Written by: Peyton King, age 13
Bullying, bullying
It’s not cool.
Tripping, laughing, teasing.
Why do you do this to me at school?
It gets old and boring,
You are all just the same,
I am lonely and numb;
You find new ways to cause me pain.
I’m in this corner,
With nowhere to run.
So get out of my face!
The damage is done!
Let me go now please.
Just leave me be!
I’ve had enough,
Can you not see?
Don’t push me, don’t hit me.
I’m in enough pain.
Don’t tease me, don’t laugh.
From all of this, what do you gain?
What did I do,
To deserve this all?
Why must you hurt me
When I walk down these halls?
I walk alone
With my books, my papers, my lunch.
And here are these bullies,
They walk in a bunch.
They say I deserve it,
But I’m not sure how.
What did I do?
Tell me right now!
Is my hair not right?
Am I too tall, too fat, too clumsy, too smart?
You call me desperate and pathetic
And laugh at my clothes from the Dollar Mart.
I get home from school,
No one is home.
I go to my room,
And look at my phone.
Twenty-three messages,
You’d think that was good,
But as I read them,
I feel more misunderstood.
I’ve made my decision.
It’s final, it’s true.
No one would miss me,
I know what I must do.
Online, I send out ten words:
‘I won’t be missed, from my pain I will be freed.’
I get out a gun and point it straight at me.
I aim the camera so they can watch me bleed.
I get one reply,
‘No! Without you, I’m over, I’m through!
I guess you don’t know,
That I’m just like you.
I get teased, hit, pushed,
Every single day.
I, too, can’t deal with the pain.
Maybe together we can find a way.’
I don’t know who it was,
Not a first or last name,
But I’ll face tomorrow
Because that message came.
I am no longer alone;
I’ve made my first friend.
Because of them,
My life did not end.
This poem first published in the summer 2015 edition of Skipping Stones Magazine.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Peyton is currently a freshmen in high school, age 15. Peyton writes what she sees around her. This poem is not about her. She has not been bullied like this or been this depressed. This poem was inspired by real life events in the lives of those around her, however. Peyton and Dreaming Big share this poem in an effort to raise awareness of the very real - and very dangerous - consequences of bullying. It's not "teasing" and a kid should never be told to "just deal with it; you have to learn to put up with difficult people" or "man up".
Peyton writes poetry and song lyric. She is currently writing and composing her newest song. Peyton is the author of the children's picture book, "Hokey Pokey Pirates", which can be purchased here http://www.amazon.com/Hokey-Pokey-Pirates-Peyton-King/dp/151424862X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447844882&sr=8-1&keywords=hokey+pokey+pirates&pebp=1447844880823&perid=0MW6KFXQ4F8R7ZZRW7GS in print and ebook format.. The ebook is free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers through Amazon.