First Day

I suffer in science

struggle in maths

eyes on the table

frightened to ask

Mr Mawhinney

face like a goat

must be a hundred

knows I can’t cope

Circles the room

stands by my side

speaks to me softly

sparkling eyes

“Here in this school

it’s my job to help

I don’t want a robot

just be yourself”

Does it so deftly

nobody sees

the rush as my blood

starts to unfreeze

Mr Mawhinney

face like a goat

must be a hundred

brilliant bloke

© Matt Goodfellow from Being Me: Poems About Thoughts, Worries and Feelings. Otter-Barry 2021