First love at school

The halls of learning, stark and bright,

A symphony of youthful sound,

Where laughter danced and whispers flied,

And teenage hearts on common ground.

Among the lockers, cold and gray,

A fleeting glance, a nervous smile,

A stolen moment in the day,

My world transformed for a little while.

You sat across, a haloed head,

Bending low above a book,

Your hair a cascade, fiery red,

A silent yearning in my look.

The whispered jokes, the passed-on notes,

A secret language, shy and sweet,

Sharing dreams in coded quotes,

Blushing cheeks at every beat.

The classroom clock, a cruel device,

Ticking down the precious time,

Stolen glances, shy entice,

Aching hearts for a single rhyme.

The library, a hushed retreat,

Sheltered by the towering stacks,

Whispered secrets, bittersweet,

Holding hands behind our backs.

The awkward dance, a nervous touch,

A stolen kiss beneath the trees,

Innocence, a feeling much,

Too precious for the summer breeze.

Football games, a sea of cheers,

Your name upon my painted sign,

A nervous flutter, hidden fears,

Hoping you would see it shine.

The pep rally roar, the band's bright sound,

A sea of faces, blurred and bright,

But only yours, a sight profound,

Held captive in my yearning sight.

The prom night dance, a dreamlike haze,

A borrowed gown, a rented tux,

Awkward steps in a starlit daze,

Wishing for a single, magic touch.

Graduation day, the caps we tossed,

Tears and laughter, hand in hand,

A bittersweet chapter crossed,

The future beckoned, vast and grand.

Separate paths, a summer's sigh,

College dreams, a miles-wide space,

Promises whispered, a teary goodbye,

The weight of distance in our embrace.

Letters exchanged, penned in haste,

Telling tales of lives unknown,

But time marched on, a relentless waste,

The threads of love began to wane.

Years have flown, and lives have changed,

The schoolyard memories, a distant sound,

But in my heart, a flame unchained,

The first love's glow, forever found.