In this world

In this world
these are all the sorts of crabs
we didn't know about
(says Ruby).

Crying crabs
mistake crabs and
paper clip crabs.
They scuttle scuttle scuttle
and steal paper clips.

The rule in this world:
you are not allowed to use
horseshoe crabs
for fishing bait.

It's sad: people are not
listening to the rules.
Like Magnus, who touched
the dressing-up during reading
and he touched it again
and he made a choice
and touched it
one more time.
He got into 10-50 trouble,
last-the-whole-year trouble.

It's sad that people don't learn the rules.
So they say yeah,
let's go out and kill
horseshoe crabs
and the god of sea
will get angry.

I'm allowed

I'm allowed to change my name
(says Ruby).

People will think
my name is still Elsie
but my name is Mabel.
I don't like names
that get older.

I'll have each name
for two school weeks
so my other name
gets new again,

clean, and not old.
Maybe I'll be
Ruby Mabel
Ruby Mabel Ruby.

We are going to learn

We are going to learn
how to be respectful
and inclusive
(says Ruby).

We are also going to learn
how to catch and kill bad stuff
like white tailed spiders
because we are playing school.

So if you have been inclusive
put up your hand
and we'll put your name
on this chart.

Very good, pink teddy bear!
I'm very proud of you.
You'll have a tick
for your name.

You are 65
so you are going up
to the highest level.
You are going to the Kiwi class.