Number One At Last

NUMBER ONE AT LAST Crouched over a desk with knees tucked under Echoes of that old schoolroom haunt me still The teacher’s comments as loud as thunder It seemed to me I was put through the mill Vocal contempt at my quivering quill Always marked down across all the classes A record of failures and no passes But Autumn term and a new school beckoned My life changed when I was prescribed glasses I mostly came first and rarely, second