bogus

always the butt of the joke
always the one who suffered
yet
he took it like a man
and he faced
forward
each and everyday
he took the lumps
the blackeyes and beatings
he took the stares
the jokes
the laughter
and the lies
and
each day
he got up
he faced the day
and
he took it
again
and again
and
again
and again
and when he thought he
had no more left
to sustain him
he gathered that strength
and the wisdom
that had never failed him
and he turned the other cheek
used and abused
but all the stronger
and more admirable for it
he realized then
what truth and friendship
really and truly meant
and he realized all too well
the lies and deceit
that lie behind each
and
every
smile
and then
he found his
strength

and

he laughed