Spotlight, center stage:
A sea of red brick,
innumerable spots of
rejected, dried gum,
and, wafting through the air,
the smell of fish and old McDonald’s.

Scene:
a crowd of freshmen,
aimless as
a group of skittish pigeons;
red lanyards sporting new I.D.s,
school maps, schedules,
complete with nervous chatter. 

Scene:
Second year, proud
to no longer be a freshman;
rebellion, friends, enemies,
slacking off- college is ages away.

Scene:
The hardest year, they say,
got to look good for colleges;
faux maturity- you’re not a child anymore.

Scene:
Yes, you are still a child,
hold onto that feeling;
you discover that they’re wrong:
this is the hardest year,
this year you realize
you have to let go.

Spotlight fades on a sea of red gowns

exit all