U-days

It no longer matters that I’m not good at basketball.
Who cares that I’m the oldest of nine.
Don’t follow my example now!
University is the place to discover myself.

Who cares that I’m the oldest of nine?
My high school dates were awkward and pimply.
University is the place to discover myself
and ace Philosophy.

My high school dates were awkward and pimply —
now every man is mine for the dreaming.
Who knew that I would ace Philosophy
and move from the prairies to the sea?

Now every career is mine for the dreaming
though inbred practicality never forsakes
even when I move from the prairies to the sea
settle in as a teacher.

Inbred practicality never forsakes.
Don’t follow my example now
settle in as a teacher
where it matters again that I’m not good at basketball.

© 2009 by Violet Nesdoly

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This is a poem inspired by the March 2009 prompt at Poets Online which challenged: “Write a poem that addresses the age in which you, or the voice of your poem, were, or will be, most yourself.” The entire prompt and published responses are here.