"Poetry is sharing bread with the dead"-FreeVerse

I moved to university.

A room of impressionable minds,
counter balanced by the tutor's kind.
A thirst for knowledge and a hunger for more
than life promised back in 2004.
"What will you be when you're older, Ellie?"
"A newsreader? A dancer? just something on telly."
At 9, I was told to be brought back to reality,
made modernized and monitised by Mrs Griffith's scrutiny.
Oh you derivative, you plagiarist, how you do me wrong.
You sit marking papers, where daydreaming you long
for the days of laze and relaxation.
The irony of inflation,
Where the first half of your life is spent
in University with booze and rent
for qualifications for a career in teaching
where all you'll learn is the art of leeching.
To go down marking one paper,
to come up 30 years later
decrepit, bitter and creased,
all inspiration and ambition deceased.
I can never be like that and I can never be like you,
I'm in University and I'm living my life through.
The sun is setting in Preston,
the town that will invest in
our interest. We're starving and yet
the animals are waiting to be fed.
Roll on freshers; I am waiting for my bread.

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

"To go down marking one paper,
to come up 30 years later
decrepit, bitter and creased,
all inspiration and ambition deceased"

It does seem that some University professors are frustrated because they never fulfilled their own dreams. Some of them see the new students as minds they can mold....minds who may be the successes they never were. Your rhyming was great in this...made the lines flow so rhythmically. Enjoy every day at the University....these are the good old days as Carly Simon sang! I enjoyed your poem. Lydi**

[Elinor Williams]

Thank you very much! :D

[ksscampos]

I could sense the frustration.. so much emotion put into this poem. Thanks for sharing

[Rhys Jacobs]

My one year of college education nods back. Never liked my lecturers much either, although this adds a new dimension for me. Enlightening.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Interesting. But Ellie, I think this is not really a poem. It is a (very good) piece of descriptive prose. I don't think it works as a poem, but I may be wrong, others may disagree>

[Baby Ricochet]

Good poem...................................

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the complete poem. So many verses stood out.
"Where the first half of your life is spent
in University with booze and rent
for qualifications for a career in teaching
where all you'll learn is the art of leeching."
It is funny how we look at things. With old age we learn we had the most when we had nothing. Thak you for the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Douglas White]

Very nicely done, and a good attitude towards bettering oneself. I definitely like this poem, and the positive attitude it exudes. Refusal to give up and give in - the best way to go. Great work, Elinor.

[Sami Khalil]

I like the title and the poem...Thank you for sharing...:)

[icelandicblue]

Dead poets seem to share a lot of poetry. Everyone has a dream, those that don't realize them are often bitter in all walks of life. Hopefully things at university will look up and you'll have your fill of words and bread.