Hopes of Their Future
A classroom full of the typical, jumpy, fourth graders at last sit silent and speechless
Green, brown, and blue, all curious eyes burned at me,
anticipating my answer
What I needed to say:
High school IS NOT all rainbows and puppy dogs
The day you walk in,
intimidation.
It will overcome your body,
unwilling to move.
Judgments,
of stares constantly burning at your skin
day
after day.
Who you act to be is not who you really are.
People change.
The boys who chase you around at recess trying to hold your hand will be on of two people,
self-absorbed guys who find their prizes in vulnerable girls, drugs, and drunkenness.
or
the Nobodies
The girls with ringlet pig tails tied with red ribbon on the end that blush as you try holding their hand at recess will be on of two people,
self-absorbed girls that will do anything, try anything, be anything just to fit in and be on top.
or
the Nobodies
Swarmed by thousands of peers,
you will be alone.
Not knowing who you are.
What I did say:
As you get your diploma, shake your principles hand, smile for the camera, and put your tassel to the other side, walking across that stage you will know:
who you are,
who matters,
and what matters.
I paused,
looking at the future victims of undiscovery. Their innocent faces overwhelmed with anticipation of the unknown. At once their silences broke, filling the room with hopes of their future.
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It's pretty sad but I like it! I like your variation in the shape of the poem (different # of lines in every spot). It's a good way to keep people's interest which it did for me!
ReplyDeleteThat's so true, when you are little you don't think anything like high school could be so horrible until you get there. My sisters are a lot like that.
ReplyDeletecool beans yo [:
ReplyDeletei love it highschool ain't the talk of the town these days.and middle schoolers are like naw it's fun....i love it yo.
It sent shivers down my spine, I really like the way you present the poem!!
ReplyDeleteI really like it a lot, but in line 18
ReplyDeletei think you mean one instead of on? and there's another line in there like that
and in line 3 and 12 you use the adjective burned maybe use a synonym in the one or the other?
good job iliked it!