Worst Bully of Them All

Shawn was a sensitive boy; whose feelings were on the edge.
He tried to hide them under a harsh exterior.
Under tattoos and piercings.
Those of us who knew him saw his softness.
It was impossible to not see his sweetness.

He was teased and bullied by some at school.
He did not speak of it, wanting to keep his parents safe from it.
Not wanting them to feel badly.
This is the kind of boy he was.
Selfless and giving.

The art teacher was his worst critic.
He poked fun of his work and put it down.
Horrifying the rest of the class.
Shawn could never do anything right in art class.
And cartooning was his favorite thing to do, so he did it at home.

In the privacy of his own home
Where he took too many pills
And went to sleep
Escaping his insensitive idiotic art teacher
Who was the worst bully of all.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Hankins Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 7:23 PM
Oh, Caren, this poem makes me so sad, because it brings back haunting memories of being bullied in high school...never by a teacher, but by other kids who made my life miserable. Thank you for writing it.
Krutsinger Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 7:49 PM
The teachers are the ones who went after me.
Roper Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 2:12 PM
Oh, Caren, of the 15 years that I worked as a paraprofessional teacher I saw this once from a teacher; and she did it everyday .. how horrible for a child. Great write
Krutsinger Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 7:50 PM
It is a horrible truth for some of us.
Flaherty Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 2:01 PM
So more true than people probably think actually exists Caren. Meant to be a role or a position taken to inspire but some sadly choose to get off on and take sadistic pleasure wielding that power to destroy others passion
Flaherty Avatar
October 19, 2021 at 11:51 AM
Never a truer words wrote and so succinctly pointed out Caren And why I hereby anoint you my Champion. Sadly unlike yourself Caren some people who seek positions of power like Politicians , Teacher's , Police , Civil Servants sometimes do it not for the right reasons but for all the wrong reasons. Like wielding power in the form of bullying
Krutsinger Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 7:50 PM
This is why some become teachers. They could never bully adults and keep their jobs.
Dietrich Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 1:52 PM
wow, what a heartbreaking ending. This happens way too much these days Bullies are everywhere: in school, government and sadly, sometimes in people's own homes.
Krutsinger Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 7:50 PM
They are everywhere, and I wonder if they always have been?
Rodrigues Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 9:53 AM
How awful. Even his outlet denied by a cruel teacher!
Roper Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 2:12 PM
Caren, her problem was jealous
Krutsinger Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 10:57 AM
My art teacher despised me and I am an artist!
Bauer Avatar
October 17, 2021 at 4:05 PM
i hope this is fiction, caren! a wonderfully told story but so very sad...
Krutsinger Avatar
October 18, 2021 at 6:44 AM
This is about my own art teacher who was a real ass.
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