Backpack Single Strap

 Backpack Single Strap to the institute of scrap

All the way forward he wants to go back

Driven to do what he’s told, poor fool

Bouncin’ around in the hooptie school.

Past gaggles of no ones and terrible ideas

Past illegal choices and canceled school meals.

Past apathy, sloth and entitled, unfunded

All set in the rhetoric of leadership pundits

Strap arrivin’ alive is a miracle now

Sidewalk don’t work but busted fence will allow

The tambourine man to sit in his web

Snatch up the ones who fled from higher ed

Strap walkin’ short and head down just in case

So an overworked teacher don’t get up in his face

Late to show ‘cause he has to go

Around the stairs blocked off cause they’re broken and so

No way for a  pee break with the leaks in the pipes

Fountain water smells and the rust ain’t on strike

Next bell off to the next hell  he rolls

Step easy on the court watch for the holes

Floor ain’t been fixed since cutting the tolls

Pick up a ball flat as a pancake

Reminds Single Strap of the breakfast they didn’t make

 Social studies becomes a forensic activity

Deciphering pages written at the nativity

Making educated guess at what happens next

‘Cause after that page where’s the rest of the text, then?

Stuffed in a hole to keep the rats from infestin

School’s done for today that was a barrel of fun

What did he learn ‘cept to stay out of the sun?

Who did he turn to when hungry at 1?

What did he drink since there was none?

Strap’s leavin the school just like he came in

Walking short, can’t add and his language is none.

Back Pack Single Strap comes back the next day

Bobbin and weaving his way through the day

No guidance, no books, no food and no play

State minds close their eye turn their polo club head away

No time for the underdog we have food stamps anyway

They’ll be ok  ‘cause dropouts rake the leaves away

Suits turn in slo- mo while staff packin’ an rollin’

Can’t get no grapes ‘cause the leadership stole ‘em

Back Pack Single Strap to the academy of scrap

All the way forward he wants to go back

Can’t read the signs if they ain’t pictures in crayon

Can’t add up the deals got no numbers to count on 

Got no mind of his own never learned ‘bout that tool

Driven to do what he’s told, poor fool

Bouncin’ around in the hooptie school.