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Notes About The Poem

In many neighborhoods, bullies rule. In schools, they tend to exert themselves where supervision is lax such as on the playground. Many of these types now "wrestle" at the top echelons of power. Will these child-like adults ever learn anything different?

hearts not yet opened

Bullies exude a malevolent force
And victims suffer their mean hellish toll
What is their ultimate unpleasant goal?
Are we their punish-for-pleasure resource?

It’s more than their world’s an OCD course
Where we’re just glass marbles that they can roll
They’re addicts who relish life as a troll
Like unwelcome Vikings from cold lands Norse

These predators think they’re on a high horse
They spit out the meek into a waste bowl
Without love for those who possess a soul
They from humanity themselves divorce

When persons with power have a kind heart
Acts gentile and sweet might set them apart

bullyingmental illnesssonnet

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Jim Slaughter

July 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM

I have never understood "bullies". Thankfully, I have also never had to deal with any. A thought-provoking piece, Duke.

Duke Beaufort

July 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM

Jim how lucky you are…or maybe you project strength that wards them off. They seem to be the people in power these days, which is incredibly dangerous for us all. Take care.

Aysha Nuwas

July 7, 2025 at 1:10 AM

wise and kind words, peace and love.

Duke Beaufort

July 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM

Thanks Aisha, I’m always amazed we see this behavior so often. Smiles of course and my bullies stay far away from all of us!!!

Ink Empress

June 26, 2025 at 3:06 AM

I like that "punish-for-pleasure" i think i might use that from now on when standing up for myself. Yes most politicians what they do is bullying, for power and control and i think the best depiction of what we always have seen and see today can be found in george orwells animal farm! He was a genius! If only more were aware of such truth. I think it is also suspicious and strange when those in power are kind and sweet i would wonder what were they hiding? I always tend to speak against injustice, when the deceitful ones bully our intelligence with deceptive tactics, and try to fool our intelligence, the best response is usually silence but also to speak up for ourselves! Many tend to do that today as we can see on platforms lile X fb instagram. Not many remain silenced anymore: pleasure reading this thought provokin write! Sending you light

Duke Beaufort

June 29, 2025 at 11:53 AM

IE, you're quite smart! We need to be skeptical when we're being treated poorly or with excessive reassurance. We are definitely better off if we can stick up for ourselves. Unfortunately, we're now in a position in the USA where that may mean having to sacrifice our standing. In the long run, it's best we push back. Hope you are well and smiles!!

I Am Anaya

June 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM

Oh dear lord, not war, not greèd, jealousy, nor illness stops their hatred from taking its opportunity. If they haven't changed their hearts by now DB chances are they never will. They should leave like they always say they will, yet never do It's always the good ones the kind ones, mean stays Good lessons for all to read and heed! It just takes two to build on a toxic community Take care ~

I Am Anaya

June 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM

Ah thank you I do feel a calling to advocate here Not too recently I was told in Limerick form Not to write about politics The gall she is a fool we are artists at the vanguard Look at us now We are just getting better at it Thank for your most gentle discussion on the topic you've already helped one or two of us & them ;)

Duke Beaufort

June 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM

Anaya, thanks for reading and thinking about this subject. It's really too bad for them since they will miss out on the finest things life has to offer. There are so many wonderful subtleties mutual respect and negotiation offer us in life. I am thinking about it and imagining that they trample fields of flowers and are like an earthquake that demolishes the finest artistic structures. They will never be happy. We try to explain it to them, but alas....we can lead a horse to water only. Drinking is optional. Wonder if we can ever transcend our evolutionary impulses. I believe many of us here do. I'm impressed by you and the things you write about. I'm thinking you are a force for good. Smiles!!!

Tania Kitchin

June 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM

Duke, a great poem. It's ironic that some on here throw stones when they're the bully. I am sure their comment was directed at me. Sorry you had to deal with it on your poem. Sadly, some are just trolls. The blocking tool works great for these situations.

Duke Beaufort

June 24, 2025 at 8:19 AM

Tania, you don't deserve any stones thrown in your direction from what I can tell. I am interested in what drives people to bully others or to be unreasonable. We have a prime example in front of us in politics, but it goes much deeper than that. We have a lot of armchair bullies who love the idea of pushing away all opposition with force. We really need discussion and explanation of our differences. I actually don't mind anything that opens up a discussion of what defines a bully since I believe understanding this might go far to stop some of it. Smiles!!!

Lin Lane

June 23, 2025 at 8:50 AM

Duke, I find it ironic that a bully doesn't recognize that he/she is one, even when the finger points at them. One never thinks their words are cynical or condemning because they feel they are lily white, but a black heart is not easy to conceal. "Punish-for-pleasure," an interesting concept that some seem to have set as their goal. Some may not think of me as gentile nor sweet, but I'd debate any finger pointed at me as a bully.

Duke Beaufort

June 24, 2025 at 8:14 AM

Lin, there is no way you could ever qualify as anything bad. It's obvious to me that you are only trying to stand up for ethical behavior. I suppose bullies are everywhere so it's reasonable to expect we find them here. Your point is well taken....why do they continue their destructive and hurtful behavior? Why don't they recognize their lack of empathy? I imagine it has something to do with their childhood and trying to feel better than they do. I suspect they've been punished by their parents and learned it while at home. This seems to me to be a chain that goes from one generation to the next. Smiles!!

hearts not yet opened

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