Introduction

This poem illustrates how traumatic the first day of school can be. It's a true story.

First Day Woes

I could hardly wait to go to school
To do what my sister did,
"But you're only four", my mother said,
"You're only a little kid."

I begged and begged until at last
She said "Okay, you can go."
The teacher agreed but cautioned me:
"You'll have to be quiet, you know."

The first day dawned and I skipped along
Holding my sister's hand,
"You'll have to do what the big kids do,
Sit still and be good, understand?"

I sat on a form with three other kids
With my arms folded fast and legs crossed,
But the thing I forgot that Mum said I'd to do,
I remembered too late at great cost.

I wriggled and squirmed as discomfort set in,
The feeling was too much for me,
In horror I watched as the trickle appeared.
And the kids in the class laughed with glee.

Copyright; Pat Cannard
Email: patcan@powerup.com.au