HATE
If I were crowned emperor this morning
every child who’s ever called someone ugly
in the halls of a school,
shouting the insults

you're ugly  you're ugly

would be required to apologize
to everyone they’ve insulted
as well as those they’ve hurt,
the birthplace of which hurt came from the words

you’re ugly  you’re ugly

After which each child would be asked
by me, if they've changed.
Regardless of how many apologizes they gave
to the wounded
and how they will tell me yes, I’m forgiven
through the halls they will say

you’re ugly  you’re ugly

I would tell them later how
I would walk the halls being called things
obese, fat, weird, ugly
oh God just leave, they would say
along with the words

you’re ugly  you’re ugly

To the kids I would say
it is not what matters on the outside
what matters most is
who you are on the inside
oh, and to your insides I would say

you’re ugly  you’re ugly