Elegy To The Class Room Poem by James McLain

Before they knew what depression
was
I would scheme and plot to steal candy
by the box.

Today's
mounds bars
with or without almonds
coconut filled with
real chocolate.

In the sixties the kids weren't fat and
neither was I
inspite of the candy
they lost.

Foolish girls were smart as for looks
I was
not like most of the boys
that were mirror images of their father's
here in the south.

Elegant teacher's
that would beat your ass
in front of the class
each day, more harm
then good.

Some teachers knew and some
didn't care
about one small child's appetite for.

Being exposed
by example to them all
it was U.S.
we unwittingly watched
many have died over the years
but none like those
that were lost.

Squatting in the field across
from the school
where I watched them all
as I ate.