Best High School Poems
help mrs. muse is gone and my mind is shooting blanks
my friend called inspiration is trying to walk the plank
motivation just married mr lazy
and confidence started acting really crazy
cousin common sense is on vacation out of town
and aunt intelligence is nowhere to be found
uncle rational is at the casino gambling his life away
and my best friend happiness never wants to stay
my neighbor opportunity doesnt knock on my door anymore
and my girlfriend love is really just a whore
my partner pride is always full of himself
and sister sympathy is busy with someone else
grandpa wisdom is smart enough not to say a word
and grandma compassion is seen but never heard
the only friends that ever come to town
is anger and disgust and they always hang around
my high school sweat heart infatuation doesnt really call
and my childhood friend imagination doesnt exist at all
Their lives begin, that special day
Your hardest job, is on the way.
Walking and pacing, all night long
Knowing that one day, they’ll be strong.
Watching them crawl, then walk and run
Treasure each moment, share their fun.
They grow so fast, enjoy each day
For sometime soon, they’ll move away.
Years of school, sometimes they will drag
We’re filled with pride, we parents brag.
Teaching our kids, always be kind
Lasting friendships, many will find.
Do as I say, not as I do
We all have said, our parents too.
The truth comes out, don’t cheat or lie
Don’t try and skimp, to just get by.
Take the right path, we try to guide
Sometimes they don’t, we let it slide.
Knowing they must, find their own way
Life is tough, on track they must stay.
Bumps in the road, many will hit
We as parents, just have to sit.
Learn from mistakes, it takes its’ toll
Their independence, that’s our goal.
The hardest part, is yet to come
When high school years, are said and done.
We’ve done our jobs, as best we could
We must let go, or so we should.
Give them their wings, and let them fly
As we sit back, and often cry.
Turning the page, is hard to do
Wondering if, they listened to you.
Reach for the stars, follow your dreams
It takes time, forever it seems.
Your heart will break, can’t let it show
It’s so difficult, letting go.
Thank you, Mr. Rogers (yes, his real name!)
for rescuing me from teenage purgatory.
Perplexed teenager, lacking social lumen
pulled C's in English, D's in History -
my dreadful retrograde trajectory
projected no collegiate acumen,
in prom discussions, practically subhuman!
Then, your poetical geometry
and sleek Cartesian choreography
became my sailing ship, and I, its crewman.
Derivatives soon danced in arcs non-static.
Pythagorean proofs helped me progress,
vectors resolved problems that once would vex.
Your agile algebra of joy quadratic:
my new hypotenuse of happiness
helped me to find myself... I solved for x.
Written 13 March 2020
Love was in the air when he laid eyes on her.
Childhood; elementary and even high school with her.
Walking towards her, he greeted her.
Anxiety spiraled as he hugged her.
Conversation grew deeper as he sat with her.
Wanting to get closer because he was falling for her.
Another woman called pausing the time he was having with her.
Knowing he had to answer; he stepped away and spoke to her.
She stated that something wasn't quite right with her.
She said that her stomach had been bothering her.
Now he's thinking back if he came inside her.
Thinking if she lied to him about her tubes being tied within her.
Does he blame himself for listening to her?
Knowing right from wrong and yet he can't blame her.
Does he blame the devil for allowing him to be intimate with her?
Is he not a human that makes mistakes just like her?
Begging God to make a way for him and her.
Asking God to forgive him for committing the sin with her.
God said, "relax my son, you were only dreaming of her."
It was the last year of high school and there was a lack of beaux,
But then I got an invite. Whew, that was close!
So now the Prom was coming and I was going to go!
Mom gassed up for the city, headed out with me in tow,
Big stores all hunched together on a tall and scary street,
One dress along a rack with just repeat, repeat, repeat.
But Mom found a creation in an entirely different place,
Moulded tulle and satin, fairy dust and moonlit lace!
I thought she was kidding though the thing was just my size.
I was worried; fairy tales don't often turn out to be wise.
And the price tag is ridiculous! I said Mom take a look!
She plunked it down determinedly, tore a check out of the book.
That left a lot for me to do. My looks are commonplace.
New makeup and new lipstick; how about new face?
Silken shoes, a tiny purse, it's a lot of stress
Just trying to live up to this fantastic dress!
Rhinestone droplets dangle dangerous from my ear,
My long hair piled up high. How much taller I appear!
Prom night came...Poor Tommy! I was done up to impress.
My hair swept up, my makeup on, long earrings and the Dress!
He stood there in the doorway, uncertain in his tux,
Black tie, stiff shirt; this is getting all too much!
The corsage he held between us was carnations glowing red.
He looked up cautiously and ventured; "Is that you, Bo?" he said.
+Her Spirit Sublime+
She knelt in God's marble chapel, in her uniform.
A suit of deep,forest green with fresh white blouse
honoring God, her King.
So young, she bowed her shiny brunette head in reverence,
Hearing the robins sing, that teenage spring, singing
in angelic consonance.
