Annie

Annie's up at seven on a work day Brews herself a cup of peppermint tea Gathering her papers and lesson plans She grabs her keys Teaching arithmetic and Africa Geology and girls basketball All the kids in her class will tell you she's the best But she's heard other teachers in the hall Saying What are we going to do about Annie Pretty girl like her shouldn't be alone If she took our advice dressed up real nice She could find a man to take her home. Mondays come questionsofcouples Where and with whom did you go Avoding the personal pronoun She hopesit doesn't show Shopping with her lover in the ckity Two women holding hands don't get a stare But what if the kids knew what would they do Would they hate her why should they care. Singing Never getting too close to her students Never letting out too much of her life Keeping her delights and disappointments Tucked out of sight Annie takes herself to the Christmas party The principal whispers with a smile You're vivacious and bring, if you play your cards right There's some men here tonight worth your while Thinking Work that you love is hard to come by The kids shhe could never bear to lose So she makes conversation out of Silences and half truths But at night by the fire with her lover She looks out the wind driven snow And dreams of the day when she'll look in their faces And tell everyone she knows She'll say Last Don't you worry about Annie She don't lie awake and pine She's got love to fill her heart Flowers growing in her garden Annie's doing just fine (repeat)