The Dunce He says no with his head but he says yes with his heart he says yes to what be loves he says no to the teacher he stands he is questioned and all the problems are posed sudden mad laughter seizes him and he erases all the words and figures names and dates sentences and snares and despite the teacher’s threats to the jeers of infant prodigies with chalk of every color on the blackboard of misfortune he draws the face of happiness Translation: Lawrence Ferlinghetti