Her prayerbook of black leather, gold-leaf edges and
ribboned marker of red,
Made her realize as she stroked it, that is was only by God
was she to be led.
The delicate scent of candles that burnt so bright!
The artwork of mosaiced windows, sunlit-hued made her
feel heavenly light.
Her crystal, beaded rosary which transformed,the white marbled
walls, into a supernatural rainbow divine.
Grateful, to be in a school, that this memory still sings in her memory, sweet,alive and utterly, sublime!
11-30-2020
10:30am PST
**Poem of the Day**
12/2/2020
Dedication~ to my high school and religious mentors, who taught
me who runs this world! Thank you.
It's OK
that you don't have much to say
Your words are kept on paper
For your eyes to savor
It doesn't matter that your best friends
Are Agatha Christie and Emily Dickinson
It's alright that the phone doesn't ring
With silly chatter over pointless things
Don't be concerned with the prom princess
With perfect skin who looks flawless
You are not one of the sheep that blends in
You are more alive in your own skin
Of books, and writing, and libraries
They can keep their ugly judgments and drunk parties
You don't need doctors and therapy
Because you prefer anonymity
To toxic high school hypocrisy
You put yourself before contests
To see which boy likes which girl the best
You like yourself for who you are
Proud to be unpopular
Proud of your poetry, proud of your rhymes
Your unvalued hobby, your peculiar pastime
You like reading the thesaurus for fun!
Never apologize, never be done
You know
your old soul
Don't fall into the female curse
Of self-sacrifice, always love yourself, first.
7/17/18
Johnny was my best friend through our early teenage years;
Wherever one of us went the other could always be found near;
Until he found a girlfriend who soon supplanted me,
But because he was my best friend, for Johnny I was happy;
Johnny had a girl
He had a girl
Johnny had a girl
She rocked his world
Johnny had a girl.
Throughout four years of high school I was always the third wheel;
Going off often by myself, leaving Johnny with his girl;
They learned about biology outside the class room walls;
Johnny always had plans with her every time I would call;
Johnny had a girl
He had a girl
Johnny had a girl
Oh, what a thrill
Johnny had a girl.
One week before graduation, coming home from a date,
Johnny never saw the drunk driver until it was too late.
For three months in a coma, I sat by Johnny’s side;
I knew that when he woke up, someone had to tell him she’s not alive;
Johnny had a girl
He had a girl.
I took him to the gravesite so he could see it with his own eyes;
We stayed there for hours so Johnny could say his goodbyes.
Johnny got in his car that day and started heading west;
Nobody has seen Johnny since, I wish him the very best.
I’ve taken care of her graveside for thirty years and more;
If Johnny ever comes home again, we’ll be friends just like before;
Johnny had a girl
He had a girl
Johnny had a girl.
I stand at the front of the exam hall, which is in total silence.
Grey desks stretch out in neat rows -
they remind me of gravestones in the local cemetery,
with white faced students their unwilling occupants.
The only sounds that can be heard are the pages being turned over
and the scrawling of pens on the paper.
Exam invigilators creep around the room like mice,
their hawk like eyes ensure no one is cheating.
Suddenly a booming fart breaks the silence -
it sounds like a machine gun that has been fired in short staccato blasts.
We can clearly see the perpetrator as his face is as red as a raspberry!
Muffled giggles are stifled and silence is once again restored.
A true story!
Noise Contest
Sponsored by Shadow Hamilton
03~09~17
Though Santa never responded to pleas
There was just one gift on my list each year
A horse that could run at the speed of light
A bold little gal; I never had fear
With two high school friends I visited a ranch
To ride in 103-degree heat
Through the bramble bushes and prickly pears
Upon little “Misty” I took my seat
The Mustang Adoption Program’s success
Sparked ranchers from Tucson, Arizona
To give a home to a rust-colored mare
Many miles from my home near Daytona
Cryptic white markings graced Misty’s neck
Looked like words in Native American code
“She’s so small,” I whined, seeking to ride fast
But no matter, to the desert we rode
Even the roadrunners were envious
When Misty gained speed and hit her full stride
Warp speed! I clung to the saddle horn
As Misty passed larger horses with pride
My hat fell on a cactus, sweat filled my eyes
My life flashed before me, quite a surprise
It seemed like she had wings as we flew
Don’t be quick to judge a horse by its size
I thank Misty often for the ride she gave me
She fulfilled my dream and gave me a thrill
But on the news today a reporter said
Wild horses would now be rounded up and killed
I’m so grateful I had the chance to ride
A wild horse with spirit and awesome speed
But what will become of her ancestors
Misty’s now part of a vanishing breed
*For Frank's "One Standout Day" contest
by Carolyn Devonshire
I just got to the grave today, death was given to you by my infidelity.
Along the way alive, my soul was given death.
Thy Ishq ruined my mahi like this,
Your every axis raised me up
never ask you for dream love stories
Never wanted to love such fake love.
Did not know the consequences would be this
name of love will be murdered
You stab in the chest
And it hurts in the heart ..
