I LEARNED THE TRUTH
AT SEVENTEEN
THAT LOVE WAS MEANT
FOR BEAUTY QUEENS
AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS
WITH CLEAR SKINNED
SMILES
WHO MARRIED YOUNG
AND THEN RETIRED
THE VALENTINES
I NEVER KNEW
THE FRIDAY NIGHT
CHARADES OF YOUTH
WERE SPENT ON
ONE MORE BEAUTIFUL
AT SEVENTEEN
I LEARNED THE TRUTH
AND 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 VAGUE
OBSCENITIES
IT ISN'T ALL IT SEEMS
AT SEVENTEEN
A BROWN EYED GIRL
IN HAND ME DOWNS
WHOSE NAME I NEVER
COULD PRONOUNCE
SAID PITY PLEASE
THE ONES WHO SERVE
THEY ONLY GET
WHAT THEY DESERVE
AND THE RICH
RELATIONED
HOMETOWN QUEEN
MARRIES INTO
WHAT SHE NEEDS
WITH A GUARANTEE
OF COMPANY
AND HAVEN
FOR THE ELDERLY
REMEMBER THOSE
WHO WIN THE GAME
LOSE THE LOVE
THEY SOUGHT TO GAIN
IN DEBENTURES
OF QUALITY
AND DUBIOUS INTEGRITY
THEIR SMALL TOWN EYES
WILL GAPE AT YOU
IN DULL SURPRISE
WHEN PAYMENT DUE
EXCEEDS ACCOUNTS
RECEIVED
AT SEVENTEEN
28 BAR
INSTRUMENTAL
BREAK
TO THOSE OF US
WHO KNEW THE PAIN
OF VALENTINES
THAT NEVER CAME
AND THOSE
WHOSE NAMES
WERE NEVER CALLED
WHEN CHOOSING SIDES
FOR BASKETBALL
IT WAS LONG AGO
AND FAR AWAY
THE WORLD
WAS YOUNGER
THAN TODAY
WHEN DREAMS
WERE ALL
THEY GAVE 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
THAT CALL AND SAY
COME DANCE WITH ME
AND MURMUR VAGUE
OBSCENITIES
AT UGLY GIRLS LIKE ME
AT SEVENTEEN