Hiding In Disguise
By Ashley O’Hare
All of my childhood bullies
corrupted how I felt about me.
Every snide little comment
a swift kick below the knee.
Too nerdy if I compete in the spelling bee.
Too weird if I accept the role in the play of “tree.”
Never a moment unseen.
Would somebody please hide me?
Year after year
I can’t wash out my eyes.
Thousands of tears
cannot make me accept my size
or the hobbies that make me tick–
it all makes them sick.
I will never understand why
they felt the need to try
and force me into a disguise.