supposed friends
supposed friends 1987 middle school they hung him upside down by his ankles over pavement threatened to smash his head shook his pockets free grabbed the cash sneering, jeering it took twenty years for him to tell me humiliating, he said looking down oh, Bird, fists tight, voice shaking lousy bullies his deep-pool eyes met my gaze not your fault—if you got involved it would’ve been worse he’s right but still
How heartbreaking. That man has enough to deal with in life without being bullied. But good for him for relating it all these years later. That must have made him feel a little better.
Powerful poem, Amrita. Thank you for writing it.