The new teachers wanted to hire a male teacher
He will be able to control them, they argued.
He will be forceful, they will listen to him
Some of us who have been around awhile
Tried to tell them that gender does not matter
But who are we? Old dinosaurs, who are invisible.
So, we got outvoted and they hired Mr. Mumbles.
On the first day the second graders stole his lunch
Burned his briefcase and put thumbtacks in his fanny pack.
He thought he had misplaced his phone, but we knew
The seven-year-olds probably had it.
He had to pay $150 to have a new car key.
"Hiring a male teacher fixed everything," I said to another dinosaur.
We laughed all the way out of the school building.
Categories:
outvoted, satire, school, teacher,
Form: Light Verse
They fortified themselves into an Alamo of their own making
Walled themselves to keep the weird one out –namely me.
I thought it was brilliant, and it was totally unexpected.
I knew them, and had no idea they were this creative
I had grown up with them, in spite of them, fading them.
My little sister wanted a window, but she was outvoted
They had dusted off their sandals, they wanted nothing to do with me
I had been born an interloper, and had remained an outsider all my life
Which was okay with me, for I never felt less welcome anywhere
Okay, maybe one place, but that was just for a couple of seconds.
Finally my little sister escaped the family status quo
She had never believed in my evilness, for she knew me
She remembered some good things; maybe all good things
I had adored her, and frankly, you cannot fool a child.
She looked me up, and we began a friendship.
It was an opportunity for me to worm my way back.
But I was an eagle now, no longer a worm,
So I allowed the walls to remain tightly bound shut
Glad she had created a door though.
Categories:
outvoted, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form: Narrative
They fortified themselves into an Alamo of their own making
Walled themselves to keep the weird one out –namely me.
I thought it was brilliant, and it was totally unexpected.
I knew them, and had no idea they were this creative
I had grown up with them, in spite of them, fading them.
My little sister wanted a window, but she was outvoted
They had dusted off their sandals, they wanted nothing to do with me
I had been born an interloper, and had remained an outsider all my life
Which was okay with me, for I never felt less welcome anywhere
Okay, maybe one place, but that was just for a couple of seconds.
Finally my little sister escaped the family status quo
She had never believed in my evilness, for she knew me
She remembered some good things; maybe all good things
I had adored her, and frankly, you cannot fool a child.
She looked me up, and we began a friendship.
It was an opportunity for me to worm my way back.
But I was an eagle now, no longer a worm,
So I allowed the walls to remain tightly bound shut
Glad she had created a door though.
Categories:
outvoted, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form: Prose Poetry
Let's add some Christ Child and Santa
But the class reunion is in July!
And we had one member of our class who was not Christian.
We are tired of the red white and blue.
We want red and green.
In the winter when everyone returns it is too cold to visit.
But Christmas time is so beautiful!
I was outvoted. The committee of six not counting me
Decided we would have a Christmas extravaganza as our theme.
I thought it was the silliest thing I ever heard of,
But everyone arrived in red and green, and we had tinsel
and a Christmas tree, and there were elves and three Santas
The only member of our class who was not Christian
had married a Christian woman and was now Christian
Best time ever. Best reunion ever.
A beautiful evening. We all sat outside and sang carols.
Loving the fact that we were all still living after all these years.
The gift exchange was hilarious. I went home dancing and singing.
So glad I had lost the vote!
Categories:
outvoted, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form: Free verse