Poems by Coral Rumble

When teams are picked, for playground games,
I never seem to hear my name.
I stand and watch the choices made
And, one by one, my hopes all fade.
I look around, and force a smile,
Lean on the chain-link fence awhile.
I say, as they all race away,
I didn’t really want to play,
But, deep inside the pit of me,
I ache an ache no one can see.

When I’m caught out and angry, and tears start to flow,
I pack up my rucksack and quickly I go
To the huge, towering oak tree, in the field by the woods,
Where nobody says that I shouldn’t or should.

I unpack my bag, spread my blanket and sit;
Feel the tree’s cooling shadow, and hide under it.
I watch the birds fly through the branches that span
The space where no voice says I can’t or I can.

My back rests against the deep patterns of bark,
And soon the sun makes an exchange with the dark,
Then I leave with clear thoughts that I gained as I hid
With a tree that’s not bothered if I didn’t or did.

I’d like to be popular, just for a term,
To stand with the in-crowd, be given a turn,
To be called smart and help others to learn,
But I can’t see it happening to me.

I’d like to be popular, just for a week,
To be given a part in a play where I speak,
To be treated as normal, and not as a freak,
But I can’t see it happening to me.

I’d like to be popular, just for a day,
To have people choose me, invite me to play;
I’d like to have friends who hear what I say,
But I can’t see it happening to me.

I’d like to be popular, just for an hour,
Come out of this corner where I sit and cower,
To share, for a moment, the balance of power,
But I can’t see it happening to me.

At school you must be good
And never get there late,
But when it comes to Friday
The children think it’s great

Because it’s time for the weekend,
It’s time to have a rest,
It’s time to stay in bed ‘til late
And walk round in your vest.

The teachers all work hard
To try to educate,
But when it comes to Friday
The teachers think it’s great

Because it’s time for the weekend,
It’s time to have a rest,
It’s time to stay in bed ‘til late
And walk round in your vest.