Aegis

I didn’t know its meaning or pronunciation. Misled either. I thought missled, as in Russia missled the U.S. while we slept. This was St. Brigid School, which is neither here nor there, having been bulldozed years ago. Vocabulary acquisition, such a tricky business. The sisters tried, but we were befuddled. Bewildered, too. Death and dearth. Cease and desist. And figs at snack time: When no one was looking, I squished mine in The Golden Book of Myths. For years I thought the sisters were sisters. It wasn’t their fault. Figs. Bulls, dozing. The age of innocence, the aegis of ignorance.

Photo Credit: Beret Olsen