Ok, I did must confess, I did homework for the Teenage Hunk which wouldn’t perhaps be the first time, although it’s been a long time after I gave him the “It’s time to grow up and do your own darn work” speech.
I believe, I had a good reason for succumbing to his pleas. First of all, he was sick, really he was. Fever, stomach, glazed eyes, congestion. He looked pitiful when he turned those big brown eyes to me and said, “Mom, can you please write me a poem? It was due yesterday.” Then secondly, I thought to myself, poetry?” He wouldn’t even read a poem if I glued it to his eyelids.
“Like this one,” he said popping up none other than Lord Byron’s When We Two Parted.
“This is the one I picked, but I’m writing about graduation not the love stuff.” Personally I thought that might be a good idea since he had already parted with something like 200 girls and that’s just this year. Lord Byron, oh I should be so lucky, I could envision my former English teacher, Dr. Taylor, laughing hysterically at me. Did I mention the teenager was feverish? And he is going to be leaving in 13 weeks? And he is taking his laundry with him? No wait a minute, I forgot I was being serious here. What else could I do, I’m nuts about Lord B., the dude that gave us: “She walks in beauty like the night of cloudless climes and stary skies….” Go figure, here I am, some sort of rock ‘n roll nerd. Nellie Olson without the attitude. Do you think I ever missed a homework assignment? Nope. Talked in class? Gasp! Skipped school? (Ok then, maybe so while blasting Van Halen on the radio). I was also guilty of tapping my pencil too loudly while listening to MacBeth playing on a record player (yes, that’s right, the good old days during English class), and I also wasn’t exactly truthful about reading A Tale of Two Cities, but what the heck? So I set about crafting When We All Parted to save this child from poetic doom. Afterward, he took one look at it and said, “Holy Cow! You wrote a book, you’re supposed to write like me!” Hmmm. That might have been harder. He was going to revise it in computer lab, but he didn’t, and the teacher was simply bowed over. “I love it,” she gushed. I’m just hoping they don’t read it for graduation, squirm, squirm.
When we all parted
in the final hour
into the world unguarded
in youth there is power
and the time grows late
sun setting on black and gold
we go to meet our fate
memories and dreams unfold.
Goodbye to a best friend
silent are the classes
new rules now to bend
no need for hall passes
the years tick by in a hurry
lives touched by school spirit
over the fire, over the fury
no need to fear it.
Silent, the football field stands still
last games played upon green grass
pride, finality and goodwill
catching the last pass
seasons come to an end
we turn toward what’s new
great heights to ascend
farewell to those we knew.
The heart of a small school
the jewel of a small town
mastering the most important rule
experience we have found
and knowledge is our fuel
It’s no time to stay
the future plans abound
to make our own way.
Oh, it really is good! I often do my son’s homework. He gets a lot of projects and I have to help him and sometimes I just get so impatient I move him out of the way and start typing. I do worry sometimes, that the teachers will think the work is beyond 7th grade level.
Ha ha, I know the feeling. They are really going to appreciate us someday. ..maybe even on Mothers Day, ha ha.
Oh yeah, I already know I’m getting nothing on Mother’s Day. My daughter’s birthday, my anniversary and Mother’s Day all fall around the same time and, because we spend so much on our daughter, we tend to let the other two fall to the wayside. In fact, for the past two Mother’s Days I’ve been at Legoland celebrating my daughter’s birthday. No spa day for me!
Yes I know the feeling, so I’ll be right there with you. My kids aren’t that big on Mothers Day, but it’s all good. One of these days they will learn what all goes into the role of being a parent, or just learning to live on their own.
Ha, what kid is big on Mother’s Day? I think that doesn’t happen until they are mothers (parents) themselves.
That’s a lovely poem. Great story. Something also gives me the feeling this story might not be over yet – which would be altogether too funny. I hope the teacher turns her attention somewhere else…
Yes hopefully she will, ha ha. He may have to confess… Thanks for the compliment!
You are spoiling him…. But it it is okay if you don’t want him to become a poem in the future… o_O
By the way your poem is lovely and the teacher reaction, quite expectable and witty, uh?…..
Thanks for sharing! I love it… Best wishes. Aquileana 😀
Thank you so much for the lovely compliment and for visiting my blog. Yeah I know I’m spoiling him, ha ha…you would think since I’ve been through this empty nest thing twice already, I could be tougher 🙂 I enjoy your blog also, I love mythology.
I’m embarrassed but not ashamed to admit that I too will “help” with my children’s writing assignments. I can’t help it, I love to write and one of them detests essays. If she’d have her way, there would never be another complete sentence written by her hand again. 🙂
I know, I like writing too and never really thought of it as work. I still think kids learn from it either way, although more so if they would actually write it 🙂 thanks for visiting my blog and commenting!
What a beautiful poem! I hope you’re getting surprised on Mothers Day!💐
Thanks so much for the lovely compliment and for visiting my blog!