Blame it on the
Cold
Or hot chocolate
Arrived at school early
Frozen from the walk
Left for 7-11 and
Hot choc-
olate (ah!)
Thaw-
ed
Returned on time
But didn't hear the crack
Of the infrac-
tion
Called from class
And was blas-
ted for breaking a rule
I never knew
Lunch break
Serving time
Elbow to elbow
With twenty or so
Fellow
Trouble makers
Rule breakers
In front of Administration
Public humiliation
Was the goal
Instead, learned breaking
Rules
Didn't kill me
Actually fairly arbitrary
Fear of breaking rules
Forever Brok-
en
8th grade there was a rule that once you were on campus you had to stay. Didn't know that:-) Really was a life changing moment. Even though I'd never done anything wrong, they treated me like I was a "bad kid" which really rankled my sense of injustice-- and then making us stand in a line, was ridiculous--and I didn't die...been breaking rules ever since...thank you to Dani at Poetry Jam poetryjaam.blogspot.com for the excellent prompt to write about breaking rules!
Wow, that WAS quite a wake-up, I am sure. You certainly should not have been humiliated for breaking a rule you did not know existed. You wrote the scene well...and you learned a valuable lesson, how arbitrary rules sometimes really are!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary!! You know what they say, ignorance of the law is no defense... still I really couldn't believe how they treated me like it was such a huge offense. Really funny actually :-) Didn't seem so at the time, though.
DeleteThis was harsh on you !!!
ReplyDeleteHi Speck!!! So nice to see you:-) It was pretty harsh for such a minor thing, though a part of me wants to thank them for breaking the fear!
DeleteThis is awesome ... gads ~ I still recall breaking a few rules around that age and I am ancient now!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Helen!! Funny how those types of memories stay with us--ancient? Hardly-loved your poem, made me smile at the mirror :-)
Delete...when you learn to break the rules that's when you enjoy life the most... One i regret back at those times...for i've always been the ideal son...ideal brother...ideal friend...ideal student...and it sucks bcoz i learned i'm not happy ... I didn't enjoy life during those times for i always felt i'm a robot...designed to follow & perform things being programed to me... Now i'm trying to change everything...i don't wanna be a robot anymore...i don't wanna go back to where i used to be 5 , 6, or 7 yrs ago...i don't wanna be ideal...i wanna be real...yes...yes...smiles...
ReplyDeleteKelvin! So nice to see you again--I can completely relate to your comments, that was me. You have a very real voice in your poetry and Love that phrase..don't wanna be ideal...wanna be real...big smiles! Thank you:-)
DeleteEnjoyed this. It is so typical of such institutions the world over, I think.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave! You are right, it happens everywhere. Thank you for stopping by:-)
DeleteYep! We had that rule too. I never got in trouble for breaking it, but break it I did. Love the mischeviousness shining through your words. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel! You really made me laugh :-) Glad you got away with it!
Deleteyeah we have that rule as well...even for staff...did not know that until i pulled it one day as an adult...ha....but back in school i found a loophole that got me through my last 2 years....smiles....thanks for the flashbacks...smiles.
ReplyDeleteHi Brian! That's hilarious! Why in the world would that apply to staff? Glad you found a loophole! Thank you for the share and the smiles
DeleteI like this story--how the result of the punishment was not what "they" intended!
ReplyDeleteHi Peggy! Yes, it always makes me smile to think of that too:-)
DeleteUgh ... aren't some rules just so silly and aren't some administrators just as silly ?!? Ugh!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! Definitely, many rules are silly and some administrators too. Thank you for the visit :-)
DeleteHa..Sara..thank you for sharing. I broke the rules the rules too ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Ayala! happy to hear I'm in good company--it is fun to share these memories :-
DeleteLOL! You have to know the rules for a good and proper breaking thereof. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteHi Mad!! Thank you for the laugh and the lovely comment :-)
Deleteoh my...over here in germany we don't have that rule...i would've broken it a thousand times..we always went to the shops and smoking behind the neighbor's garage...ha..oh oh..i WAS a bad kid...smiles
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia!! I think the Germans have it right--what a stupid rule--if I came back to school on time, who cares, right? I can just picture you gathering all those wonderful words to use for later :-) Thank you!
Deleteand thank YOU, Sara, for such a delightful tale of being a "bad" girl rule breaker!
ReplyDeletethank you for joining in at Poetry Jam!
♥
Hi Dani! Really enjoyed this prompt--glad that you enjoyed my poem, too :-)
DeleteOh, dear... I bet they didn't think their punishment would have an adverse reaction... I can't imagine you breaking anything other than a few minor rules, if that...
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie!! Oh, you caught me--mostly minor, though not all...;-)
DeleteAnd I'm sure they would be shocked to know that their punishment backfired. Nowadays parents would have had a protest if they knew that their kids had been treated like that...times they are a changing