroll in Florida public schools, and
learning the difference between coordinate and
subordinate clauses, while
perhaps pointless
when counting a minute’s revolution on the clock-face or
the number of gunshots before you can attempt to get away,
might help students
to employ certain commas correctly, so
(safety, security, sustenance:
strangers in their strange land)
they can tether their thoughts
to boundless reality.
John Wise (he/ him) is a middle school English teacher living in Florida. Whether writing on his own or when working with his students, he promotes writing that is deeply rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and the sheer joy of creating. John has poems published in Midsummer Dream House, JAKE, Abyss & Apex, and MoonLit Getaway, among other publications. You can find him on BlueSky @central2nowhere.
Image: “Celebration Confined” by Alex J. Tunney
Pine Hills Review 