TO SANTA CLAUSE AND LITTLE SISTERS

To Santa Clause And Little Sisters

(Author: Unknown)

Once... he wrote a poem

And called it Chops

Because that was the name of his dog

And that was what it was all about

And the teacher gave him an "A"

And a gold star

And his mother hung it on the kitchen door

And read it to all his aunts

Once... he wrote another poem

And he called it Question Marked Innocence

Cause that was the name of his pain

And the professor gave him an "A"

And a strange and steady look

And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door

Cause he never let her read it

Once... at 3am... he tried another poem

And called it nothing

Because that was what it was all about

And he gave himself an "A"

And a slash on each damp wrist

And he hung it on the bathroom wall

Cause he couldn't reach the kitchen

I'm not sure why but I find this poem profoundly sad.   There are many poems about death and suicide out there but this just seems so tragic, maybe its the imagery of the mother, or that when you think of school grades you think of children.  Whatever the reason this poem has stuck with me through years, travelling with me in my poetry book through 9 different moves because it pulls on me in a way I can't describe.  Does it move you this much or is it just something in my make up?