Eight-Year-Old, Learning To Skate Poem by Laurence Overmire

Bully had a name
But I've forgotten
1966 too long ago

Remember what he did
Pushed me on the ice
For no apparent reason

Chattering words of contempt
He wanting to fight but
I just walked away

Couldn't see any point
Thinking what's wrong with him
Needing to hurt a stranger

Limped my way home
A knock on the door
Two girls from school had seen it all

Was I ok?
Can we get you anything?
You were so brave!

That's when I learned
The macho thing
Was not really so attractive.


(Previously published in Three Smiles, Fall 2000)