Monday

Why is it 

that there is always a crowd

on the internet 

waiting for us 

with their knives 

sharpened

it is as if 

the hallways of middle school

are back 

and everyone’s teeth

are covered in blood

I thought

we had moved beyond this 

that any adult

who can’t manufacture kindness

would learn to 

show the illusion of a smile

the illusion of a polite nod

I keep

expecting the best and being 

body checked by the worst

and that same bewildered

12 year old starting school 

looks up from the ground again

wondering how she 

got there.