L Milton Hankins Poet Rhyme

The Cauldron of Life

I remember standing proud in the shadows
Observing those who were belittling me,
Their insults sometimes piercing like arrows
Wondering how different our futures would be
They were the jocks, I, the consummate geek.
Oh, how I wanted to be one of those fellow
Football-players strong, they saw me as weak
They were ironclad, and I like a marshmallow.
When academic standings were announced,
My name always found its place near the top
After school I could count on getting pounced,
I thought the intimidating would never stop.
When I returned for our twentieth-class reunion,
My classmates took note of my achievements
With my tormentors there was no communion,
No one celebrated their calamitous life events.
I felt so disappointed life was passing them by,
For they had every opportunity for success
I wondered if somehow strength did not apply,
But, in the long run, they seemed not in distress. 
It is true that it takes all kinds to make a world,
There is room for both the jocks and the geeks
Think, we are all in the cauldron of life swirled
And none of us deserve being treated like freaks.

written February 27, 2022

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Caren Krutsinger February 27, 2022 at 3:49 PM The cauldron of life turned out well for you my friend. "After school I could count on getting pounced, I thought the intimidating would never stop." This is sad. L Milton Hankins February 27, 2022 at 5:00 PM Oh, my schooling was a love/hate relationship. I loved learning; I hated going to school and facing the torment every day because I was the "geek." When I was in high school, I thought school would never be over so I could get on with my life. Now, I look back on those years and realize how vital they were to everything I've become and everything I believe in. This poem expresses a lot of that.

Ilene Bauer February 27, 2022 at 12:44 PM i love the message of your poem, milton - "there is room for both the jocks and the geeks" so we should all be more tolerant of each other. well stated! L Milton Hankins February 27, 2022 at 1:01 PM I was reflecting on my life growing up, realizing that I had done well despite the typical problems of a growing teenager. Some things we simply grow out of. Thanks, Ilene, for your thoughtful response.