Colin F. Jones

CONFORMING

When I was caned I did then know the pain,
the reasons now though seem not to remain,
yet my recall is of the wielder still…
who did no good in me yet did me ill.
Tis now I think of teachers and their ways,
some were kind no doubt; recall decays!
Yet those who marked my soul with their spite
now at this moment would hurry from my sight.
For cruel were some and ignorant of the boy
who thought that life was something to enjoy.
We march in step lest our legs be caned,
for to our gaoler’s choices we are chained.
And so condemned conforming to the rule,
we get the cane when we go off to school.