The Graduation Speech

Jesse was well liked by everyone, so everybody anticipated what he had to say

As he walked up to the microphone, on graduation day

For a moment he remained silent, as he peered at the faces from his senior class         

And then Jesse leaned into the microphone, and finally spoke at last

“As your class president, I’m here to speak to you today          

I was up most of the night, considering what words that I should say

I reminisced on school days, and all the many things I’ve done

So many memories came to mind, but my thoughts kept focusing on one”

And then Jesse held up a photo, and from side to side he moved it all around   

As everyone leaned to view it, and silence became the only sound

You could have heard a pin drop, as Jesse placed that picture in full view

And began talking of a classmate, that no one really knew

“Charlie’s life seemed meaningless, compared to yours and mine

Because none of us understood him, we never took the time

We saw only what we wanted to, that Charlie was not cool

He was far from being popular, the butt of all our jokes in school

Yes that we knew of Charlie, that much we decided on our own

He simply wasn’t worth our time, he was an outsider who deserved to be alone

But you see Charlie had a passion, deep within he had a dream      

It was his one desire, to play for our soccer team

And of course that was ludicrous, it was totally absurd

Charlie was no athlete, he was the senior nerd

In gym class he was never captain, he was always chosen last  

He was the poster child for unpopular, he preferred history, science, and math

And so some of us took it upon ourselves, to keep Charlie from wanting to play

For weeks we taunted him with insults, day after day after day

We made sure that he wasn’t welcomed, by anyone else on the team

For whatever foolish reasons, we were set on destroying his dream

And I’m here now to tell you, as your class president, I was wrong

I’m here to speak for Charlie, who couldn’t be here, because you see he’s gone”

Jesse paused just for a moment, to give time for his words to sink in

As he looked about at the faces, of parents, teachers and friends

“I’m not sure if all of you know it, I’m not sure if anyone cares

But the reason Charlie isn’t with us, is a reason I feel I must share

Cruel words they are definitely weapons, they destroyed Charlie body and soul

For all of the taunting and teasing, left Charlie feeling out of control

And Charlie alone in a battle, gathered his weapons to fight 

He purchased some drugs from a dealer, his mother found his body last night

Maybe it was only an accident, maybe Charlie wanted to die

But no matter how it happened, we as his classmates know why

For who in their lives hasn’t been teased, or made to feel unbearable shame

I’m certain that everyone in this room, has endured some heartache and pain

And maybe boys will be boys and girls will be girls, and we each have our battles to fight

But no matter our justification, hurting Charlie never was right”

And then Jesse took Charlie’s picture, and held it firm in his hand

And spoke to the photo before him, words unrehearsed and unplanned

“If only I’d helped somehow, given you guidance to conquer your dream

If only a teacher, a classmate, if someone would have just intervened

But I know I can never go back, I can never undo what has been

For you will never receive your diploma, or ever play soccer again

But deep in my heart I wonder, I can’t help asking what if . . .

I would have reached out to you Charlie,

Would your school years have ended like this?”

Jesse stood lost in his thoughts, of a life that was ended too soon

Until muffled coughs caught his attention, and nervous whispers began filling the room

And then Jesse turned with a smile, before retreating back to his chair

Teaching a valuable lesson, with his final words filling the air    

“I would like to introduce our valedictorian, he will be speaking today

Please give him your full attention, please hear all that he has to say”                         

And then Jesse set Charlie’s picture down, on the podium facing the crowd

As the silence told Charlie’s story, a message quite convincingly loud