At the bottom of the swimming pool
The standards didn’t matter

Common Core for all
The same for all
Except when we differentiate
Because we know
The same for all
Isn’t justice

At the bottom of the swimming pool
The standards didn’t matter

Especially to his parents
Watching from the edge
Red flashes reflecting off the ray-bans
Wondering
Had he been a truly happy individual?
Whose dreams had he followed?

Thirteen years down the drain
Battles fought won and lost

An individual learning the same as everyone else
That life is too short because
At the bottom of the swimming pool
The standards didn’t matter