Bully

Thinking back when I was young I still recall your bitter tongue you guys weren’t fooling anyone behind those plastic smiles. She felt the daggers in her back and as she passed I heard you laugh I’m sure she felt the aftermath of your relentless wiles. Your loyal cronies all stood by and watched as you demoralized and tortured her with callous lies she choked and ran away. I saw her crying in the queue and I just didn’t know what to do I felt as much to blame as you because I’d looked away. A football game, perhaps a dance I’d meet her if by happenstance and hoping for a second chance to fix things, I would try. Years have passed I think of her I wonder how her life endured all the pain from you and yours …and now it’s me who cries.

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Pat Adams

Date: 1/7/2018 4:17:00 PM

So easier to forgive someone else than yourself! I saw some of that too as everyone probably has. Notice it's rarely one on one or deserved. Emotional write with a meter that might already be a form. I'm not real up on all that. Great write!

Akkina Downing

Date: 5/24/2017 7:56:00 PM

Ok this hit home. I was that little girl ;(

Aqua Marine

Date: 5/11/2017 12:19:00 AM

Hi Gayle, I came back to this poem, it touched me deeply....thank you for posting, with introspective honesty... It shows you were not like " them" at all, that you do have a " heart" for others...Peer pressure is a powerful force, at any age- today's world is filled with all kinds of bullying. Can't alter the past- some of us still wish we coiuld. Your poem is inspiring- you are making a differnce now! Thank you!

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 5/8/2017 8:00:00 PM

Powerful and important write Gayle. 7. I remember age 9 or so participating in a teasing, loathing the peer pressure at the time, the guilt having a huge and lasting impact making me a much more considerate & nonjudgmental person forever after.

Gayle Rodd
Date: 5/8/2017 10:54:00 PM

As we grow older our reasoning skills mature (hopefully) but so does the guilt if we've witnessed this sort of thing.

Chris Green

Date: 5/8/2017 2:06:00 PM

I read this a little while ago and then was interrupted (work) and now that I have come back and can take a little more time reading what I say now is wow. Does this hit home for me. I often think back on the things I should have said or done in my youth and wonder about how that person must have felt and also wonder if they ever think back on certain situations and if it would have made a difference had I just did what I new was right instead of following the crowd. Very powerful Gayle.

Gayle Rodd
Date: 5/8/2017 3:39:00 PM

I bet if people think hard enough, they can find bits of this in their own lives, on either side.