Shields

She sat in the corners 

Right at the back. 

Though dark, she would hope 

They’d cut her some slack. 

But the light of their evil 

Would shine, find her out. 

Torture her, torment her 

Till herself she’d doubt. 

Feelings of helplessness 

Would wash over her. 

For days it repeated. 

She soon was a loner. 

It’s not that people

Did not approach. 

She just stayed away. 

Like they would from a roach. 

Running away 

She hid in a shell. 

How she was coping, 

No one could tell. 

Her parents were also 

Kept far at bay. 

They were so in the dark 

They could help in no way. 

She’d created a void 

Where her heart should’ve been. 

From The Wizard of Oz, she was 

The man made of tin. 

Though the sadists soon 

Got tired of their game, 

The shell and her ‘shyness’ 

Were not to wane. 

She wasn’t cold to others. 

She was cold to herself. 

The only love she felt were 

Words of comfort from herself. 

She’d put on a smile 

For those she called friends. 

Everyone around her thought 

She was making amends. 

Alas! They could not have 

Been farther from truth. 

She was still treating 

Herself with the same ruth 

The kids in her class 

Hadn’t treated her with. 

But what had been done 

Could not be undid. 

She felt as worthless 

Two years after. 

Sad and alone she was 

Despite her friends’ laughter. 

Her parents and friends 

Tried to break through 

The many layers around her. 

Some did manage a few. 

Though she’d allowed them 

To let themselves in, 

She could never let them 

Come deep within. 

The Scar of Difference 

Had burned its way through. 

The only way out was 

To build herself anew. 

It was quite a task. 

Would last her for life. 

The only other option: 

To die by the knife. 

Month by month,

Day after day.

Through two years

She’d found her way. 

She’d met a girl,

Her friend transformed. 

Was just like her.

Her heart was warmed.

The layers around her,

Slowly they melted.

Layered still she was though, 

In case she was pelted,

By tormentors again.

Because of difference, so cruel.

Never again did she want 

To be another tool.

She still shields herself

Keeping everything out.

To this day 

She’s walking about.