What To Do?
By Andrea Wilson
What to do when your child just hurts?
Day after day he’s scared, he’s afraid.
It’s daunting the power a bully exerts.
Should I take a stance and dissuade?
Dissuade all those who still believe,
Boys must be boys, there’s nothing amiss.
And girls are so harmless; it’s just so naive.
The adults at school are remiss.
Remiss in their task to protect.
Kids are at risk; as parents, we know.
When they don’t intervene, I call that neglect.
A failure of faith we bestow.
Bestow on those powers that be,
To ensure they’re safe; they’re in their care.
When we send kids to school, we want an emcee.
A person who’s fair and aware.
Aware that children are daunted,
By not knowing to whom they can turn.
We tuck them in bed, their nightmares are haunted.
But next day, to school they return.
Return to some kind of torture:
Name-calling, punches, gossip or lies.
He needs a supporter, a rule-enforcer.
Someone to help and advise.
To advise the child and me too.
Pleas for assistance fall on deaf ears.
We need some help; how can we know what to do?
Alone we can’t allay his fears.
His fears are well founded and real.
His friends are supportive but afraid.
We’re at our wits end as to whom to appeal.
Will anyone come to our aid?
