Gayle Rodd Poet I do not know?

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 January 7, 2018 at 4:17 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 May 24, 2017 at 7:56 PM Ok this hit home. I was that little girl ;(

Aqua Marine May 11, 2017 at 12:19 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 Pigeon Tart May 8, 2017 at 8:00 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 May 8, 2017 at 10:54 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 May 8, 2017 at 2:06 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 May 8, 2017 at 3:39 PM I bet if people think hard enough, they can find bits of this in their own lives, on either side.