When God Shows You the Light

I wrote this poetic monologue when I was seventeen years old. It was part of a play I wrote and directed. It was published in a theatre anthology used in High Schools as a text book. The writing is not polished but the intent is heartfelt and I believe still relevant. Young Man: So they wanted to send me to a special school,see. Cause I wasn't as smart as the other kids. It wasn't that I was retarded or nothin' like that. I was just slower at learning than they were and my english wasn't so hot either,I mean you know the way I talk. Well I wasn't as smart as the other kids but I didn't want to go to no special school neither.No sir. So I begged the principle of the school to stay you know, "I got just as many thoughts as them other kids," I said "I just can't say them as well" I begged alright... but he wasn't going to change his mind. And I didn't go to that special school, no sir. I had too much pride for that,no sir. The kids and the teachers they used to make fun of me, they thought I didn't know but I knew. I use to go home crying and cursing god for not makin' me as smart as the other kids. But I don't cry no more and I don't curse god neither 'cause I found out something those kids and teachers may never find out. Fancy words and fancy thoughts don't mean a thing 'cause those kids and teachers they've forgotten all about the feeling of love. Love... yeah that's about the fanciest word I know, and you know I wish I could teach those kids and teachers about love, but I was slow in learning about school they're slow in learning about love. Hey you know maybe we should send 'em to a special school!