The school turned sixty this year.
The only student
Slumps in his seat,
Not knowing what
To learn.

His days were the same.
Depression in class.
The school bell peal.
The best liked girls who never
Gave him the time of day.

Cafeteria food and Coke machines.
Faded plaques – top ten GPAs.
The good old days,
Before he had come.
Before the records were a shame.

Smallest graduating class,
They said.
Highest drop-out rate,
They said.
School pride is spoken a curse.

--

But isn't this my life?
Those ancient days
Still burn in my eyes.
Isn't this defeat
So stunning.

The school bell seems
An alarm clock:
ring, and no one
wakes?
Empty hallways echo.

Tell me no.
Don't let that
Be me, broken
In that seat. Don't let me
Learn alone.

These days, her voice comes through
A phone.
She says, you'll get out
Feeling new.
I say no.

I'm talking to myself.