Oh, back row,
You’re so cool.
Won’t do your school work.
Hang out at the smoke pit.
Drunk all weekend.
You’re
so
cool.
The front row
gets its work done,
laughs with friends,
finds healthy fun.
They will graduate,
get into college
and employ you
at minimum wage.
It’s never cool
to peak in
high school.
Shawn L. Bird 
Bam! Boom!! Gets straight to the point. Love it! When I first read your poem I was reminded of a similar poem by Gwendolyn Brooks whom I had the opportunity to meet and be pen pals with many years ago. Ms. Brooks was a down to earth, sweet, kind wonderful woman.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/17315
http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/we-real-cool
Oh! I remember reading that one ‘once upon a time!’ 🙂
First person is probably much more powerful.
I graduated from back to front row just in time
lol
Good for you.
Go girl! I love it, bravo!
lol
Glad you liked it, Eli.
Nailed it. I was always a front row nerd. I use the term nerd in the most endearing way possible. 🙂
One of my front row did an analysis of words invented by Dr Seuss today, and the star of her presentation is the word “nerd.” 🙂
So, so true!
Thanks, Phyllis.
Some of the front row, anyway. Some will be part of the vast university dropout group, some will study subjects will zero job opportunities, and some will get Ph.D’s and join the miserable band of adjunct professors, hoping for tenure before they reach retirement.
Oh, if it was that simple !
(maybe it’s better in Canada)
I doubt any of my front row will be in school that long. They’re just very sensible, hard workers, and those qualities will take them a long way in life.
Yeah, I was one of those front row nerds. Of course, I really loved and admired and appreciated my teachers…and I still do. I’m grateful I had two parents who instilled in me a love for learning, and who told me time and time again that it’s okay to not be cool.
Yes. Cool is not all it’s cracked up to be.
um, can I say cool poem? ha! and I was just onMartha Kennedy’s blog and she was at the post office in CO and I guess there is a mother phrase for cool… it is “¡Que suave!”
have a nice day dear poet!
Mother phrases.
I kind of like the sound of that.
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Love it. What you share here is very profound…TRUTH.
Thanks, Richard
You are welcome Shawn.