Vintage Poetry

This was one of the very early poems.  A cry in the darkness.  It never has had a name



How does it feel
To know that you have failed?

When decent men are asked
To form a queue,
Your name will not be called.
Men who know what trust,
Respect, faithfulness and reliability
Really mean.

They stand there quietly chatting
In skins that fit them,
Lives that are not perfect,
May not be easy,
But are lived with dignity and strength.
And so you watch from the side
As this throng of grown ups walk
Through that gate and out of sight.
And you turn away.
Do you know what you have missed?
Or has something shiny caught your eye,
Distracted you again,
And you cannot see
What lies beyond the gate.

This is also really old, can't find the date atm.  I feel I ought to apologise to Sarah Ellis, she was a very nice girl in my class, just I think her mother didn't wanted everyone at the party.  It isn't about her anyway, more about that awful feeling when the rules you thought were immutable, change without you realising.  I was also trying to recreate my childhood, a long way from how children are brought up today

The Truth About Girls
It was at Sarah Ellis’ party
I learnt the truth about girls.
You see, I wasn’t there.

It was a day like most others,
We’d finished the work.
Alpha maths, was it Beta maths?
Scripture and Nature Study in beige books
Practising stitches on muslin
For orange needlework books
I’d spilt ink on.
Those little hymn books
And big ginger puddings for lunch.
Indoor shoes and outdoor shoes
So we played in little groups
And not muddy the stairs.

And out we’d all burst at the sound of the bell
To our Mummies waiting smiling at the gate.
But changing our shoes
Someone said ‘See you later’
And another, and another
And I looked round confused.
You see Sarah Ellis had a party
And not invited me.
The first time a guest list was selective
And I wasn’t selected.

I thought we were equal
Different, but equal
I didn’t realise there was a grade to fail.
I thought that was maths and scripture and nature study.

And now how I know the truth about girls.
Be careful, they look like you and me.
But they take what they want
They’re different, not equal.
You have a grade, not a worth
A use, not a value
And if you have what they want
They’ll take it,
The rules are different you see.
Just nobody told me.