" it's ok to say things to people!
Say anything you want! "
Said the teacher in class
Helping these students
Making sure they pass
But won't help
With the bullying
The hate
Anything at all

Until
Until a quiet voice speaks
From the back corner of the room
hidden away behind laughter
Talking and gossip

" sir: I think you are wrong "

Silence comes
It leaves with trembling fear
As the teacher speaks again

" how so? We have free will!
We should use it right? "

" wrong. "
The girl stands
She looks at everyone
Eyes filled with sadness
Anger and frustration

" I think we have all heard
Of the game known as hangman
We think of the right letters to say
That way the man lives
If we say the wrong things,
The man is hung. "

Nods and whispers come out
Stares and tiltings of heads
Are seen in the room

" and your point being? "
The teacher snaps
Faster than a broken twig
Or a mouse In a trap

" we have to say nice things
That way people are happy
People live peacefully with smiles
No fear or tear to be seen
But if we say bad things
To human beings
They are sad.
They die. With a noose, a gun
Sometimes a knife or blade
Sometimes on a train track
A road of black or in a river of tears.
This happens everyday,
Every 40 seconds
to millions of people. "

Silence appears with a smile
a smile of joy and relief
then leaves as shouts of agreemnet
call out in the classroom
the girl silently walks to the door
staring at dumbfounded teacher

" if you think we should have free speech
so we can say horrible things
think of hangman "