The Quiet Girl in School.

 The Quiet Girl in School. 

 

I never knew you were supposed to love me. 

No one told me I was supposed to love you. 

I walked right past you. 

Why didn’t you reach out? 

Why didn’t you stop me?  

I would have loved you. 

If I had only known. 

How would I know you were supposed to love me? 

And I, you. 

 

 D. Randall Dollaway

2025

Reviews

[Curly Grace]

Such a tender, wistful piece, Randall. You capture that quiet ache of the love we miss simply because we never knew to reach for it. Curly felt this one.

[Randall]

Sarah, I would like to share with you the response I gave to Samuel Dickens to the reason for this poem.

Randall
[delete] [report reply]2 Weeks Ago
Samuel, just wanted to follow up on this poem. What really brought it to words was when I was looking through my Senior High School book. I came across the pages in the back of the book where everyone signs and wishes you luck, good riddance, and various other stupid lines. There was one, only one, that stood out from all the others. I'll write it out here for you to see. Dear Randy, It's been a real challenge taking Mr. McLintock's course first, Utopia, then Plato's Republic, a psychological novel. I'll never forget Mrs. Brox either. She's my dear friend. I feel that both teachers have taught me a great deal. You write meaningful poems, and I hope you continue your writing. Remember, English class for all of them were worth our while.

Love, Gina
I looked through my yearbook of 320 pages. On page 312 is written in blue ink in her hand, is the one word I found only once in the whole book, the word Love. Since reading what Gina wrote many years ago. And reading all of them just this year, seeing the one word that should have meant the most the day it was written. I now listen and look at every word written by or spoken by another person. I'll walk around it, each word trying to make sure I know what they mean. Because I know now that one word missed can change the direction of your life.
Your Friend, Randall
Semper Fidelis

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I wonder how many times we pass by love wihtout even knowing it.
How many significant others get lost in the crowd because we looked right past them.

[Randall]

Absolutely, all it takes is to miss one word. Thank you, Jacob

[Samuel Dickens]

Terrific. These thoughts have run through my mind, too. To this day, I still wonder about possible girlfriends I might have had in high school and beyond. You capture that longing and wondering exceedingly well.

[Randall]

Thank you, Samuel, you got it exactly.

[Randall]

Samuel, just wanted to follow up on this poem. What really brought it to words was when I was looking through my Senior High School book. I came across the pages in the back of the book where everyone signs and wishes you luck, good riddance, and various other stupid lines. There was one, only one, that stood out from all the others. I'll write it out here for you to see. Dear Randy, It's been a real challenge taking Mr. McLintock's course first, Utopia, then Plato's Republic, a psychological novel. I'll never forget Mrs. Brox either. She's my dear friend. I feel that both teachers have taught me a great deal. You write meaningful poems, and I hope you continue your writing. Remember, English class for all of them were worth our while.

Love, Gina
I looked through my yearbook of 320 pages. On page 312 is written in blue ink in her hand, is the one word I found only once in the whole book, the word Love. Since reading what Gina wrote many years ago. And reading all of them just this year, seeing the one word that should have meant the most the day it was written. I now listen and look at every word written by or spoken by another person. I'll walk around it, each word trying to make sure I know what they mean. Because I know now that one word missed can change the direction of your life.
Your Friend, Randall
Semper Fidelis

[Samuel Dickens]

As I empathize with you, that story gives me the shivers. "Love, Gina", oh my. A few of my stories feature similar sentiments.