Going to School-or-Corruption of the Harmless Fool

Sep 6, 2022

A poem by Beverly Stock.

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If there is a vile, pernicious,

Wicked and degraded rule,

Tending to debase the vicious,

And corrupt the harmless fool;

If there is a hateful habit

Making man a senseless tool,

With the feelings of a rabbit

And the wisdom of a mule;

It's the rule which inculcates,

It's the habit that dictates

The wrong and sinful practice of going into school.

This first stanza of a poem by James Kenneth Stephen is in the public domain, and mirrors my grandson’s feelings for school perfectly!

Beverly Stock is an American poet who delights in creating poetry that asks big questions about small moments, and inspires readers to revisit the little memories we so often overlook. Her work has been published by The Society of Classical Poets, The Chained Muse, Persimmon Tree, and LightenUp Online, in the UK. Visit BeverlyStockPoetry.com and BeverlyStockPoetry on Facebook.