Yearbook of 1933

You sit at your desk at school now, but eighty years ago there was somebody else doing the same thing. Worrying about the big test, crushing on the person sitting three seats away, etc.

Ancestors, ancestors,

Do hear my cries.

Tell me, how was it like before

You all went and died.

Did you sit in these classrooms,

Did you run down these halls?

Did you weep behind the stairwell

Or in bathroom stalls?

I try so hard to see you

In your pleated skirts,

Your large, horn-rimmed glasses,

Your button-down shirts.

How much alike are we;

Do we share traits at all?

Do we laugh aloud the same way

When someone else falls?

Ancestors, ancestors,

If you were now here,

Would you smile at the world before

You re-disappeared?

Author's Note

For fashion class in high school, I got to sit all period and look through old yearbooks to see how fads have changed. I couldn't tell the difference between the students and the teachers in most of the pictures - they all looked so grown up. But then I realized, these were kids my age. I was sitting in the same exact place they were sitting.

Reviews

[Stammers]

'Tell me, how was it like before' -

I think either 'tell me how things were...' or ' tell me what it was like...' or ' tell me, what was it like...' would be correct grammar here.

And I didn't know if you were using 1933 as a pointed historical year, other than just because it was exactly 100 years ago. I thought you might be making a point about their likely fates (I'm sure you know Hitler was elected in 1933, most of the male students would have been fighting by 1939, or 1941/1942, depending on if you're British or American, that is) This is why I clicked to read the poem. Adds a dark echo to your musings.

I liked that you detailed their uniforms, added a little quirk.

[Nix]

A very interesting poem. Leaves you wondering after you finish it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very well written.

[Robert]

Neat story how you had the idea to write this. I've had similar thoughts and questions. Well written and cool topic. I enjoyed it.

[Dr. Wood ?]

well this is the second poem I have read tonight that reads like a grown up's nursery rhyme.....We must all wonder about our ancestors and also puzzle over how WE will be thought of in the future years

[no sun]

What a great time piece. Nicely written!

[Michael X]

this is mind tugging work, to vanish into existence, conceptual and
another place and time, great work here.

[Melina]

Rarely does someone go to the same school as their ancestors but it must be such a good experience to imagine where they walked, where they sat, how they learned, and what kind of classes they had. You do a good job keeping 8 and under syllables in each line. The lines: "Tell me, how was it like before" and : "Did you weep behind the stairwell" had 8 syllables and the rest had under that.

[Jay Levon]

interesting and well written, good job :)

[WhiteWillow]

When I read this, my thoughts turn to the power of books. Without pictures, without words, would anyone even think about those who came before us, those we never even met? You never met the people in those old yearbooks, yet they inspired you to create, they made you think, they invited you to a different time. Their time. Great write.

[Flo_writer]

I like this because it's so original and you did your research which shows dedication towards your work. Rhyme are my favorite form of poetry so that too helped to lure me in. I think this one is a very crafty piece and I enjoyed your work. Well done.