A
I heard them talk about me as if I wasn’t there
Those busy body ducks
All tucked into their flock
With disapproving clucks
And furtive darting gawks
And when they know I’m list’ning, unsheath their tiny claws
Mount up a fitful hiss
Intended to demean
A feather flapping fuss
Then close their ranks again
B
When once I was the focus
In ev’ry room I graced
Classmates swirled around me
Eager suitors chased
I floated in that rapture
Held weightlessly encased
Locus of the moment
Dizzying embrace
C
Until my toxic limelight flickered, died
That flush of youth washed through so quick
My false-friend clutch quick-scattered, quit
Turned to their next fresh hope, cast me aside
Though devastated and abandoned, yet
Beyond their reach, with tender core
Ensconced into foxhole secure
I safe abide in self-made oubliette
A’
They celebrate their vict’ry, a triumph of the flock
With merciless critique
Made me a laughing stock
From their exclusive clique
Ensure that I am blocked
So now they all ignore me, a toxic lunatic
Reclusive and downcast
A self-absorbed old crone
Now thoroughly outcast
Slinks through the town alone
Repeat B
Repeat C