For the 11-year-old Being Bullied by the Mean Girls
--“Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.” -- Shakespeare
With only words and looks
they bite hard
and gnaw bones against gravelly teeth.
They are a fire that uses kind girls
as kindling for their ancient caldrons.
You don’t know this:
In old age they are dull-witted and boring.
In youth, they were the same but ribboned up,
smeared with bright make up.
Now, they blink with ridiculous camel eyelashes
so no one can see what lurks in their eyes.
Aspens quake when they are near
and even their gravestones have started
a petition because they want to move.
No one will remember them.
they bite hard
and gnaw bones against gravelly teeth.
They are a fire that uses kind girls
as kindling for their ancient caldrons.
You don’t know this:
In old age they are dull-witted and boring.
In youth, they were the same but ribboned up,
smeared with bright make up.
Now, they blink with ridiculous camel eyelashes
so no one can see what lurks in their eyes.
Aspens quake when they are near
and even their gravestones have started
a petition because they want to move.
No one will remember them.