Paul Waring

THE BULLY

by Paul Waring

Friday 3rd February 2017 9:04 pm

he played the part of the bully

too well to give the game away,

you'd never know to look at him,

how much he craved to make me pay.

I bet you thought no-one was watching.

this bully leads the double life

of a secret agent or spy,

he's expert at covering tracks

and masterful at being sly.

I bet you thought they'd never find out.

he picked me 'cos I'm vulnerable,

he spotted me a mile away.

inflicting pain aroused him,

to victimise me more each day.

I bet you thought nobody would believe me.

eventually he went too far,

and showed the colour of his blood,

a yellow mass of boiling bile,

his copybook was blotted for good.

I bet you don't think you're so clever now.

yet even when the truth came out

he tried to blame me, telling lies.

I can but hope the shame of this

remains a stain until he dies.

I bet you're already seeking your next victim.

🌷(3)

◄ Casino Face

TAKE THE RAP ►

Comments

Paul Waring

Sat 4th Feb 2017 18:12

Hi Ray, thanks so much for commenting. I've really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this issue. And, yes, my interest in how humans think, feel and behave is very much influenced by my 20 year involvement in psychology. I've worked with so many different clients in so many different settings, including maximum security with severe mentally ill/personality disordered types, murderers, serial killers... you name it!).

Anyway, before I digress too much, I must say how great it is to be able to post a piece like this and receive such insightful comments.

Cheers, Paul

raypool

Sat 4th Feb 2017 17:25

Having got to maybe know you through your writing Paul I feel you like to immerse yourself in weighty considerations of human activities and their motivations (perhaps from experience as a psychologist.) All I can add to the valuable comments so far is that the "bully factor" can be encouraged by early learning where a measure of violent domination is trained in a bid to make a ruthless success of future careers, such as exists in public schools of yore!
In addition, some people are sociopaths motivated by heavy handed and overbearing control of their environment. These are often masters of the grand gesture for effect (egotists). Others are basically violent by nature. Just a thought!

Ray

Paul Waring

Sat 4th Feb 2017 14:02

LCPTB, yes, indeed, I think for some their bullying behaviour can be motivated by feelings of inadequacy, envy, jealousy, etc, not just by anger/control issues. But I've learned that it's such a complicated concept with so many different manifestations.

Thanks for your comment, much appreciated.

Paul

Paul Waring

Sat 4th Feb 2017 11:25

Thanks again elP, this is definately one of those subjects that can be discussed at great length.

Thanks Col, for the praise and for spotting a key part. Apparently, this bully worked his evil for years but nobody who knew him would have guessed what he was capable of.

Thanks to you both for commenting.

Paul

<Deleted User> (13762)

Sat 4th Feb 2017 09:21

but what makes a person become a bully? Often the abused become the abusers. I like to keep an open mind and hope that we are all born innocent, that it is circumstance that turns people bad. Even those unlucky to be born with some kind of severe mental health issue cannot be blamed for their grim inheritance.

Your poem makes us question so much but the cleverness is in the fact that you have concentrated on one point - the way a bully picks a victim - so well put in the second verse.

Excellent writing Paul.
Col.

elPintor

Sat 4th Feb 2017 00:31

Not too deep to dare--who cares about comfort?

You hit on the fact that many are highly educated and fully aware of the specialized form of punishment they are able to dish. And, they are able to discern a fish when it bites and so possess a kind of specialized craft. But, most are easily repulsed by someone who represents a challenge not before encountered. Even so, there is the small percentage who feed on the excitement of risking the unknown. And, there is always aberration to account for anything one couldn't predict?

Its a deep conversation, for sure, Paul--I can think of all kinds of points that I've missed..much appreciated for the opportunity to indulge in a subject of which I'm, frankly, highly uneducated outside my life's experience. So, thanks for remarking on my first comment.

elP

Paul Waring

Fri 3rd Feb 2017 23:49

Thank you so much for reading and commenting elP, always lovely to hear from you. Although this is not about my own experience of bullying, it reflects what I learned over many years of working with people who were victims of cruel, devious and controlling bullies. I do agree with you, a bully is not necessarily choosy, but you say it's to do with a lack of intelligence and I can't be so sure having dealt with plenty of cases involving highly manipulative, well-educated types! Evidence suggests that even the most unlikely people seem to do the most awful things.....

oops, so sorry if I'm going too deep into this!

Thanks again elP,

Paul

elPintor

Fri 3rd Feb 2017 22:40

That's a very informed perspective, Paul. The harassment can seem personal to a victim. Though, truly, a bully isn't really intelligent enough to understand the reasons for choosing a specific recipient for his abuse. He's really no more than a dog with a bone and any bone will do.

elP

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