Night comes again and with it the time to rest, but its spent instead wandering amongst the shadows... An unwelcome visitor. Leave me ALONE! A cold smile. Arms encircling. Hands roving. Break free Run...Run...Run... Empty halls Here. There. No one to help Busy. No time. Not my concern. Scared. Hurt. Angry There! "Please. Who do I go to for help?" "Me." I tell him what happened. A name. The arms. The hands. He nods. Makes a note. Doesn't move Still no one to turn to Sinking down, down, down. B...

The Worst Day of My Life I remember when we were talking one day I said it was the worst day of my life You pointed out I'd said that before maybe even twice I told you it was true last time and that it was true then That most every day was the worst of my life mostly because of them Did you know that every time I thought that they couldn't get worse They always did? More frequent too and you blamed me for the hurt You blamed me because I was always angry and because I would fight You wouldn'...

Sexual Harassment: Nothing Routine about It Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, or other behavior of a sexual nature where such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s academic or work performance or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Sexual harassment is often seen as casual, even if frequent, brushing of one’s body against areas of another’s body, and as having...

When her shorts were too short and his pants were sagging When she was late for class and his grades were lagging When he dyed his hair purple got in fights in the hall When she got her tongue pierced middle of last Fall When he back-talked the teacher one day at school When he got sent out of class for flaunting the rules When she lit up a cigarette during school hours When they chose to have sex in the school showers You saw that You saw them holding hands in the halls Shmoozing and talking...

Daughter, what did you learn in school today? Twas a question asked regularly Oft she would say “nothing” or “not much” As is said by many teens But if she could have put into words What it was she’d learned Here’s what she would have said Of the lessons that can’t be earned: “Today I learned that ‘no’ isn’t enough That the teachers don’t that much care I learned no matter where I go That he will be there If not today, then likely tomorrow From his eyes, I can’t get away He kept watching me, ...

Daughter, what did you learn in school today? Twas a question asked regularly Oft she would say “nothing” or “not much” As is said by many teens But if she could have put into words What it was she’d learned Here’s what she would have said Of the lessons that can’t be earned: “Today I learned that ‘no’ isn’t enough That the teachers don’t that much care I learned no matter where I go That he will be there If not today, then likely tomorrow From his eyes, I can’t get away He kept watching me, ...

You still smile when you see me, even as my blood runs cold You know I hate you and almost always did, yet still you smile when you see me Why? You ask how I’m doing. Don’t you already know? I say you’ve seen my page, that you already know the answer to that You don’t agree or deny. Why? You say I shouldn’t be worrying about how often you’re online But you duck your head and aren’t smiling anymore when you say that Why? Why? Does this subject make you uncomfortable? Does it really bother you?...

Night comes again and with it the time to rest, but its spent instead wandering amongst the shadows... An unwelcome visitor. Leave me ALONE! A cold smile. Arms encircling. Hands roving. Break free Run...Run...Run... Empty halls Here. There. No one to help Busy. No time. Not my concern. Scared. Hurt. Angry There! "Please. Who do I go to for help?" "Me." I tell him what happened. A name. The arms. The hands. He nods. Makes a note. Doesn't move Still no one to turn to Sinking down, down, down. B...

Walking down Main Street so quiet and serious Then she waves and smiles to a friend in passing For a moment, its as if she's come alive Going through the workday hard-working, always ready to laugh Yet so much down-time is spent gazing at nothing, her eyes sad and distant Extra time spent on the computers at school headphones on, eyes glued to a project Another design forming on the screen Normal. Carefree. Going through the motions and nobody knows it but me Lying awake in her bed, waiting f...

From where you stand, I am a doctor. Maybe, I am an architect. I am a street person. I live paycheck to paycheck in a rundown apartment. I am prominent, or I am a nobody. I am someone you’ve never even heard of, or I could be your closest friend. Yet, from where I stand, none of that matters b/c whether you see everything or none of it at all, you do nothing to help me. What I am writing to you about is something that has changed me irrevocably; but, if I don’t take him to court and fight on ...