Testament

3 Comments

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    • mathiasthom
    • Not everyone follows textbook, cookie cutter poetry writing. What a boring read this site would be if that was the case...

    Poem Commentary

    Billy Lucas hung himself from the rafters in a barn, after being unable to deal with the daily harassment from his classmates and so called 'peers', calling him names such as 'queer', or even worse. His school system, principal, superintendent are trying to sweep this under the carpet,saying their school doesn't have a problem with bullying. Really? Then why is Billy Lucas dead? Outraged? Angry? Upset over this? I AM.

    Testament

    The world isn't much different now
    situations still the same
    no longer roaming these sacred halls
    filled with sweaty adolescent minions

    Spit balls, cat calls
    traveling packs in pairs
    slammed up against the walls
    while teachers look the other way
    not paid enough to police
    Indifference is surely a crime

    Roll call, another failed mind
    Billy Lucas,
    why did this narrow world
    do you wrong?

    Not one of the crowd
    weren't particularly wild
    so your so called peers
    pegged you as 'different'

    Trying to instill fear
    as some daily regiment
    proclaimed your behavior 'queer'
    slandered your beautiful name
    retreated inside, hoping to disappear

    I can sadly feel your angry pain
    one of millions
    who hopelessly felt the same
    But you took it one step further
    not seeing a light
    at the end of some tunnel

    Not realizing
    these ugly jackals
    were reaching a primordial peak
    while you hadn't been allowed
    to fully shine,
    but life has no button to rewind

    So this is a testament
    let the world bear witness
    those miscreants
    can not harm you now

    mathiasthom
    written 9/16/10

    rest in peace,
    Billy Lucas

     

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    Chaos128 commented on Testament

    09-16-2010

    You composed a genuine punch in the gut, here. I've got no answers for why injustices like the one you (artfully) describe take place, or what motivates the people that perpetrate them. But, I'm pretty sure your unblinking account of it, brings us that much closer to the day when cruelty is a thing that will only be found in history books.
    Reply to Comment

    mathiasthom

    09/16/2010

    thank you for commenting. I can only hope that there will never be another 'Billy',ending his life over name calling, character assassinations, and worse...

    ApaqRasgirl commented on Testament

    09-16-2010

    wow, that was wonderful..what a powerful tribute to one so young to end his life because of bullies.........wonderful read dear.....thanks....love asha
    Reply to Comment

    mathiasthom

    09/16/2010

    thank you for reading it

    MindNumbing commented on Testament

    09-16-2010

    This was positively CHILLING, mathias... I heard bits and pieces of this story on the news. I remember the newscaster seemed rather smug about the situation. "Indifference is surely a crime"... Thank you for bringing Billy back to life for just a moment. Thank you for speaking out against ALL troubled kids, past and present. This is an incredibly powerful write.
    Reply to Comment

    mathiasthom

    09/16/2010

    thank you, the more I've heard about this tragedy,the more angry I've become, from newscasters mocking this is as some liberal stunt,to the noncomittal attitudes from school officials. Bullying is bullying, no matter what the circumstances of the individuals involved. What exactly is 'liberal' about that? It's ridiculous...

    If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.

    Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet.

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