125. And I Can Remember Them Punching Me Poem by Jaden Knight

And I can remember them punching me
laughing as they did so
until at last the bell went for end of break
and they’d run off
leaving me in a heap on the muddy ground

I remember half accepting it
guess I didn’t know any better
at the time I just wished that it would stop
so that all the tears and pain would go away

I remember being afraid of the next time
thinking that all of it was my fault
maybe I’d asked for the beatings somehow
but how or why I could never fathom

I can remember the feeling of shame
as all the bruises would start to show
for me they were no trophies to be displayed
merely signs of my own weaknesses

But as I grew the bruises dwindled
to less than a handful in number
even the beatings seemed to almost stop
maybe I proved I’m that not their punch bag
possibly in some way I earned their respect

Even the fear began to shrink
until I was able to push it all away
still get the odd flashback now and then
but now it doesn’t bother me

Even now when I am fully grown
and almost all the bruises are long healed
I still remember what happened those days
but I now would want to ask the bullies
that despite every attempt that you made to ruin my life
have you seen what I have now become?