Outhouses

Behind every rural school sat two small

structures, one for girls, one for boys.

Two-holers were common, a regular size

beside a smaller version, set atop a deep hole.

Woe to anyone who lost something…

A Halloween prank by the local young men

was to tip the outhouses over, or better yet

hoist one or both up onto the schoolhouse roof.

Farm dads would have to come and put

it to rights so the school day could begin.

In early years, the Sears Roebuck catalog hung

over a hook and was the paper of choice. The black

and white pages worked well, unlike the shiny colored ones.

Later on, the teacher obtained real toilet paper

and would dole out a certain number of squares.

Today, few rural schools remain, and of those,

I doubt if any use the outdoor privies.

Many are recycled and prized as Yard Art.