LIttle Johnny blows his horn

plays his heart out quite forlorn

teacher impassive with fingers tapping

his next appointment is overlapping.

Brand new sax supplied with hope

his parents now can hardly cope

their other son is playing tennis

the costs of dreams a rising menace.

Soon there will be girls in tow

and these efforts will ebb and flow

just like the rivers of empathy

the teacher sees it's five past three.

speeding home the air is tense

no understanding nor recompense

a certificate is eagerly sought

the standard's high the dream is fraught.

the teacher turns his aching back

and rises like a cast -off sack

he's weary now of all this hope,

he feels as vulnerable as the pope.