At Seventeen

I learned the truth at seventeen
Love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skin smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
Friday night charades with you
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth
Those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say come dance with me
And murmured their obscenities
Isn't all it seems
At seventeen
A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downs
Whose name I never could pronounce
Said pretty please to the ones who served
Who only get what they deserve
And the rich relation hometown queen
Married into what she needs
With a guarantee of company
And a haven for the elderly
Never those who win the game
Those who love assault and gain
Endebted us in quality
And dubious integrity
The small town eyes will gape at you
And act surprised when payment due
And see accounts received
At seventeen
To those of us who know the pain
Of valentines that never came
Those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far away
The world was younger than today
And dreams were all that came for free
To ugly duckling girls like me
We all play the game and when we dare
To cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
To call and say come dance with me
And murmur their obscenities
To ugly girls like me
At seventeen