(a work in progress)

All I recall
of the classrooms
is being small
and sky
through giant windows
and giant trees outside
and a ban
on chatter.

All I recall
of school reports
is “Rachel could do better”
(how did they presume
to know?)
and “Rachel
talks too much.”

When I found
those old reports
all I saw
was “Captain of the B Team”
and “very good
very good very good.”
Why didn’t anybody
say?

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poem by rachel mcalpine CC BY 2.0 photo of Christchurch Girls High School old building in public domain