The School Bully

This poem I wrote two years ago, came up on my Facebook timeline. It’s about a child’s experience of ‘the new normal’. We must NEVER forget what they did to kids.

The School Bully

There is a bully in my class

He joined us in the Spring

I used to really love my school

But then he changed everything.

He took away the dressing up clothes

The teddies and the toys.

He took away the singing

And the dancing and the noise.

He makes teachers open windows

- Even in bad weather

Makes us stand apart from friends

So we can’t play games together

Mummy smiles when she picks me up

- That’s how I always know she’s missed me

But the bully made her cover her mouth,

So it’s impossible to kiss me

Now break time is in “bubbles”

And I can’t play with my big brother

Stopped our after school clubs too

So it’s hard to see each other

Our Christmas play will be online

And no assemblies anymore

We wash our hands for longer

So now they’re red and sore

Now he’s told my older sister

That she must wear a mask

Says it’s for the good of others

And it’s not too much to ask

But all these things ARE a lot

Our lives have changed so much

I loved being able to hug my teacher -

Hold hands, play sports and touch

Usually we say no to bullies,

But this one must be clever,

He’s even got them putting signs up

So plans on being here forever

I don’t really understand how

He’s still allowed to stay.

No one seems to know how

We can make him go away

The teachers won’t stand up to him

To leave us all alone

Instead they say it’s for the best

And that we mustn’t moan

But my mum will fight this bully

And says other parents will too

She says I should be allowed to do

What children normally do

I’m only a child for a short time

And one day I will be grown

So she won’t let the bully win

And it’s good she’s not alone.

There are lots of other parents fighting

To make this bully leave

And when we all join together,

Who knows what we can achieve?