Drunk and lost in Charlottesville

This one ain't really my style, but I had to write a poem for my creative writing class and the teacher sort of insists you follow her POEM ETHOS, so I sort of had to get a little rough with my muse. I'll make it up to her tomorrow with some gentle lovin'. Anyway,
Drunk and lost in Charlottesville
Sitting on a corner in the middle of the night
Looking at my shoes, three feet away.
I can’t go anywhere without my shoes,
So how’d I get here, and how’d they get off?

Staring to my left, I can make out the school
The halls of improvement, the pillars of learning
“Education is the key to a fuller, richer life”
But that road is long, and I tire of the night.

Staring to the right, commercial district
Who the hell’s at work at this time of night?
I’ll be damned if I walk down that road
This corner tonight beats an office tomorrow.

Staring behind me, I think I came from that way
Think I came from a group of drunk cheering kids
From a bunch of punks who say “Party or die!”
Mindless and loud; the party’s bound to end.

Somewhere ahead there’s a room with a friend,
A floor, a pillow, a place to sleep.
I put on my shoes and slowly stand up-
It ain’t much of a future, but it’s fine for right now.