My friend most beautiful
sat shoulder to shoulder with me
after the lights went low
and the show began.
We took in ballad after ballad
the tender voice hour after hour
and a spell was cast.
The song of Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
spoke to me— I could almost cry.
I glanced at her
and she looked straight ahead.
This was the night I wanted for months
although we had some casual dates
o the times when I pleaded for more
but tonight she was so tender
when I put my arm around her shoulder.
I knew the night was good for her
when we stepped out the elevator
onto her dormitory floor
and the music resonated in my mind.
The taste of her kiss was so sweet
on that special night.
She must have known
it was our last.
Walking off a High School wedgie,
Just digging out my underwear.
Lodged tight in the crack of doom,
These days it seems they're always there.
This daily Freshman ritual,
I try to face with chin held high.
I laugh so they don't see my pain,
But it's hard for me not to cry.
Ruffed up by every Senior,
I've got to stave off that fear look.
They take my picture on their phones,
Hope it won't be in our yearbook.
I know there's not much I can do,
It's time I should take a stand though.
But since I'm only five foot four,
Maybe I should go commando.
(*This piece may have a limited audience - but don’t ALL my pieces??*)
Some of the best advice from my Fro-Co (seniors who volunteer as freshman advisors):
If you’re stuck in your room (due to the pandemic) open the windows.
Exercise every day - outside if you can (pandemic).
YOU, ain’t ALL THAT. Get used to it - maybe you were hot-crap in high school - but not HERE. You got a 1590 SAT and a 34 ACT score?
Congratulations, you’re one of the average students.
Never, ever, EVER miss a class (as a freshmen).
Visualize your morning the night before and GET UP EARLY.
Time management - TIME MANAGEMENT - TIME MANAGEMENT
Complete assignments as soon as you can.
You’re going to have 4 to 6 hours of homework every night - STUDY
Procrastination will kill you - STUDY
Go to events - be social - but leave early. “Popularity” isn’t important here - this isn’t high school.
Don’t expect to meet besties right away.
Don’t go to frat parties alone.
Hookup culture can be toxic.
Don’t date seniors - just don’t.
Never get a razor cut, your ends will split.
Sandra is early
She creeps in
sits in the last seat in the back
her head is down
she wants no one to see her
luckily no one ever does
Chuck is loud and proud
coming in surrounded by his posse
They also march to the back
One yells at Sandra to move
She moves to the last chair
without speaking or lifting her head
Terry sits in the front row
no one knows if she is a she or a he
his/her hand is always up
he/she knows all the answers
if the teacher stops calling on him/her
he/she yells out the answers
English 101 Freshman Year 2019
Encounter with Christ by faith* yielded first spiritual poem.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
October 4, 2020
1st place, "How My First Poem Was Born" Contest
Sponsored by JCB Burl; judged on 10/8/2020.
THERE ONCE WAS A BOY WHO WAS A FRESHMAN
WHO’S STUDY HABITS WERE A MESS-MAN
TOM WOULD NEVER GRADUATE FROM YALE
HE WOULD SURELY WIND UP IN JAIL
ALWAYS HIDING AWAY FROM THE ARREST MAN
QUOTE:
" I'm so smart, I can fool myself,
but I'm too stupid to figure me out."
Warner Baxter 2015
on a field trip freshman year
the boy
in special classes walked
up the muddy trail.
he
walked on the side,
balancing on the dry stones
aligning the path.
he followed some
acquaintances.
an old coat and
sweatpants with worn elastic
warmed his bones in the gray
mists. bus pass in his pocket
and a few coins, he thought
about lunch - not the rocks he
would have to climb.
his shaven head chilled with drips
from the pines above, the path
narrowed and inclined
between two boulders.
he struggled up the path,
getting dirt on his
snow white shoes.
each stroke of greased fingers on the mohawk
was a result of a genius work of art
an outlet where my soul barely peeks
yet you cut with your hypocritical shears and your rusty hand
and you call it discipline
and you call it concern
I call it ********
the shadows on my
eyelids were davincis and picassos
sketched in a magnificent representation
of inner self which you all want to see
yet suffocate by your rotten curricula
and you call it quality
and you call it excellence
I call it ********
the silver that glitters in these ears
conceals the tortures of my youth
the horrors that dwell in my every sleep
yet you rip from my skin you are unworthy of touch
and you call it decency
and you call it suitability
I call it ********
An Entrant into SKAT ACE's POEMS OF ATTITUDE Contest
Another school and then its of to the big times
Its time to give up the immature little crimes
Time to saddle up or get left its you choice
Its time to find your voice
You only have one so make it loud and clear
Dont be afraid of the people you used to fear
Its a new school and you will find your place
In this thing that is nothing but a rat race
You will see what is to come
You will follow you heart like the beat of a drum
When all is said and done think about this then
The start of a new your finally a freshmen
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