You can say whatever you want about it, but in particular I’m interested in the question of what sense you make out of the last line as a follow-up to what was stated previously in the poem.
He saying the best part of his life was in high school, and things went downhill from there. Anyone who doesn’t feel that way is seriously jaded, or had an awful time in high school.
I like the poem. I do not totally identify with it, but I know plenty of people who could write similar thoughts. Good times.
Moved MPSIMS --> Cafe Society.
Are you saying everyone feels that they peaked in high school? I had a blast in high school, but I hardly feel I peaked then.
I concur with how others are reading the poem, terrible things have happened to him since high school, which was when he was at his best.
The best of the poet’s life were in high school. It all went downhill after that.
Sounds like the underpinnings of a Country & Western song.
Jinx!
But I am neither jaded, nor did I have an awful time in high school.
To me, it’s accentuating the fact that, while a high schooler may think it’s a wonderful thing to peak in high school, at the time they are having a blast and riding high, it actually means the bulk of your life sucks and having peaked in high school is a depressing and disappointing experience.
(N.B., I hated high school so much I left a year early, and have always felt bad for people who peaked in high school.)
I think… it’s supposed to be funny, right? The last line I mean, in a dark-humored way.
Or is that just me?
Not that everybody peaked in high school, but they should have fond memories of youth and appreciate what they will never regain.
I stopped by a friends house and they were having a BD party for their seven year old daughter. I wished her a happy birthday and told her to enjoy it, because IME life went downhill after seven.
I was just joking around, but the kid is very sensitive. That night she was crying, and related what I had said. I spoke with her on the phone and told her I was just kidding. But I had my fingers crossed. The girl is whack.
This is one of the saddest things even written, assuming that you believe it TriPolar. It’s sadder than the poem.
Fond memories of youth is a different idea altogether. Yeah, High School was great. College was a blast. I loved grad school more than I can say. Early married life, young kids and building a career was hard, but enjoyable (for the most part!) etc.
Of course I’ll never get that back again, but that doesn’t make me sad, because I look forward to what’s next to come. First child goes to college next year- more time with my husband, to vacation and travel, watch my son’s life unfold- yeah, good memories yet to be made. I think it’s the complete opposite of jaded. It’s optimistic to think ones best years aren’t behind them.
I didn’t mean that everybody should feel that everything goes downhill from high school. I just meant that everybody should appreciate their youth. Poor expression of the thought on my part.
Vinyl Turnip, it’s funny to me, too. I can totally imagine it coming out of the mouth of a standup comedian, verbatim. The last line is the punchline: very dry, ironic understatement. It’s like getting fired from work and then getting into a car crash on the way home, and then saying, “My day’s not going very well so far.” Most people who say they peaked in highschool just mean they’re boring, average adults now, not that their lives are abysmal. Also, saying you peaked in highschool is talking about who you are personally - that you’re not as cool or smart or funny or athletic or popular as you used to be. So considering the previous statements in the poem in that context is also funny, in a bitterly ironic way, because it’s framing these horrible things that happened to him, that were entirely out of his control, as personal failings.
I laughed.
Since I expressed this so poorly, I’ll attempt to restate it:
He saying the best part of his life was in high school, and things went downhill from there. Anyone who doesn’t appreciate the wonderful experience of youth is seriously jaded or had an unusually awful time in high school, but in the case of the poet, his life after high school must be deeply tragic. For the rest of us, we should all want what we have now, and still have the desire to be 17 again.
Is it ok to agree right up to the last point? High school was great, but I really don’t want to be 17 again. Other ages later were just so much better!
How about just saying ‘young again’?
Except for health, why should people feel that way?
I understand that youth is a time of possibilities, and many people regret not making more of those when they had the chance. But even though I really liked high school, I am better and happier today in every possible way except for my physical body.
You’re speaking for yourself. It’s simply not a universal.
I see the poem as a dark affirmation of the (misguided) “these are the best years of your life”-style talks that some teens get from adults. Most sensible people shake that off with a “forget that, I’m going to have a decent life” attitude, but the speaker in the poem seems to be bleakly acknowledging its truth for him.