always be kind
by Simon Collinson
Swinging and slapped cos punky said I’d stamped on a spider. That wasn’t kind. Now the screaming head is cross and determined to teach all about kindness. The rest will learn kindness by sitting cross legged, quietly watching a beating, always be kind. Are you sitting comfortably? Today’s lesson is kindness, always be kind. That's why I’m swinging to and fro watching blurred walls and faces, each time round another blow across the thighs. Learning lots and lots today about kindness. Always be kind till the tears fill my eyes.
Swinging and beaten in the classroom, always be kind, arms burning, always be kind, lost count of how many times been hit by the stinging hand swinging hard and still learning kindness, still swinging and beaten, always be kind, feel the trickle of piss running down my legs, wet myself I cry out, always be kind. “That’s Your Own Fault,” the screaming mouth yells back, that wasn’t kind, stinging hand strikes harder, always be kind. Swinging slows and the beating stops, always be kind. Body lowered, faces receding, no one looks at me now. I’m so unkind. Learn that no one likes someone who's been unkind to a spider, always be kind. Alone next lesson, it might have been sums - never made much sense. I didn't learn much maths as my head was full of kindness, learned from the screaming voice, always be kind.
But I learned a lot that day. Like a small child is light and can be dragged up easily by an adult. A child can be hurt easily, always be kind. It's horrible wetting yourself in public - and most importantly always be kind to spiders or else. It was kind of odd to be taught kindness to spiders by me getting beaten, beaten, beaten, always be kind, never made sense.
Most lessons are remembered for a short time then forgotten. None of it made much sense.
Some lessons you remember for the rest of your life, like always be kind. I learnt all about kindness that day.
Must be kind.
Be kind.
Always.
BIO: Simon is a writer from England. He seeks stillness, solitude, shade and shadow.