Oh my God......Hold on a minute and let me gather myself after this insanely shocking and so lifelike poem............... Ok first things first. This was a beautiful poem, very well written and flawless in its flow. Second the reality of this poem hits like a rock hard blow to the forehead. People everyday are bullied because they are 'different' and its sending teen suicide rates skyrocketing. I have dealt many times with my friends who are 'different' than the other people who are on the verge of suicide so I know on a personal level how this affects people. So to read this poem is amazing because it brings to light people besides myself who either have the same concern are suffering. My advice is keep writing and publish. Get poems like this out there to those people that need it.
Here's the fix: "What if one day THEY went to far?" Don't you mean "too" far?
Now, to the appraise: This is so raw and true that it evokes an emotion of angst and sorrow from the reader.
"What if the cuts added up, what if the beatings became worse?
He's unable to cry out, stuck in his own world.
Even if he did ask for help, who could hear his pleas?" You went for the jugular with this powerful blow. This is absolutely stunning.
"He cowered in fear as THEY struck their last blow, the tears streaming down the faces of those who never helped." Here you show great insight into the aftermath of his suffering and the result, how it affected everyone.
But by far, the ending is so unique. "Them?" Though you want the reader to feel bad for the kid, you let them decide for themselves if it was really the bullies fault or his own? Do you blame bullying and insufficient peer help prevention? Or do you blame the individual himself for not having the courage or initiative to stand up and take hold of his life by reaching out to others? Perhaps it wasn't the suffering that led to his death; perhaps it was the fear they beat into him that really killed him in the end. Great job for leaving it up for argument. Thank you for sharing.
Brings painful thoughts, and its sad that this happens nearly everyday. The only thong we could possibly do without violence escalating is to suck it up and pretend it never happened. I can relate to this, and so can many others, great write, keep writing!