This week I searched online for teenage bullying issues. I wanted to think about another blog post, and came across a lot of links to poems written by young people being bullied or seeing others bullied.
Teens can relate to essays, poetry and blogs written by their peers. A simple search with words such as “poem bullying” is enough to bring up a whole slew of sites.
Below is a poem by “Amy” - she doesn’t leave a last name - on the familyfriendpoems.com site. There are more, but I chose to post this one, for it illustrates the fact that young people are good at hiding what they’re really feeling. I did this myself at that age … put on a brave face against cruelty from school kids. What this can lead to, is negative emotions building up until life feels unbearable. It is difficult for teens to see that they will be out of school and perhaps out of town leading a new life a decade from now, away from the mean gangs who made their lives miserable.
So please look out for kids being mistreated in your school/neighbourhood, youth club etc. You can do the right thing just by being there for them and helping them see they’re not alone. They may just be putting on a brave face.
And now - read Amy’s poem at bottom.
See Those People
See that girl,
The one with the smile?
Do you know she's been hurting for a while?
See that boy?
Yeah, he's so cool!
Is that how he appears to be at school?
See that girl,
With that group alongside?
Do you know she considered suicide?
See that boy?
He seems so alive!
But every day he struggles to survive.
See those people?
All victims of hate.
Watch your words before it's too late.
Published: August 2012 by Amy
https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/see-those-people