All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
It's Your Fault This Happened MAG
It's your fault this happened.
You failed as a teacher when I wanted a father.
You wanted loyalty,
honesty and respect.
I wanted your old hat because it smelled like you.
You let your records sing you to sleep, and I smoked to kill time.
I waited. And waited. And waited.
I was waking up early to tea
and an unfinished essay.
You were always rushing to work and forgetting to say good-bye.
I signed for your packages
when you were in Washington.
You liked to keep my grades in a folder
in your home office.
The guidance counselors told me I was crazy.
Your secretary said you were busy,
but I called, John, I called,
if only to imagine your office phone ringing
and your eyes, squinting
to read the caller ID,
because you wouldn't wear the glasses they gave you.
I don't imagine your facial expressions
and you don't respond to my emails. I threw the book out
but I kept your poem.
You could be catching a train
or a bus
or a ferry
but it's all the same.
I'm never in a rush. You're never the voice on the other line,
but I still hear
your laughter
because I told you something
that reminded you of yourself, years before,
outside of a bar in Boston
inside a flat in Wien
stuck in an old elevator in midtown
when you were only wondering whether you would be someone.
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 1 comment.
35 articles 6 photos 9 comments