Had made a spectacle in the poetic life.
The desire of the moment was made of corpse ..
Death came to love on that day, that I had made.
You were playing with heart and I was feeling love
dréams all got crushed - misunderstanding has gone away.
Dreams burn - they died
They became clean and became ashes
Who says the ashes are just human
I had seen dreams also being eroded.
The eyes that had seen love in the eyes had seen the goodness.
Why do you die every time I ask you ??
What is your likeness?
She said mine was my love.
She used to say "Mahi" to whom she had revealed.
Those last hopes were shattered by my breakdown.
Took the robbery in love's market.
Often what they used to say was eaten.
First of all, by making fun of it.
i always used to walk behind you.
And you keeps the infidelity behind you ..
In sweet sweet things, the poison went away.
My grave went deeper ..
He continued to poison, I used to drink
He kept kicking and I continued to die.
That was the fact that love was done.
Whom you called "mahi"
A movie, oh wow, when one need not be Woke!
A girl was a girl, a bloke was a bloke.
I forget I was born when times were free.
Not under pressure of societal perversity.
We had jobs, were not weird and went to school.
We had nothing free, we were not governments’
tools.
Remember when schools were open and all stores, too.
We were not Covid,freaked-out-masked fools?
Nor were our teachers the government’s tools!
Our parents taught us ethics and rules!
We did not live on cold social platforms.
We lived and loved in freedom, that was the norm!
One could tell clearly, who was a girl or boy.
There were no “man- buns”,a welcomed joy!
Hope America returns to that sense of joy.
When it’s acceptable to be the sex you were born,
either girl or boy!
Notes: Ideas from the movie.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, 1982
Sean Penn, Phoebe Cates, Jennifer Jason
Leigh.
You're smiling ...
I'm staring at you
I know you know that I know
That you like me ... that you REALLY like me
Wendy told me, and Linda told her
(After I had Dave ask Debbie to ask Linda)
So it might as well have been you directly ... yeah
I also know that you know that this is my favorite slow-dance
I made sure Dave hinted to Debbie that she tell Linda
'Cause Wendy had said that Linda told her it was YOUR favorite song
Well, your favorite slow-dance song
We have the same favorite fast song, too, "Ain't No Mountain"
But "(They Long To Be) Close To You" is finally playing
And when it started, you spun to find me across the gymnasium
(I was watching - Wendy told me that Linda told her to make sure I watch you)
Then you smiled, and I smiled, and now I KNOW we are true and steady
I KNOW it's time to make my move ...
The lights are low, mirror ball spinning
Sawdust has been spread on the gym floor
I've got my paisley shirt on, apache around my neck
Best bell-bottoms, big-buckle belt and boots
And enough Hai Karate cologne to seduce an elephant
But ... but ... but, my feet aren't moving!!
What's wrong?!?
I've planned this for weeks, and now I'm frozen ...
It's my braces ... Debbie told EVERYone that she cut her lip on them
Now I'm terrified that you might turn me down ... cuz of that
'Cuz last year Linda broke up with Dave just because he GOT braces
She never even kissed him with braces, but broke up with him ...
Just from the FEAR of cutting her lip!
('Course Dave is a power kisser, everybody knows that)
Still, I KNOW you like me ... and you ARE smiling ...
It's now or never, cuz the Carpenter's won't play forever
I feel a hand in my back - Dave, pushing me
Toward you ... across the floor
Braces be DAMNED - I'm making my move!
The night is OURS, Baby
And it's a groovy thing happening!
Yeah ...
"Why do stars ... fall down from the sky ... "
~ 1st Place ~ in the "Now It's Our Turn - DWM" Poetry Contest, Kim Rodrigues, Judge & Sponsor.
There are tears of some old memories
But joyful ones abound
Friends that shared my life awhile
I wish were still around
The sunshine slating on the field
Chewing on blades of grass
The unique sense of humor
That caused hilarious laughs
Bracelet strings a wish or prayer
Tied in every knot
Unanswered though those wishes
Treasured friendships never forgot
An old guitar, a favorite star
Best friends no matter where they are
Tucked in my heart forever, ever
Memories that perish never
As I remember, A whispered prayer
Of light, I leave on heaven's stair
My spoken prayers to God, the King
Where joyful angels fly and sing
Prayers for friends of yesterday
I cherish still in memory
Within my heart to stay
Being the shortest in my high school gym class
Attempts to play basketball brought no success
Broke my finger while trying to catch a pass
Leaping to take balls from tall girls? What a mess!
Always loved football, baseball and soccer too
But in basketball I succumbed to defeat
Just couldn’t get into it, that is true
Till Dad took me to see the Miami Heat
Startled he was, watching me jump up and down
Although my enthusiasm was contrived
The cheers of other fans my loud voice did drown
This was the last time I saw my Dad alive
I’m so thankful now that I went to that game
Dad was so grateful for these moments we shared
When I watch basketball now, it’s not the same
It was Dad and not the sport for which I cared
*Entry for Deb’s “Play Ball” contest