Author Information
Compulsory Education, 1973-74
In high school, throughout all my sophomore year,
I walked through those long halls in bullied fear,
my self-esteem?---less than a jot or tittle.
No girl looked on me with a thought for love.
One friday, my clothes were marked with the spittle
of athletes who spat on me from above
the bleachers where I happened to be sitting.
The full year was a fool's farce of misfitting.
Often I saw my given name of "Jerry,"
written on walls are blackboards next to "fairy."
My parents---cheerleader, basketball star---
ignored these incidents and let them mar
what passed for my high school experience.
To them, it simply made no common sense.
Starward
[jlc]
...
In some circles, Jerry would be considered a great compliment.
Copyright © morningglory
Thank you. But in what way?
Thank you. But in what way? I have never found it particularly meaningful. Like Henri Beyle, who was more comfortable as Stendhal, I have fled from my mundane name.
Starward
Grateful dead
Copyright © morningglory
Uh . . . no, I had not
Uh . . . no, I had not thought of him; and, at that time, I do not think he would have made the name easier to bear.
Starward