Promptly Poetry - Book 3

Bullied

She fingered the worn dog-ear
staring at words she didn’t see
adopting a library quietude.
The teacher’s back spelled indifference
as the chalk knocked upon the slate
but the lesson she was learning
required a studied isolation
a separation of self from circumstance.

She fingered the worn dog-ear
staring to ignore the words she heard
adopting a library muteness.
The teacher’s back was no deterrent
the taunts were not confined to whispers
they flew on balled up papers
that aimed to strike her soul but
missed and lay unheeded on the floor.



Written for "Promptly Poetry Challenge (2023-2024)" 

Prompt: survival
Line Count Requirement: Minimum of 12
Required Form: none