It was drummed in

It was drummed in

Boxed into my ears

Along with the inferiority complex

Feelings of worthlessness

Dirty unworthy thoughts

Arse bright red

The cheeks stinging.

Unable to sit down

For the discomfort

As bad as haemorrhoids

For the pregnant woman,

The flabby old man.

Drummed with sticks

Paradiddles on the posterior

Never talk back

Know your place

Keep your head down

Stay in your lane.

It never leaves

Until the voice is yours,

Mine.

Life is difficult enough

Without the in-fighting

Beating yourself up

Doing the bullies' work

For them.

Beaten before you start

No matter the success

It will never be good enough.

You will never be

Clever enough

Tall enough

Thin enough

Or just enough.

Even when enough is enough

It isn’t

There will always be

The voice in your ear

That says “I’m still here.

I will never let you go

And you will never be

Any good

At anything

Even if you are,

You aren’t

Not one bit

Not one iota

No bloody good at all

You dirty little shit.”