When You're Too Old for Elementary School | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. When You're Too Old for Elementary School

When You're Too Old for Elementary School MAG

November 22, 2012
By Rolledthestone SILVER, Nowhere, Other
More by this author
Rolledthestone SILVER, Nowhere, Other
8 articles 0 photos 108 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:5) and "All the poeple who supported slavery were free, all the people who support abortion live..."

View profile

Empty halls,
squeaky floors,
barren walls,
closed doors.
The smell of finger paint
lingers in the air,
the sound of voices is faint
but there.
Vacant classrooms,
a chalk dusted board,
unused brooms,
seemingly ignored.
Wooden desks with scratched in doodles,
a still and silent cafeteria,
where food fights once raged with noodles,
now on the floor forming bacteria.
The air of learning,
is fading fast,
nothing can fill the yearning,
of wanting to go back to the past.

© Sheera G., Marblehead, MA

The author's comments:
Don't get me wrong, highschool's great and all but so was grade eight. I guess over the years I've found that with large piles homework comes a large desire for a time machine.
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
To a Brother Growing Up
By imperfection GOLD
Gilroy, California
imperfection GOLD, Gilroy, California
17 articles 9 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Dream as though you&#039;ll live forever, live as though you&#039;ll die today.&quot;<br /> ~James Dean (1931-1955), American Motion Picture Actor, symbol of rebellion

View profile
Poetry
Nothing good comes from Pyromania
By Nelle PLATINUM
Crewkerne, Other
Nelle PLATINUM, Crewkerne, Other
21 articles 10 photos 49 comments
View profile
Poetry
Unspeakable
By niceenouf PLATINUM
Garfield, New Jersey
niceenouf PLATINUM, Garfield, New Jersey
26 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
&quot;As we move on, you forget, we both move on, with no regret.&quot;

View profile
Poetry
i knew better than this
By LUCIA ARTEAGA BRONZE
MESA, Arizona
LUCIA ARTEAGA BRONZE, MESA, Arizona
2 articles 0 photos 7 comments
View profile
Poetry
Baseball
By AJ Chimsky-Lustig BRONZE
Portland, Maine
AJ Chimsky-Lustig BRONZE, Portland, Maine
1 article 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
I Am From
By Requiem SILVER
McCall, Idaho
Requiem SILVER, McCall, Idaho
9 articles 0 photos 2 comments
View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 8 comments.

GraphicWriter DIAMOND said...
on Jun. 25 2013 at 6:41 pm
GraphicWriter DIAMOND, Yuba City, California
63 articles 10 photos 89 comments
View profile
You know when you're little and you just can't wait to grow up and then when you're older you miss being a child? This was a great portration of that in my mind.
ChocolateLove SILVER said...
on May. 7 2013 at 6:37 am
ChocolateLove SILVER, Warsaw, Other
5 articles 6 photos 158 comments
View profile
I really loved what you did with the rhymes. :) Write on :) 
KatsK DIAMOND said...
on Mar. 31 2013 at 9:49 pm
KatsK DIAMOND, Saint Paul, Minnesota
57 articles 0 photos 301 comments

Favorite Quote:
Being inexhaustible, life and nature are a constant stimulus for a creative mind.<br /> ~Hans Hofmann<br /> You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.<br /> ~Ray Bradbury

View profile
I really like the imagery and how it rhymes. Great job.
SarClark BRONZE said...
on Mar. 31 2013 at 9:40 pm
SarClark BRONZE, NC, Connecticut
2 articles 0 photos 534 comments
View profile
I decided to check out this piece after seeing it'd been published in the magazine, and I must say it was definitely deserving. I loved the sense of nostalgia that you were able to put in the poem (at least that's how it was for me). Your rhythm is really nice and it was full of powerful imagery. Thank you for your feedback on my poetry!
bruisedmemories ELITE said...
on Feb. 27 2013 at 4:18 pm
bruisedmemories ELITE, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania
109 articles 10 photos 62 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;When you&#039;re young, you can fly, but we trip on clouds &#039;cause we get too high&quot; -The Band Perry (Song: Don&#039;t Let Me Be Lonely)<br /> &quot;Cause no matter what, you&#039;ll never be alone&quot; -Lady Antebellum (Song: Compass)

View profile
I love this! I totally agree and can relate. 
GuardianoftheStars GOLD said...
on Jan. 26 2013 at 1:25 pm
GuardianoftheStars GOLD, Shongaloo, Louisiana
17 articles 0 photos 495 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Let&#039;s tell young people the best books are yet to be written; the best painting, the best government, the best of everything is yet to be done by them.&quot;<br /> -John Erslcine

View profile
This is so true.
prolifepacifist said...
on Jan. 23 2013 at 5:11 pm
prolifepacifist, Cheverie, Other
0 articles 0 photos 30 comments
View profile
I want back!  Hey, remember recess?  Snack time?
3dancer SILVER said...
on Jan. 9 2013 at 1:34 pm
3dancer SILVER, Windsor, Colorado
7 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Imagination will often carry us to worlds that we never were. But without it we go nowhere!&quot;

View profile
Totally agree! Somtimes I want to go back to being in like third grade when everything was so much easier! This is a really good poem the descriptions really help you picture everything.