Home

Stealing Paper

by Wayne Tate

I can still recall your smile
as you filled the room;

Just like stealing paper;
Ducking punches
when the teacher wasn't looking;

Like first grade
when you shoved me;
Made me eat dirt;

The looks from the other kids;
How you lied to make a name;
Said you weren't my girlfriend;

I remember your face;
You smiled then too;

I still taste the grit;
and the knee burns;

Your clenched fists
that really wanted to hold me;

Me staring at the ground
holding a tooth in my hand;

Picking up imaginary tea cups
with mud pies staining my face;

Nothing happened;

Only the bell ringing;

Another moment lost
and a desk in the corner;

Away from everyone else;

Let me sit;
Scratch you out;
I wait for the day to arrive
when you finally loved me;

12/04/2008

Author's Note: I have absolutely no clue where this came from... just went with it.

Posted on 12/04/2008
Copyright © 2024 Wayne Tate

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Samiah Haque on 05/20/09 at 10:21 PM

there is a novel called "the patchwork planet" and the protagonist made a comment something along the lines of if he were to ever be caught breaking and entering, it would be for lingering too long over the personal letters, albums, of the owners of the house in question. your poem was simple, striking--drew me in completely--and gave me the same voyeuristic thrill the man in the novel must have felt. :) wonderful write!

Posted by Kris Mara on 06/21/09 at 02:35 AM

oh was that you? ;) Seriously, this is such a great piece of internal nostalgia (does that make sense?)...I'm drawn into it and through your words (vivid and real), am reliving some memories of my own....thanks, I truly needed that today...(I had to stop by and read some of your words today)

Posted by Mike Loftis on 06/25/09 at 10:52 PM

This piece is extremely well done. The images that came to mind made it seem as if I were a witness more than a mere reader.

Posted by Glenn Currier on 11/18/09 at 06:51 PM

Oh gees, I was feeling sooooo sorry for you and then read the author's note with relief. Now I simply delight in the sparkling pieces of your imagination sprinkled here for me to see. Thanks for this engaging piece, Wayne.

Posted by Charlie Morgan on 06/22/10 at 05:13 PM

...wayne, this is still heavy with grit 0' humanity, and human-ness; i'm that lil' boy who gave a girl a chocolate bunny in the third grade, turned it down, one of Dantes Hells, eh? ...espc. my ego, eh? a wonderfully told-out pic[that ne'er happened]yet you hit many guts[in lil girls' minds/hearts and lil boys' minds and hearts] good, good write. wonderful.

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.2 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 0 member(s) and 2 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2024 their respective authors. Page Generated In 1 Second(s)