Marc O'Brien Poet Rhyme

The Extra Curricular Activity Social Study Lesson

They  

Play  

A game  

Tradition all the same  

School rivals are  

Attention needed headlining scholastic stars  

We both know our future vehicle assigned spots  

Transportation’s unique plot   

Mine by the theater door  

Yours 

Is where the players leave  

Everybody does believe  

Bonfires burn bright  

Such the peppy rally sight  

You cheer  

I hear  

Preparing for my new romantic lead role  

Rescuing you from the brisk emotional cold  

But my fright to go out on stage  

Due to maturity and age  

Keeps me in my fantasy isolated cage  

Morning comes soon  

Band plays enthusiastic supportive tune  

You cheer  

I hear  

Until the fake pistol sounds  

And we all return to equal classroom academic ground  

Yet something holds me back  

Manipulating my social strategic interact  

Tact  

I go home alone  

Not even a number to phone  

Following the turkey getting mauled  

Time to watch, more football  

Texas girls swing and dance  

Putting me in a tryptophan holiday trance  

When I glanced  

Uplifting older ladies pranced  

Happy I was  

Made me stimulated and buzzed 

Feeling good  

I went where I should  

Strutted through my theatrical wing  

Ready to sing  

Orchestra makes me a King  

Rehearsing our children’s Christmas show  

Contemplating what does the quarter back know 

Besides the number to dial  

On file  

To stuff his stocking
  
With a tight end who can do the blocking  

When she comes knocking  

Accepting an excuse rendered  

It is no longer fall, instead wintry December  

So, my dear  

Come over with your cheer  

Decorate my tree  

And you will see  

We both can park in the same lot  

Keeping our engines, running hot

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Alison A Smith September 20, 2026 at 2:50 PM A lively, rhymed narrative that cleverly turns the rituals of American school culture—football, rallies, theatre, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—into a portrait of longing held just beneath the spectacle. The short, stepped lines give it a cheer-like momentum, while the recurring “You cheer / I hear” captures the speaker’s distance from the action and the person they admire. The seasonal progression from autumn stadium lights to December’s warmer invitation gives the ending an especially playful, hopeful glow. Marc O'Brien September 20, 2026 at 2:58 PM Just wanted to say thank and the prompts are helping out a lot.