Everyone signs their names on the wall when they are sophomores
Sharpies of all colors mar the white painted bricks
You’ll graduate in May, of course
You signed your name here long ago

Hearts and doodles with names inside
From couples at the time, long over
It’s a special place, where you won’t get detention
For writing on public property
(Of course if the teachers catch you in the act it’s over,
But if they don’t actually witness it they’ll turn a blind eye)

Names have been signed since ‘87
Not much place is left there
My classmates smirk and lunge for expos, highlighters, anything to write with
Wanting to hurry and add their names to the wall of fame
The history that is our school

Nobody looks at the wall after they’ve signed it
It fades from memory for the upperclassmen
You’re a senior now anyway
You have more important things to think about than a silly wall
Where you signed your name low, close to the corner
Away from prying eyes

As I ponder, a boyl writes his name with a girl’s inside a heart
She exclaims in anger – apparently they are not together – and scratches it out
Perhaps he loves her
Perhaps he hoped she would not see
Perhaps he hoped she would

You won’t look at this wall again
Of that I am sure
There is so little space left on this wall, so filled with writing like one giant yearbook
I look around cautiously… is anyone looking? No?

There isn’t much space
Plus you will never know
So I smile just a little bit as I take the liberty
Of uncapping a metallic silver sharpie
And writing my name right below yours
You will never see this
And I will never tell you
So I draw a heart around it too

Nobody will ever see it
No one will know about it but me
So this is my confidant
I don’t write the words “forever” around my small contribution
Because that’s what the sharpie is for
Permanence