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I learned the truth at 17
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skin smiles
They married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on ones more beautiful
At 17 I learned the truth
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone who said
"Won't you come and dance with me?"
Or whisper vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems
At 17
For those of us who knew the pain
Of the valentines that never came
Or those whose names were only called
When choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far away
The world was young again today
They gave away some dreams for free
To ugly duckling girls
Like me
We all play the game
And when we dare
To cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting lives
But not our own
Who said "Won't you come and dance with me?"
Or do something obscene to me
It isn't all it seems
At 17.
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