Childhood

 

by

Shelby Burke

 

 

In kindergarten

We took naps

Watched Arthur

And drank milk

 

In fifth grade

We made jokes

About “grown-up” things

And thought we were so cool

 

In sixth grade

We learned how to lie and cheat

How to put people down

And make them cry

 

Now, I am a senior

About to face the world on my own

And now I realize

How dumb we all were

 

The kids who weren’t cruel

The ones who weren’t cool

Those are the true heroes

They knew it wasn’t right all along.

 

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WillyCon XIII (2011) Poetry Contest - 1st place for High School Category