Speak clearly.
Take a bow.
Stick up your middle finger.
Fight.
Scare them into silence.
Listen to your friends cheer.
Smile as you scream “retard”.
Frown as he cries.
Speak loudly.
Take a bow.
Wave to the fans.
Fight, always fight.
Punch them into silence.
Listen to your friends cheer.
Smile as you punch him.
Frown as he cuts.
Speak quietly.
Take a bow.
Run from the cop car.
Run, don’t fight.
Murder them to silence.
Listen to the sirens.
Smile at his last breath.
Frown as you take his life.
Speak truthfully.
Take a final bow.
Run from the jury.
Let your lawyer fight.
Be scared into silence.
Listen to the family wail.
Smile for the cameras.
Frown as you get your sentence.
~Bully, by Emily Cairns
“Over the years I’ve played victim to a few bullies, and I’ve always wondered, what’s it like to be one? So. I wrote this piece. It’s my way of saying to the bullies, ‘I think I understand.”
You Will Rise Project 