Tag Archives: words

In my childhood neighborhood

the most frequent phrase in use was this:

“Pick on someone your own size.”

Bullies ruled the playground

at the public elementary school around

the corner from our house

Munching through gardens 

along our alleyways, 

grapes the finest prize;

trees along the river inviting us to climb,

the railroad tracks we ran beside

to catch a three block ride 

to the railway station nearby

required forethought and planning

to avoid chiding voices and threats

to make us fly back home,

imprisoned in a tiny yard.

But, I refused to run and hide.

My mouth became a weapon

to make up for my small size.

I had such foolish pride.

I could outrun nearly everyone.

I had feet that could fly

beyond the reach of baseball bats,

grasping arms and kicks gone wide.

But, projectiles I had not foreseen

the day I took my toddler brother

to swing on swings. I pushed him, oh so high.

The rocks hit us both as I held him close

and sheltered his tiny body with my own.

Then, I flew at the bullies as they laughed

and pushed them to the ground.

“Pick on someone your own size!

have you no honor nor pride?”

They stopped, then shrugged,

went on their way, no laughter, just a sigh.

That was the last day they picked on me.

A glare alone was all I needed

to put them in their place and keep them there,

forcing them to snivel, drop their eyes, and hide.

Whenever they saw me coming

it was they who would fly.