A tear

This is some major cheese I wrote in high school.  Perhaps you know how emotional it was as graduation neared and you thought of all the friends you would leave behind, many of whom you were certain would never be seen again.  I was at a friend’s house tutoring her for our calculus final and was scribbling in the spare time created while she focused on work.  I would give her guidance and would respond to all questions, but ultimately I had to keep her focused so she would get the gist of the few concepts she could not fully grasp.  Because of that, I spent perhaps 25-30 percent of the time just sitting staring into space.  This Hallmark reject is a result of the minute here and 30 seconds there which ultimately comprised the time I sat doing nothing while she punched on a calculator and wrote, erased, and wrote some more.

You can tell there was very little real thought or energy behind this.  My mind was too focused on advanced mathematics to really produce something worthwhile, but still, it’s an interestingly juvenile look into the past.

a tear fell down my cheek just now
as I thought graduation nears
and reminded of the friends I’ve made
throughout my high school years

keep in touch is what we all say
as we throw caps into the air
but the tear continues down my cheek
as the pain is too much to bear

say goodbye we know we must
though we wish we did not need
and we step right out into life
the tear is like a steed

love built up for high school years
and friendships old and new
good luck my friend you hear me say
to everyone and you

and then the tear fell from my chin
to the gulf of time below
and at reunion I embrace you
and say I miss you so

[circa 1988]

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