Streams
When we went to the grammar school
the teacher said,
‘You A-stream girls
will go out in the world
and be doctors and lawyers.
You C-stream girls
will go out into the world
and be typists and mothers.’
But when we left
(tossing our hats in the air),
beyond the school borders,
the streams overflowed
and the dams broke
with the water hoarded
in our hearts
and all the girls flowed
out into the world
in alphabetical disorder.
About this poem
This poem was reproduced on a postcard for National Poetry Day 2005. Eight poetry postcards are published each year by the Scottish Poetry Library to celebrate National Poetry Day and are distributed throughout Scotland to schools, libraries and other venues. The theme for 2005 was the future. You can find out more about National Poetry Day in our National Poetry Day pages, where you’ll also find resources to go with the poems.
