School

Today, we’d like to challenge you to write your own sad poem, but one that, like Teicher’s, achieves sadness through simplicity. Playing with the sonnet form may help you – its very compactness can compel you to be straightforward, using plain, small words.

School

The old brick building with grey stucco

has now a coat of garish red.

As I walk, the empty corridors echo

desolation fills me with dread.

The walls have framed pictures of the departed

and the classrooms are an empty shell

It’s a holiday, classes have not started,

I wish I could hear friends’ voices as I hear the bell.

In the changed layout, I look for the tree

under which we used to have lunch

The silent sentinel to our laughter carefree

has made way for a concrete bench.

The library that was once my shrine

I realise ruefully, is no longer mine.