How Bullies Become

Inspired by Amanda Palmer's post about bullying / internet hatred.

A beast hunts me in and out of polished hallways.

It mocks me while hiding in a human form.

This monstrosity hides behind a brittle shell.

Cracks reveal its face, dark and twisted.

It hounds me down every path; I flee, I cry, I hurt.

Inside is filled to bursting with pain and anguish.

At every chance, when no one sees, the beast attacks.

It’s claws dig into my soul, ripping it to tatters.

I learn the tall ones in the hallways can’t keep it away.

They’re so tall and big and wise, and I’m so small.

All the pain builds to breaking, I can’t hold it.

So sometimes it sneaks out, past the stockades.

It flows out, then rolls back, as constant as the sea.

Hurting again and again, in an undulating inundation.

The only way to survive: fight back, over and over.

When I should feel secure, the beast is there.

When I look in the mirror, the beast is there.

It’s always there; I am the beast.

Author's Note

I wrote this with the idea in mind that each line is separate, kind of like a new paragraph. Let me know what you think. :)

This was inspired by a discussion sparked by Amanda Palmer: http://www.amandapalmer.net/blog/20130105/ It comes in 3 parts; read some of the comments.

Written 1/28/13.