By Kaleb Condez
“After the Bell Rings” addresses various problems that teenagers face, including hunger and abuse. In addition, this original poem reminds readers to always be kind, because you never know what someone might be going through.
It’s 3 o’clock, school is out
Middle school is difficult, without a doubt
Now back home with lots of work to do
Tests, quizzes, presentations, and projects: there’s always something new
But life is even harder for some teens
Many around the country come across obstacles, unseen
Those who struggle outside of school
Face sadness, depression, and feel that life can be cruel
After the bell rings, some teens struggle to find food
Rummaging through trash cans finding food scraps, mostly chewed
Tirelessly walking around the busy streets
While their parents try their best to make ends meet
After the bell rings, teens hide in pain and fright
In the dark shadows, sounds of silent cries at night
Innocent kids, attacked by their mother and father, hearts ripped
And yet their parents still grab the bottle to drink the last sip
And after the bell rings, to the hospital they race
Visiting their sick parents, hoping for a kind embrace
Teens worry as they see their dying parents in beds, weak and cold
And with little hope, their relatives’ hands, they hold
And after that loud bell rings, they try to stay strong
Through the darkest of times, they attempt to fit in and belong
So do not judge and always say kind things
Because you never know what goes on after the bell rings