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Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

0 posted 2001-02-12 03:44 PM

Unsaint Valentine’s Day

February 12th, 1967

This public school is so different
from Saint Brigid’s,
the girls that are popular
wear groovy clothes
(no maroon uniforms
or saddle shoes here),
and a code:
never rat on another kid,
(it’s a sin to tell a lie,
a really bad one
if your teacher happens
to be a nun).

It will take me a while
to learn to fib,
today I made David Ring cry
when Mr. Killjoy asked
me if it was David who
threw the spit wad.

Brenda Johnson pulled my hair
as I left class.
They are calling me
names.

February 13th:

Mike Villaran
chased me all around
the playground
for hurting David’s feelings,
but he didn’t catch me.
I’m a fast runner.

February 14th:

We took brown paper lunch sacks,
decorated them and tacked them to the wall.
Then everyone tucked Valentines
into the bags.

At the end of the day,
we collected our
bags from the wall.

Mine is empty.

© 2001 Corinne Bailey

Irish Rose
Member Patricius

since 2000-04-06

Posts 10263

1 posted 2001-02-12 04:00 PM

This rang every bell I could remember from school.....

"I walked beside the evening sea and dreamed a dream that could not be." George William Curtis

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

2 posted 2001-02-12 04:08 PM

It's such a cruel thing, isn't it? This actually made me mad!

I have seen the cruelty of children over and over as well as the cruelty of adults in the guise of honesty...and I'd better stop before I go on a tirade...think I'd better go cut out a heart or something...lol....and thanks for the read! stirred up a few emotions as you can see!

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

3 posted 2001-02-12 04:21 PM

Ah Corinne...I too shared "empty bag syndrome"....

not a fun time....

PoeticKnight
Senior Member

since 2000-01-20

Posts 1144
New Orleans, LA

4 posted 2001-02-12 04:29 PM

I still have EBS...empty bag syndrome.

Temptress

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-06-15

Posts 7136
Mobile, AL

5 posted 2001-02-12 05:20 PM

This is sad, Cor, but I like it a lot. The feeling is very effective.

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

6 posted 2001-02-12 06:19 PM

Thank you all for commenting. I wasn't sure I could actually go through with posting this. I have found a way to combat the Valentine's Day blues, however, I send flowers and candy anonymously to people I know are lonely. It is great fun, they think someone out there admires them and it gives me great pleasure.

Corinne

Sven

Member Laureate

since 1999-11-23

Posts 14937
East Lansing, MI USA

7 posted 2001-02-12 06:39 PM

Ah yes. . . I've been there too. . . *sigh*. . . it's amazing how those things always stay with us. . .

sad. . .good writing. . . but sad. . .

----------------------------------------------------

To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

kcsgrandma
Senior Member

since 2000-09-24

Posts 1522
Presque Isle, ME

8 posted 2001-02-12 11:57 PM

Wow! It's hard to believe all these terrific, talented people had empty Valentine bags. Just goes to show how little popularity in school really means. Thanks for sharing this. It took courage, and obviously struck a chord.

To love another person is to see the face of God.
- Les Miserables

Marilyn

Parker
Member Elite

since 2000-01-06

Posts 3129
ON

9 posted 2001-02-13 02:34 PM

I'd have put a card in your's honest.

I never cared for anyones opinion of me in school.

Park

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

10 posted 2001-02-13 08:18 PM

Thank you, Sven, KCSGrandma and Park
for your sweet replies.

Corinne

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

11 posted 2001-02-14 12:59 PM

I never had to face a new school... but small towns are full of their own cruelties and cliques. Your poem obviously touches a lot of us, Corinne... and I like the way you're turning a potential pout day into touching lives. *S*

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

12 posted 2001-02-14 02:36 PM

(tears coming down my cheeks) Oh, this is so very sad! (sniff) It is so sad to see how children of nowadays can be so cruel when once it was all filled with hope and innocence! I am only seventeen, and I have never gotten one valentine! All throughout elementary school, the kids always picked on me and they wished I never lived and so that is why I'm a shy person, because I am afraid I'll get my heart broken again! I know how you feel, oh poor thing! But there is true love for everyone out there, and I know you will find it! Sad but powerful poem, my friend, thank you for sharing!

May love and light shine upon you on this lovely Valentines Day!

Love,
Noah Eaton

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

13 posted 2001-02-14 03:27 PM

Thank you so very much, Suthern.

Noah,

It isn't in the cruelty
of children as they play
but the parents and teachers
that make them act this way,

but you can turn it around
if you are willing to try
you can create your own special day
learn to soar and fly.

Here's wishing you the best
in each and every way
a smile my only wish on this
of all Valentine's Days.

Corinne

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