2007 - Secondary - Runner Up - Cochran
Courtney Cochrane, 7th Grade (Age 13)
Bancroft School - Worcester, MA
Title: Radiant Smiles and Barefooted Friends, Poem
Teacher: Jamie Paul
Jan 16, 2007
Radiant Smiles, and Barefooted Friends
I see you in the hallway,
Your smile a blank canvas,
Ready to be painted on by the mean colorful words that are
hurled your way,
You don't move, You don't blink,
Harsh insults fly at you like poisonous arrows,
Piercing,
Hitting your soft spots,
Where you are vulnerable,
Behind your mask,
I see a flicker of pain,
Which is swiftly replaced by the uncaring look
You have adopted,
The bullies tear at your heart,
Ripping your self-esteem to shreds,
You used to be strong, but now you are
A mere shadow so destroyed by the words of others,
Who are you?
You used to be my friend,
But now you are meek, and your smile never seems to wake
from its slumber,
You used to be beautiful, radiant,
Twinkling,
Your laugh would carry me through the long tough days at
school,
In the summer,
You would throw your head back and run,
Barefoot through the lush green meadow where we shared,
A thousand secrets,
Onto the beach you would run,
Feet pounding the smooth sand,
As if it were a drum,
And into the clear blue water,
Your eyes would light up with life,
And your presence would make even a gloomy day fun,
This can't go on,
I will go insane watching you float away from me,
I will look those bullies in the eye,
And tell them what I think of them,
"You are all cowards," I will say,
And all those who they once bullied,
Will stand with me,
In a silent line,
We won't fight,
We won't yell,
We will be silent,
As I pull you back to life.
Then I will see,
Your
Radiant
Smile
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