Bullies are addicts,
always in search of
their next fix.
A victim, an audience.

They are satisfied
with their questionable status,
content to be tolerated.
They find comfort

in redefining their mission i
in more palpable terms,
understanding, romanticizing
their function and value

which makes it easier
to do their work
and acceptable to those
who employ and tolerate them.

Bullies and those
who employ their skills
understand bullies perform
a necessary function,

if not for them,
who then would protect
the status quo
and bury truth?

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. JC prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers. A lot. Her column appears weekly on Oddball Magazine.