This poem is in the voice of an elementary school / primary school child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The child is ‘high functioning’ enough to attend a mainstream school. Whether that means he or she can survive unprotected in the playground may be another matter…
Comments welcome as always.
Poetry appearing on this page was produced with the generous support of artsACT
PS It is also in the form of a villanelle, which has a refrain that repeats according to a particular pattern. I nearly called it ‘bullynelle’. I think the present title is better though.
What I learned at school
Again today he said he was my friend.
He made me spin around ’till I was sick.
So is that bullying, or just pretend ?
I said my money was for me to spend.
He told Miss Green I hit him with a brick.
Again today he says he is my friend.
The others, when they see him coming, send
him straight to where I am. He’s pretty quick.
So is that bullying, or just pretend ?
He took me to the toilet down the end
and wet the urinal and made me lick.
Again today he said he was my friend,
but after that he made me stand, and bend,
then poked me in the bottom with a stick.
So is that bullying, or just pretend ?
My teacher told me off: ‘This has to end.
‘By now you should have wised up to this trick.’
Again today he says he is my friend.
So is that bullying, or just pretend ?
CircleQuirk 