A Bother Completing Damn Exams (for) Unsatisfactory(results)- Freeverse

I made a funny in the title? A, B, C, D, E and U? as in grades? oh go me, I so funny -It's 2am again.

Last year I wrote in blue,

this year in black,

but no one will care if you sat at the back

or the front of the class

as long as you pass.

Those special little letters

made up from an alphabet of six,

after seven years, six grades they pick

but they never tell you of the working class hero

with dreams, who grew up as an academic "zero".

Working for the food in his babies' stomachs,

Tell me how that "A" in Maths would taste with butter,

and that "E" is the equivalent of nothing but utter

failure?  I'll never need Pythagoras' to buy milk and bread,

but my story is the underdog's tale unread.

It's not I don't have dreams, I am just more of a realist.

Your general studies teach nothing general at all,

where were the life studies in being the father of four?

I failed my exams, and I thought I'd failed at life.

I'd sentenced myself to live with strife.

I'm richer than the richest man I know,

and I know nothing of figures and digits.

I am the strongest man; I know no limits.

My grades did not determine my future,

and neither will this "academic" culture.

Author's Note

-"Alphabet of six"- A, B, C, D, E and U.

Reviews

[Audrey Rey]

This poem is what's been going through my mind for the past I-don't-know-how-many years. It's like you have written ... it's not that we don't need knowledge, but the school system certainly does not provide it. Take me for example: I always loved learning new things, new theories ... but looking back all I've learned came from different sources, not at school or at university (okay, maybe one class out of fifteen proved to be useful).
''My grades did not determine my future'' this is probably my absolute favourite line. And actually the whole poem is very inspiring, especially if you find yourself in a not-exactly-ideal situation schoolwise.

[icelandicblue]

School is important, but...what to teach, how to teach it is always a struggle. So much is dictated by the powers that be and I don't believe a single standardized test should determine someone's future. I am an educator but I know that there are good lives to be had beyond and in spite of an education. Well done.

[RainDancer1997]

School sucks! Grades and determining your choice of life. Getting ready for the unknown. Just takes my energy away! great free verse though!!:)

[Zero_Edge88]

Oh school you amaze me ever so satisfyingly unsatisfying, something I could never even begin to understand when I first attended it. Education breeds intelligence as to intelligence you must be able to sow it in like the seeds of life and let it grow and when it's ripe for the harvest wisdom is given to us. Sagacity is RARE to those who does this and not everyone is given that gift. However we are compensated with the gift of inspiration and innovation when we do so. Though in the words of the great Alice Cooper when you hear that school bell ring one last time start playing, "School's out forever!" :p :)

Have a great rest of your week Lady Eli

[ANTO]

Like what BR said...

I like your clever use of the alphabet 6 in the title
X

[Rita L. Sev]

Those grades are a "necessary evil" in our society - it frustrates good teachers as well as students to rely on such shallow judgments.

[Douglas White]

Ah, and here we have it. A truly well written condemnation of our educational system, which prepares you for precisely nothing. I love the title as well.

The only critique I can offer on this is about this line:

Working for the food in his babies's stomachs

The punctuation is wrong -babies's- should be -babies'-

Other than that, this is a solid 2:00 a.m. poem. :^D

[Elinor Williams]

ah, thank you xD I don't notice such things at 2am, so thank you! This is a really lovely comment, thanks again ^-^

[Douglas White]

I know what you mean. At 2:00 a.m. neither punctuation, spelling, nor grammar is very high on my list of priorities - more like: "Just get it written so I can go to friggin' sleep!"

[Baby Ricochet]

School blows///////////////////