At Seventeen
I learned the truth at seventeenThat love was meant for beauty queensAnd high school girls with clear-skinned smilesWho married young and then retired
The valentines I never knewThe Friday night charades of youthWere spent on one more beautifulAt seventeen I learned the truth
And those of us with ravaged facesLacking in the social gracesDesperately remained at homeInventing lovers on the phoneWho called to say "Come dance with me"And murmured vague obscenitiesIt isn't all it seems at seventeen
A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downsWhose name I never could pronounceSaid, "Pity, please, the ones who serveThey only get what they deserve.The rich relationed hometown queenMarries into what she needsA guarantee of companyAnd haven for the elderly"
Remember those who win the gameLose the love they sought to gainIn debentures of qualityAnd dubious integrityThe small town eyes will gape at youIn dull surprise when payment dueExceeds accounts received at seventeen
To those of us who knew the painOf valentines that never cameAnd those whose names were never calledWhen choosing sides for basketballIt was long ago and far awayThe world was younger than todayAnd dreams were all they gave for freeTo ugly ducking girls like me
We all play the game and when we dareTo cheat ourselves at solitaireInventing lovers on the phoneRepenting other lives unknownThat call and say, "Come dance with me"And murmur vague obscenitiesAt ugly girls like me at seventeen