POEM BY FORMER STUDENT

Twenty Six Letters
(A Poem by Earl Mills, a former CLC student)

Befuddled by the alphabet, fifty years old and can’t read yet.
Twenty –six letters have brought me such shame;
   someone asked me to spell my name.
Another bulletin at work today, who can I ask – what does it say?
Grandpa, will you read this book to me?
   I tell her the letters are too small to see.
I don’t have my glasses; I’m running late; I am victim to this lie I hate.
Cannot read – won’t tell a soul;
   secret of my youth- now I am old.
Letter after letter I can’t figure out; frustration inside, a silent shout.
Twenty-six letters can raise so much hell;
   their riddles to me they will not tell.
This secret stay locked within, but I will not let these letters win.

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