From One School to Another

May 20, 1996

This week, " Story of the Week" features a poem wriiten by Theresa Malloy of Newfoundland. Theresa is a former Fishery Products International employee who started her upgrading after the cod fish moratorium. She obtained her high school diploma, then completed two courses in psychology and philosophy from Memorial University. She hopes to continue with her university courses, and has also applied to study aquaculture.

by Theresa Malloy

I am only a little small fish
Who had hoped to be somebody's dish
But I didn't expect to be
Kissed by a teacher from Nova Scotia

I was taken from a school at sea
And ended up at ABE
And nobody cared for me
I Just stayed there in the freezer

Although I had no head
I served my purpose well
How I felt when Pauline kissed me
I will never tell

I stayed in the freezer for weeks
And heard each one of them speak
About fish, exams and such
But just figured I was down on my luck

But one day to my surprise
I felt my expectations rise
When out of the freezer I came
For what I thought was fun or fame

I was put in the trunk of a car
Not expecting to go very far
I thought maybe ABE
But what a fool I would be

The drive it took so long
But Boy , were we drifting along
And I heard someone sing
About a moratorium

Then suddenly I felt the heat
And thought , Oh God , not Water St.
I really miss the sleet
Back in St. Mary's Bay

Suddenly the car it did stop
Someone took me out of the box
I thought I had reached the top
But it was only Elizabeth Avenue.

Oh Boy, what a pleasant surprise
If only I had my eyes
To see this girl by my side
Yes , the same one from Nova Scotia

So into her freezer she put me
Now if only she knew how to cook me
I would finally get my wish
And be this nice girl's dish

If those townies ever knew
I guess they would come by the crew
Just to glance at me
The last cod to be taken from the sea

But my guess is, it's here I'll stay
For maybe a year and a day
Or end up back in the Bay
With all my fellow fools
Who should have stayed in school!

[A Newfoundland Spell , 1995, Adult Basic Education Network, pages 43 and 44 ]