Disraeli's Dial
—For Syd Barrett
Damien Disraeli, Willow Glen's peroxide blonde
strolled beyond hallways, scribbled peace
signs and figurines
on random
schoolmate
desk
tops;
he curled
ringlets of
white hair in circles
when called on by female teachers
he imagined undressing in the cloakroom closets;
Humming lyrics from Pink Floyds hit single, "Arnold Layne,"
Damien fingered his cotton
undershirts like silk
lingerie
musing
on
his
highly
exotic
clothes collection; still,
neither English Lit. colleagues nor
café comrades shared Damien's wardrobe obsession.
