The bully’s laughter echoes
in the hallways of abandoned schools
in the pale-green rooms of mental institutions
in the void beneath the bridge
in the dark river were bloated corpses float
in the school shooter’s dreams
in the words from compliant politicians
a laughter that grows to hatred, anger, war
and unless we cease to follow
and turn our laughter back
into compassion for the strangeness of it all,
unless we do, the bully always wins.
Today Mish inspires us at dVerse with poetry on laughter, and of course I had to go dark with this as well. Maybe I have seen too much “humor” that make us laugh for all the wrong reasons.
September 3, 2024
Björn Rudbergs writings 
A very dark observation
I am sorry… but for a long time it’s all the laughter I have heard.
Excellent dark poetic observation. I echo with (Sue).
Hello Charlie… i have not forgotten the prompt we had with you and Brian on bullying.. hope you are well.
Excellent. I had been thinking about that prompt but then I forgot. I have return in case you haven’t notice. 🙂 All is well my friend. Miss you brother. 🙂
I have been away for a few months… just came back.
Awesome. Seems like we are making a return to WordPress. This feels good. 🙂
Oh you left nothing out. It is so effective in your poem as the laughter crescendos to the worst of the worst. I wish we could silence it.
Laughing at the bullies is maybe the only effective one…
Yes that this is consequences of bullying – people who are bullied struggled with their mental and emotional responses. The darkness of this type of laughter can indeed lead to anger, hatred and war.
I think there has been a lot of such laughter in the world lately
I agree, such bullies don’t realize the aftermath of their actions and the effect that it has on their psyche. I especially resonate with; “a laughter that grows to hatred, anger, war
and unless we cease to follow.” Powerful write, Bjorn! 💙
I think some bullies actually enjoy the aftermath… it gives them more power.
The repetition in the, in the, in the is so effective. Dark truths here.
Alas… the truth is hard but this is the laughter we hear.
Amen. I like the way you ended this one.
I hope we can stop this laughter from spreading.
Laughter will always win. It is an amazing weapon.
May it be the right laughter….
Yes isn’t that the truth!
the dark side of laughter; poigantly expressed.
Thanks for dropping by to read mine Björn
much♡love
I like the reminder in your poem that we have a choice in how we face this dark laughter. We are not powerless.
Powerful. Yes, let’s all have compassion.🙏🏻
That is the tragedy of life. Your poem made me sit back and think. Our son has Retinitis Pigmentosa from birth. We live in a small university town. Fortunately he never had to deal with bullies. Every day I thank God. He completed his Phd in English Literature in 2016 . He is an assistant professor i the Department of Languages of the University. What would his life have been like if bullies had ruled it? Thank you.
Indeed… and I’m so happy that there were no bullies there…. (maybe also thankful that social media didn’t exist when your son was young)
A poem of power and strength Bjorn. Every bully should be brought down with some laughing in their face.
AI did a brilliant job for your first lines. I can hear the bully’s laughter echoing down that hallway. Terrific take on the prompt, Björn ❤️
HI Bjorn, I haven’t seen any poems from you for a while. I hope you enjoyed the summer. A dark and sad take on the prompt.
I was out on a long walk in the mountains of Sweden and Norway.
How lovely
A very profound and nuanced response to bullying – bullies, abusers, none of them realise the lasting effect their words and deeds will have, Björn…
Yes, let’s recognize a bully’s laughter for what it is…evil and dangerous. We need more compassion in this world!
a terrific, haunting poem with a strong message —
Potent poem Bjorn, I’m with you – unless we do …