I’ve grown and I’ve learned
That high school isn’t a place for adults
Adults who’ve formed the ideology that if you’re harmed
It’s all your fault because you should’ve been armed
Adults who think the only way to defeat your demons
Is to drown them
Yeah, what a treatment
Because when you’re being called names
****, *****, ugly
And all those words dig deep into your veins
They don’t understand that all those words
Mocking you, hurting you, challenging you
Are simply chains that wrap around your body refusing to let go
If nobody will say it then I will
We’re all cowards!
We preach safety, love and kindness
When all we do is go backwards and downwards
Into the graves we dig ourselves!
The truth is we all need guidance.
We judge **** victims down to the core
Because she must’ve wanted it, right?
Because while she was screaming for air
In the very hour she was suffering
We all cheered and refused to hear
Because we weren’t there.
Because we weren’t her!
While he was screaming help
That he’d taken one too many pills
And was on the verge of dying
What did we say?
Take more!
Because we thought he was only whining.
We thought he was only playing.
I’ve experienced pain
Don’t you dare tell me to get over it.
Please don’t add another chain.
I’m tired of this thing called bullying
That if it happens to you, just say no
Whoa. What a great idea.
Because while I’m being kicked and beaten
My hero is the word no
But wouldn’t that give my demon a reason
To keep the pain going
Because while I’m bleeding
You tell me they’re only teasing.
But It’s okay because I can take it
At least that’s what I’ve been told
It’s okay because I asked for it
At least that’s what I’ve been sold
We’ve been told that when boys are mean to you
They like you.
We’ve been judged for our femininity
In the sakes of boys who can’t grasp the idea that our bodies
Are not an invitation for their disgusting masculinity
Constantly we’re told by adults that boys will be boys
And there’s nothing we can do about it
Because all we are to them are toys.
And if we make a noise
We’re being prudes
Because boys will be boys.
I’ve grown and I've learned that high school isn’t a place for adults
Because their solution is to ignore until there’s nothing more to ignore
And they continue to pass down this ideology
That your pain should be hidden
Because nobody cares about the victim
We live in a world where we’d rather call out people’s faults than our own
Because it’s a lot easier than realizing that we’re all broken down and weak
Because no matter how loud we moan at the words thrown at us
No matter how big the rivers are becoming on our cheeks
“Deal with it,” they say
Because someone else has it worst
But maybe their best is my worst and my worst is their best
Maybe that boy you watched getting bullied wanted to stand up and say
Stop and no and all the other words you’ve drilled into him for centuries
Or maybe he’s scared that they’re right about him being gay
About him being himself.
But hey, it’s okay.
Because we’ve been told that we’re not human
Unless we’re straight, White or meet the standards of beauty
I won’t apologize if my words make you mad
Because if you’re angry at the truth
Then I’m doing my duty.
And nothing makes me more glad.
I’ve grown and I’ve learned that adults
Don’t know how bad it gets
Until there’s nothing more to get
That you’re supposed to fake it
Until there’s nothing more to fake
I’ve grown and I’ve learned that the only thing worse than death
Is life itself
That nobody cares until your last breath
And no matter how much pain I feel
I should smile through it
Because I’ve been told to deal with it
Because unless I’ve been hit by a train
My pain should remain only in my brain
It took me a very long time to even think about doing this poem. All the poems I write are meant to make people aware of the issues still going on in the world, or to boost someone's self confidence. However, I needed a different kind of motivation for this poem and I'm happy that motivation came along because I'm so very proud of this.