Raping School

this is my week 2 assignment for a class. we are supposed to use a correlating object to express thoughts and feelings about a social issue .. its a free on-line class from the University of Iowa

So many changes

Too many failures

She's supposed to succeed.

Her hands clench old and worn books

frayed grey and brown books

broken buildings

It's as though they were her only treasures.

Falling apart at the binding books

curriculum content books

long obsolete; but

in this hood .......... treasures. She can't do any better

He sees her

Waits for her

He devours her plaid skirt just below her knees and

knows she deserves it.

He smiles for her and shows his teeth

his dirty needle teeth to

bite,spit and

drool in school

they call it a crime

He hates her books, her hands, her hope.

He can barely contain the disdain .....he makes more money in a day.

the lunch packed by mother grinds to dirt her

books go down

s'pposed to save .........scattered leaves torn and blown

the dust doesn't settle

it chokes and blinds the lessons lost.
So many changes

and just another failure

Author's Note

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

life teaches us lessons books can't---and some who resent others' learning, want to burn not only the books but also the others' purpose in life...destroy them mentally, physically and emotionally.
like Lydi...want to punch this guy in his ugly , sneering teeth.
heavy hitting here...
the abuser needs to be bound within the pages and the book slammed shut and stepped on.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ...bad guys do exists don't they ;( innocence and opportunity snatched away in a heartbeat .. thanks for reading jacob .. i appreciate the encouraging words
E.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear E... elementary school is designed to teach math, English, literature history and hopefully social graces. Parents teach what they believe... at home. There is a diversity in backgrounds that requires a miracle to occur every day. God help us all. And then there is middle school and high school... not to mention high school. My grandson Ethan starts high school this Fall and my granddaughter Maddie wil be in fifth grade. They have a head start with computers and the like that they learned at home. I believe schools need to stick to geography and history, as well as math and science. Some of the young people will be teachers, nurses and doctor, and lawyers, and even politicians. Some will own a business and others will have trades. In some respects there is a common thread in an education system we knew when we were young people.
Yes, and some young people will be in the Military. God help us all, young and old to be tolerant and supportive of each other. I love the saying that "Life is a torch to be passed
on". Amen. truly, Pat

[Einstein Noodle]

:).................

[Carol Cashes]

Disquieting, unnerving, heartbreaking, uncomfortable, frightening...I'd need my Thesaurus to describe all the "eehhh" of this.

Well done. And good bye to my good night's sleep....

[Einstein Noodle]

:) hi Carol! my nights sleep ended around midnight ...its an age thing ;} what a treat to have you stop to read ..i am actually very gratified this may keep you awake ..it is an issue not always publicized yet is ongoing :( see you around my friend!
E.

[Carol Cashes]

That your sleep "ended" at midnight suggests you actually went to bed. Not the case here, tonight, and yes, age has contributed to this. Once I quit fighting insomnia, I became productive, creative, or perversely sleepy!
This is a tough subject, not publicized enough, and I'm glad I'm armed, although no schoolgirl. Even the ever complimentary candlelight can't disguise this old broad as anything but...an old broad. I would be more frightened as a girl in this age than I was back...when I was. *smirk* (thought I'd spill it - how far back that was? Not tonight, E, I'm on my game!)

[Einstein Noodle]

cheers girl! so nice to meet you

[Tony Jordan]

If this is progress then progress is standing still or going backwards. The kids have less chance than the urchins of London back in the day.

well penned - hope you're enjoying the course Sir.
MOOCs are a great way to 'stave of the Alzheimers'
;)

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha my friend! yes the Alzheimer's ;) i am having the best time learning in the MOOC .. KWP told me about it and i am so grateful .. the timing is right for me ..obviously you have taken a course or two as well .. when this one is completed and after some "sinking in" time ..i will definitely join another .. God bless you Tony .. thanks agin for stopping by!
E.

[emmajoy]

There is horror so strong, so tragic in this.. is like a scourge of the mind and heart. Your writing has always had its moments of dark or light glory but this is hard to place.. is something else. Would like to know how it's received by the adjudicator or whoever.

Seems that whatever the little girl does, she's going to be ripped apart at every attempt.. lured to, allured by..... mind raped and decimated.

Think i need come back to this, the atmosphere you've created is so strong.. makes me feel too much... will rate it.. maybe alter later.. another time. not sure. Tis fine writing... but... need stand back..

[Einstein Noodle]

emma ... you are such a sensitive, intuitive soul ..i feel you ..thank you for reading and for sharing your review ..this is kind of layered as she is also our school system with forces without and within that are taking it down ..the very youth that have opportunity are denied it by some of their own choices and their own peers .. it received some pretty positive feedback so far .. this one did not get any suggestions for improvement ..not that it is so well written, i think, but as you say ..it is kind of horror filled and shocking .. really appreciate your reviews always my friend .. love and peace
E.

[emmajoy]

may i suggest you remove some of the above so as to allow future reviewers (and there will be many) to do what i want to do, interpret according to thought and emotion? Please feel free to ask me to mind my own business, delete, etc.. truly meant that. This post is too important to violate.

[Tazeen Ahmed]

Cool work!
Failure over and over again makes one realise and to an extent, makes one work harder. This poem means several things to me.
"the dust doesn't settle

it chokes and blinds the lessons lost.
So many changes"
Incredible! Encore!

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for taking time here Tazeen! so nice to meet you! i will stop by your place and get to know you better :) thank you again for your positive review ..
E.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Tragic and horrific tale. Little Red Riding Hood in the ghetto hood...hopes "falling apart at the binding"- lights out. Predators come out of the woodwork... little girl "just another failure" Great
social commentary!

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Annette .. in case you did not notice this was an assignment for an on-line class i am taking .. and poetry's connection to community and social action is its main teaching point ..we were also asked to use a correlating object (in my case books) to convey our thoughts and feelings about the social issue .. i appreciate the time you took to read and review Annette ..many thanks
E.