One percent
My daughter stares at her test, another 99.
Darn, that one percent.
She has strived for perfection, probably since birth
seen as 100
A+ is measure as 95 and above.
but she wants to be in that one percent.
We often say you “Erin-ed” the test.
that includes the extra credit question,
making the grade
over 100.
As Christmas comes, the results will arrive
the scholarships and specialized tests
where that one percent can get a free ride
to go on to be the best of the best
one percent.
My daughter could become doctor or lawyer
or a marine biologist
washing 99 percent oil off of a bird
caught in another Louisiana slick.
How fast we forget
millions of gallons
What can one percent or 99 do?
She will try, with a pen snug as a gun
between her two fingers, testing
the one percent.