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In First Grade...



I stole lip-gloss
and ice cream money
from stupid girls

they had it coming...

flaunting their denim purses
with pink tassles

and rainbow gems

they giggled
hands cupped over mouths
in huddled groups
pointing at my unruly,
poop-colored hair

they had mothers
and fathers

and they lived in houses


I had dirt

a watermelon patch

and the neighbors day bed

 

 

 

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Author notes

I was already angry in first grade

A contest entry

Im still revising this piece. Constructive criticism is welcome

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Comments

1 - 37 of 37

  • Emmyb gold member
    August 10

    Edit | Reply
    this is amazing and I sort of smiled but felt sad too as I know from your other work this is completely honest and true.

    a well written memory

    Emmy.


  • Poetrist
    July 9

    Edit | Reply
    This was a great piece. It had me laughing@
    "I stole lip-gloss
    and ice cream money
    from stupid girls

    they had it coming... "

    Kids are cruel! LOL


  • Paloszoo gold member
    June 22

    Edit | Reply
    I absolutely adore this brilliantly poignant piece. WOW is all I can say. Thanks for entering my contest and showing your work here. It's an honor to read it


  • thepoetssoul
    March 21

    Edit | Reply
    OH
    This is beautifully written, I hate bullies, and the girl bullies are the worst
    The images are heart wrenching, you penned a stunner here
    Thanks for sharing your heart and spirit.
    Be blessed in all you do.

    Tony


  • penchanted
    March 19

    Edit | Reply

    Yes!

    I love the way your able to articulate something inside of me that I could never allow myself to acknowledge..even after all these years. This wonderful write of rage and hurt has allowed me to re-examine some of my past so I may finally process it and hopefully tear off the bandaids and let the wounds finally heal. Wonderful articulate write!
    it so deserves the recognition!
    Jo


  • Rheea gold member
    March 19
    Edit | Reply
    How wonderful this is. How wonderful you are fresh and honest. I wish I had two golds.

  • tara wilson gold member
    March 17

    Edit | Reply
    i've had this poem bookmarked for a while. My brother and i had it pretty similar. i was quite an angry child -- this hits very close to my home too..lol..for me. wonderfully written.


  • Daizee silver member
    March 14

    Edit | Reply
    First grade is truly the worst with band aid knees, blunt scissors, and the most hurtful words of your life. I love the boldness you use to tell your story.

    Love,
    Stacy

  • Tercarro
    March 13

    Edit | Reply

    Wow

    Brilliant stuff I felt every word as if it were mine.
    You have a very easy way of telling a story, it's uncomplicated yet speaks volums to me.


  • Cup-a-Joe
    March 10

    Edit | Reply

    Catie,

    First grade memories. oh boy. I cried for days cause they split my brother and me up. They finely kicked me out of school. (that was when I was in the orphans home.) my brother got adopted,and i didnt see him, I repeated the first grade, the next year.
    I love your poop colored hair.
    Joe

    • Catie Sheeran gold member
      March 10
      Edit | Reply
      OMG Joe...I wouldn't have been able to survive with out my brother. I think that is the worst thing ever!! they should never split up siblings. Do you know or see your brother now?


  • lowercase prelude gold member
    March 8

    Edit | Reply
    This is amazing

    Your imagery and the angry within the words made this piece truly magnificent. Great work


  • jasminerose
    March 8

    Edit | Reply
    As always, sheer delight to read you and your... anger But this one is something special as it reveals a deeper strength that you grew to realize you possess and now tunnel it into brilliance for all of us to share in..
    Exellent penning!!!
    My best to you in this contest!!!
    Linda


  • xxSerendipityxx
    March 8

    Edit | Reply
    Another great write! I know exactley where you're coming from. Anyway best of luck in the contest


  • Oh.My.Juliet
    March 7
    Edit | Reply
    Wow, this is great! I can picture it! Great write!


