Home
Young Writers Project
be heard
  • READ
    • Recent Table
    • Daily Read
    • Recommended
    • Recent Comments
      • Table-Users
    • YWP Newsletter
  • CHALLENGES
    • Weekly Challenges 18/19
    • Writing Contest: Invasive
    • Live Challenges
  • WORKSHOPS
    • Writing on the Roof
    • Events
    • Voices for Change
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • Anthology
    • Newspapers
    • VPR.net
    • VTDigger.org
    • The Voice-2.19
  • ABOUT
    • YWP is ...
    • Contact Us
    • Permission Form
    • The YWP FAQ page
    • Site Help
    • Community Leaders
  • Donate
  • LOG IN/JOIN
Previous Post
Next Post
May 20
poem 2 comments challenge: Santa Fe, Texas: What Now?
SilverGoose

Lessons From School

Editor's Note: This piece is also featured May 25 as a top read on Medium.com! See it in YWP's The Crow on Medium.

I have been taught many things in school this year
including, but not exclusive to,
how photosynthesis and cellular respiration work on a molecular level,
the U.S. debt on May 10, 2018 at about 9:40 was roughly $21,145,528,000,000.00,
how to create a short story,
how to take the derivative and anti derivative of an equation,
what a sonnet is,
how to do a turn in attitude,

and the best strategies to survive a school shooting.
The best of which seems to be not being at school.
But here are some more, for those of you that don't already know.

    1) Get to the nearest classroom or secure space and lock the door.
    2) Stay against a wall or on the floor.
    3) Lower the blinds and stay away from the windows.
    4) Turn off the lights.
    5) Don't forget to text your mom you love her.

We've been taught since the moment we enter school
how to play a special version of hide and seek
where the winners get to keep their lives.

We are taught run-hide-fight.
Run away from the game if you can,
but if you can't then hide with all your might
and if/when you are found, fight,
even though bullets fly faster than fists.

Tips 1-4 are for survival-
try your best to make it seem like the classroom is empty,
like everyone in the school has vanished since the first gunshot.
And if you're in the bathroom when the game starts
and the classroom doors are locked before you get the chance to enter,
you're basically screwed, try and stand on the toilet to hide your shaking feet.
The last tip, tip five, text your mom you love her
won't help you survive,
but best prepare for the chance you don't.
  • SilverGoose's blog
  • Sprout
  • Log in or register to post comments
  • Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Posted: 05.20.18
About the Author: SilverGoose
MSG / CONTACT
RECENT LOVES
  • A knock on society's door
  • The little Blonde Boy.
  • Frozen
  • New York
  • McGill U
RECENT COMMENTS
  • I love musicals so I can
  • I really enjoy this piece. I
  • This is riveting. I love the
  • I really enjoyed this! The
  • See You At Harry’s by Jo

Other Posts by Author

  • Braille
    I was going through books ofthe history of the United States  Read more
    in poem 0 Comments
  • Ski Buddy
    I joined alpine my freshman year of high school terrified. Read more
    in poem 0 Comments
  • Color
    When I was in preschoolmy favorite color was purplebecause I loved the way Read more
    in poem 0 Comments

Discussion

Comments

  1. Drift
    May 21, 2018

    The instructions come off almost as rules for hide and go seek, which makes this so much more eerie and all too realistic.

    • Log in or register to post comments
  1. ShanRippWriting
    May 21, 2018

    I am left speechless by the events and your poem. You use your language in such a familiar yet authoritative way. I can feel the tiredness and frustration.

    • Log in or register to post comments
  • about
  • how to partner
  • for teachers
  • support us
​YWP  |  47 Maple St.  |  Burlington, VT  05401  | [email protected]  |  (802) 324-9538 
The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself. -- Albert Camus
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • Google+ icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Vimeo icon
  • YouTube icon
  • E-Mail icon