Criticism Hurts – Magnificent Discipline Poem by Margaret Alice

Criticism hurts – I’m sorry I’m deserving
of such criticism, I’m sorry I’m such a bad
person, criticism seems to kill all life-giving
sparks, I’ll toe the line as best I might

I’ll keep happiness for dreams, accepting
boredom the price to pay for acceptance
making sacrifices without complaint
all suffering is gain; it is quite clear

You are superior; I prefer plain people
to such self-righteousness; your holiness is
too much to bear; the Nile-Crocodile is quite
aware of her manifold sins - thank you

For pointing out my reptilean omissions in
promoting the prowess of the Crocodile-kids
when I take their side as school clamps down on
their many transgressions – not doing homework

Heavens above, they’ll end on the gallows! Why
should I scar their souls to get them to memorise
trite facts and stupid superstitions to pass through
a backward brain-washing system?

Top marks will not ensure their place in heaven,
I shall not condone detention, teachers are fallible
too - although they’ll go straight to heaven,
failings and all; I’ll gladly leave them

To work out their own salvation –
without praising the magnificence
of their exemplary discipline!