  • MJ Donnelly gold member
    March 7

    Edit | Reply
    Oh dear god, I hardly know what to say...other than, I wholly relate because I too came from a poor family, I am the oldest of 9 children, my father was not around much and so consequently we went with out a lot of things, barely scrapping by. Your words touched me deeply Catie.

    • Catie Sheeran gold member
      March 7
      Edit | Reply
      oh, thank you my dad had 8 kids and I am the oldest. 2 with my mom and 6 with my step mom. tho, my mom ran away with my brother and I, so I didn't see my dad much...but we came back about 10 years ago and I see my dad all the time. and all my other brothers. it's nice.

      thanks for the read


  • Swangrnv gold member
    March 7

    Edit | Reply

    WOW

    outstanding pen! Yeah, I can remember not being liked too much back then myself, being 'dirt' poor never really made many friends as a child, but i was lucky enough to be one in a family of MANY!! l.o.l. so who the hell needed those jerks!? now i'm angry for you too!..

    • Catie Sheeran gold member
      March 7
      Edit | Reply
      I think being poor gave me character and made me compassionate to a lot of people. I am not a theif...so, like they say...only God can judge

      seems like it did the same for you

      • Swangrnv gold member
        March 7
        Edit | Reply

        true dat!

        for real, i know it helped, but so did our father's GARRISON BELT!! ouch i can still feel it each time we tried to treat someone wrong!

        • Catie Sheeran gold member
          March 7
          Edit | Reply
          ah, yes...got that too...but it wasn't my daddy who hit us...never touched us, in fact...my mom's bf's at the time.


          hurts all the same tho. OUCH
          and she had one bf that gave us the boot a lot too

          tho, mom's hand stung more than the boot, my brother and I both agree...lol my mom knew how to keep us in line..that's for sure!


  • Ken-Maverick
    March 7

    Edit | Reply
    How sad? Nah not at all. brutal honesty is what i'd rather call it. Wonderfully penned buddy
    All the best to you in the contest

    Ken


  • AutumnGypsy gold member
    March 7

    Edit | Reply
    This didn't really sound angry to me, sad yes, angry not so much, like you have got past it. But so perfectly done hun. Best to you in the contest

    • Catie Sheeran gold member
      March 7
      Edit | Reply
      oh, no...I am definately past it ...lol. omg it was first grade I meant that I was angry in first grade already..that's kinda sad...a first grader shouldn't be so angry

      thanks for the read and your lovely comment


  • penman gold member
    March 6
    Edit | Reply

    Wonderful

    Wow, now that is some confession. Fit the theme so well. Best of luck in the contest.


  • poetmaster32
    March 6
    Edit | Reply
    that kind of life would make anyone angry. good expressions.


  • Thomas Scott gold member
    March 6
    Edit | Reply

    Wonderful.

    Dynamite opening line and the poem just keeps getting better.


  • styrofoam
    March 6
    Edit | Reply
    I had dirt
    and a watermelon patch

    that squeezed my heart. you are good girl.


  • Terry Collett
    March 6

    Edit | Reply

    I really liked this poem.

    You have captured me as a reader now; when I am free from chores and writing work I seek your work out on a daily basis. This poem has merit: loved these lines:

    they giggled
    hands cupped over mouths
    in huddled groups
    pointing at my unruly,
    poop-colored hair


  • usefuldistraction
    March 6

    Edit | Reply
    Breathing deep I see, and exorcising those "thing" from the past that make the deep impact. Love the introspection and honesty.

    • Catie Sheeran gold member
      March 6
      Edit | Reply
      ya...i said to someone i never stole...and then my mind trailed off into this old memory and actually a few others when I was 6 and 7.

      that stealing was a big problem. but I only did it that year and completely stopped I was very angry one of the worst years of my life.

      thanks for the read


  • chloris
    March 6
    Edit | Reply
    this is rather sad.. not angry..


  • Jonbug gold member
    March 6

    Edit | Reply
    I like this. So real. Your description of the other girls reminded me of my youth. Though male, I went through much of the same with shoes and clothes. I would have been a wreck without sports.

1 - 37 of 37