Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say
I.
Off to ballet wearing a pearly tutu,
Mother and father watching every twirl from behind the two-way mirror
Playing a pint sized guitar at the School of Folk Music,
Painting and sculpting with Nanny in art class,
Play date at the private academy,
Overseen by teachers with clip boards.
Consultant promises it will improve her profile
Essays and interviews
Applications and strategies
Almost three years old,
Seeking an elite pre-schools.
II.
On good days,
Mama will talk about the foods as she puts them in the cart,
Labeling fruits and vegetables,
Revealing their names.
Most weeks
She is distracted,
Tallying the items, deciding what necessity to live without.
