Good Old Golden Rule Days

School kept me in the charmed zone.

Or did it?
Never less than a few blocks from home.

There was homework to be done,
themes to edit,
but school still kept me in the charmed zone

because I wasn’t at school alone—
there were other kidlets,
never less than a few blocks from home.

School was where my affections roamed.
I kept losing my green heart.
School kept me in the charmed zone,

the enchantingest was brown-haired Kathy from Baton
Rouge. She had bangs and a salty sweet accent,
never less than a few blocks from home.

I never courted Kathy. I was prone
to shyness. But I want to claim fair credit
for holding steadfast in the charmed zone,
never less than a few blocks from home.