late

broken

incomplete

misunderstood

unable to prove

“If you would just try.”

disappointment in their eyes

defeated layers of books and papers

accustomed to going unnoticed

“Why can’t you be …?”

“Why didn’t you?”

just below the line

left far behind

deep sighs

“Again?”

shame.

© Ali Grimshaw

This poem is shaped like a bell curve to represent the people who have endured feelings of shame for not performing in a way that someone deemed as success.