So I wake up early
to the intercom ringing
my parents calling me
to get ready for school

I dread that sound all night long
even as I find solace in sleep
I dread that sound
it is the most painful moment of my day.

I get dressed
but not how I would like
for the school does not allow that
I eat a dry breakfast
I comb my hair at my parents’ command
I fume as they tell me I must soon cut it
I go pick a CD
to listen to during my free period
I fill my backpack with books
and hoist it off to school,
where they herd us like the sheep most of us are
and then we must travel from class to class
desperate for the free periods that are too few
and that are spent on forgotten homework
instead of resting one’s soul,
and there are always three classes in a row
before the lunch that is too late
by which time they have always run out of food.

One or two more classes follow,
and if your last periods happen to be free,
you mayn’t leave the building
for you are a first-semester freshman.
Wait for 3:10 to come,
but do not get excited to leave,
for now you must change
for wrestling practice
and endure physical torture
at the behest of the coach
until you are allowed to leave.

Change once more,
carry the weight of your backpack once more,
carry it then up the stairs of your house,
and fall straight to sleep
to make up for what you did not get last night.
But do not be at peace too long!
For you must do your work!
You must answer your science questions
so that your grade does not drop
you must do your Latin reading
so that you must not be scolded in class
you must do your Spanish homework
so you can be in the honors class next year
you must organize your history binder
you must copy the math problems neatly
and, if you do not wish to procrastinate,
there is an English essay due Monday.

read the Times
clip articles for Siegel
about the world losing it’s freedom
sign online
hope you have time
to read all your emails
if you don’t, delete them
for tomorrow will hold no better luck
perhaps a long-distance friend
will strike up a conversation
until your parents tell you it is time to go to sleep
even though you know
you will not sleep
for many hours more
because when you turn the lights out
it is time to listen to music
take your pick
from your collection
put it in your discman
put on your headphones
and enjoy the sounds of freedom while it lasts
and enjoy your sleep,
but remember it will pass
in but five more hours
as the intercom rings
and the anguish cycles through you again.