Within the halls where laughter should resound,
Lies a shadow, thick and unprofound.
A child walks alone, bearing silent cries,
Beneath the weight of cruel, unkind eyes.

No solace found in corners or in stares,
Each whisper, each shout, a burden he bears.
The laughter of others, a piercing blade,
Leaving wounds unseen, not easily allayed.

Why must innocence meet with such disdain?
Why must joy be overshadowed by pain?
Each day a trial, each step a heavy stone,
In the midst of crowds, yet starkly alone.

Yet in this sorrow, a silent plea for change,
For kindness to bridge the gap, wide and strange.