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Sticks and Stones

For Lonzo's 'No Bullying' Challenge

By Poppy Published 2 years ago 1 min read
Sticks and Stones
Photo by Jay Rembert on Unsplash

Your flimsily possessed power has everyone biting their tongues until they bleed, turning their heads when someone is showered in harsh words they do not deserve.

Misery breeds malice.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will have me flinching every time someone says my name.

Ignorance breeds delusion.

You can lay the blame on everybody else’s shoulders but you will never be able to scrub your hands clean of the blood you have shed.

Jealousy breeds cruelty.

You can stamp out my happiness, cut down my self-esteem, haunt my nightmares all you want. I will always have one thing you don’t.

Morals.

❀❀❀❀❀

fact or fictioninspirational

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Poppy

poetry in progress

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Comments (17)

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  • Rowan Finley 2 years ago

    Oh my goodness! This is amazing.

  • ThatWriterWoman2 years ago

    'morals' What a brilliant line Poppy! You always choose a masterful way to end your poems!

  • Thavien Yliaster2 years ago

    I swear, this poem reads like it's somebody that I know about here on Vocal. The parts about a flimsily possessed power along with showering people with harsh words that they don't deserve, then using other people as scapegoats, but the one thing that this person will constantly tote about is what they appear to lack in most from the perspectives of the people that they're bullying, morals. I'm reminded again about the line Tywin Lannister states, "Any man who says I am the king is no king." Any person saying that they are X, Y, or Z, may have truth to the claim, but what's more powerful is their actions and the accounts of their behavior from others. People will call themselves peaceful when all they do is instigate problems, especially behind closed doors, cause that's where they choose to hide their skeletons.

  • Novel Allen2 years ago

    The problem is that bullies don't recognize themselves, just as narcissists (is there a difference) do not. This was concise and perfectly stated. The end speaks volumes.

  • I was expecting "dignity" or "self-respect" for the ending. But "morals" works well, too. Love it, btw.

  • Amanda Starks2 years ago

    This was really good, Poppy! And I really, really like that ending. Felt like you were dropping the mic and walking off stage, haha!

  • Wow 😮 There are so many lines I desire to Highlight, Great Entry 🚪 With This Strong Poetic Piece😁📝♥️💯🚨✌️😉🚫No Bullying❗ Thank you

  • you will never be able to scrub your hands clean of the blood you have shed. This line was so freaking powerful! I loved your poem!

  • Another excellent poem… so true… ‘jealousy breeds cruelty’ etc.

  • Manisha Dhalani2 years ago

    I am loving this, Poppy!

  • Hannah Moore2 years ago

    Oh man, I recall feeling this way at school. Several decades later, my morals never did win friends. Integrity, I suppose I call it now. Nicely written.

  • Mattie :)2 years ago

    Beautiful. You're a wonderful wordsmith, Poppy :)

  • Mackenzie Davis2 years ago

    I LOVE this, Poppy! So well done.

  • Cathy holmes2 years ago

    Whoa! That was great..love the mic drop at the end.

  • Love this! Very accurate!!! I so thought that last word was going to be love, but I like your choice! It feels like a glass being slammed on the table after the end of speaking this / walking out on these people 😇

  • Mother Combs2 years ago

    💙nice

  • Dana Stewart2 years ago

    Slam dunk!

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