Ode to a Clown
by Andrea Neal

Stay in school.
Education is important.
So stop trying to be cool.
Stop playing around.
It’s not time to be a clown.

Clowns with frowns holding themselves down.
Look at your teacher.
She wants you in the classroom paying attention.
Not missing practice sitting in detention.

I hope by the time you graduate
you know your addition,
multiplication, and division.
Life is too short
to be a clown.