Sticks and stones

A poem about bullying

Sticks and stones will break my bones

but names will never hurt me.

The words they say

I think for just a day,

maybe two

and then I don’t.

The words they don’t say

they hurt me.

The uninvited,

awkward silent shoulder.

The well is dark

with steep, slimy walls.

The words return

bore on repeat.

Sticks and stones didn’t break my bones

but soundless words they broke me.