in my first few weeks of school

I was punished for talking too much

the teacher put me in the naughty corner

I was slightly ashamed at first

then I figured it all out

it was a great place to be

you never got asked questions by the teacher

and the other kids thought you were bad ass cool

I visited the naughty corner often 

it was the best place to learn

no distractions from the other kids

something of a safe haven too

because the next level of punishment was the headmaster

the teacher would send kids there to be punished

the headmaster was the judge jury and executioner combined

no plea deals or excuses to save you from the whack of his cane

I opted for the naughty corner most days

sometimes we had a substitute teacher

when our regular teacher was sick

they always struggled to keep the class under control

I would literally throw myself under the bus for them

doing something outrageous to get their attention

finally being sent to the naughty corner

and things would then settle down in the class

after leaving school I missed the naughty corner

there was no such thing at the office

if you misbehaved at work they just fired you

but I almost got sent to the naughty corner at home once

for stopping at the pub after work and forgetting to buy what the wife needed

it was one of those Your dinner is in the dog dressing downs

decades later I had almost forgotten about the naughty corner

a few days ago we were with a bunch of friends 

having a light buffet-style meal at a house before a concert

everybody sat at the table to eat except for Ed and myself

with no room at the table we opted to sit and eat in the corner

when somebody asked what we doing over there I just had to say it

we have been sent to the naughty corner