School
- Keith Trayling

- May 12
- 1 min read
Updated: May 16
MY school report didn't say life was short
IT said,'Could always do better'
Never grabbed my attention, always end in detention.
"Don't you care?" I replied, "Whatever"
Then I had time, the world was all mine,
They never taught me that.
So I played the fool as a general rule.
At the back of the class I sat.
Latin, taught with a stick, choose thin or choose thick
Bend over boy, touch your toes.
A status mark in the class, those weals on your arse.
The resentment just rapidly grows.
I finally got out, with a roar and a shout.
Look forward, never looked back.
I've won and I've lost, soaked up th cost,
But enjoyed it and that's just a fact.
I didn't like school.
.




You and me both, mate
As a regular recipient of the cane at school I can relate to this. Still , it shaped my view of the world and made me always want to question authority so every cloud…..nice work
Teachers must learn many skills to keep the student's attention. Corporal punishment is not a skill. Keith, your poem was well-written in a non-accusatory way.
As a teacher this saddens me but as a poet this is brilliant.