Lessons Not Learned

Lessons Not Learned

by Dan Shapiro


1. She scolded us for defining shapes by saying what they’re not.
A circle is not a square, but a horse and blue are not squares, either.
2. The children’s game Apples to Apples defines fat as not thin.
When we play, I match horse with fat because blue is not a noun.
3. I asked you why you stay, why you put up with what this is. You’re not unattractive,
you said, cantering from romance to trash-talk the moon for not being blue or a circle.


-Refers from the word “defiant” in the poem Reverse Psychology by Simon Cowan