public school

I was not taught
to believe in myself
I was not taught
that I could succeed
I was taught to obey
everybody else
I was taught that the future
was not open to me

I was not taught
that I had any choices
I was not taught
to seek out the truth
I was taught
to memorize the voices 
that taught me about failure
and how I was the living proof

I went to public school
I went to public school