Unknown Quantities

A Poem

Photo by Mike Von on Unsplash

keep your head down,
stay in your lane,
and try to survive.

i tell myself the words
again and again and again
even though they never work.

sticks and stones, oh,
they hit me over and over
with taunts and gossip
as if i were barely human.

it was so much easier
to curl in on myself
rather than hide away
where no one could hurt me.

i took the bait,
i took the blows,
i took the poison,
and still i stand.

keep your eyes on the prize,
hold your head up high,
and try to persevere.

it’s a daily trick,
a reminder,
to stand strong.

the titters of laughter, oh,
followed me down hallways
as i wandered without direction
and told all my lies along the way.