Always Picked Last: a shame poem for kids about being picked last in P.E. lessons

Always Picked Last

Racing, thudding, pumping beat

Banging in my chest

Sure that I am so the worst

Surrounded by the best

No one even looks at me

Hunched, I hang my head

Wishing to be rescued

by the blue team or the red

Confidence has left me too

Sitting by myself

A faulty toy that no one wants

Alone upon a shelf

Dusty floor is cold and hard

Hall so wide and bare

Putting on my see-through mask

Pretending I don't care

Slouching, I stand up and sigh

Class all stare and moan

Teacher glares at Captain Red

His team all huff and groan

Feeling dumb, embarrassed too

Who I’ve grown to be

Every Tuesday after lunch

When we do P.E

Used to be my favourite once

I used to change so fast

Before I learned how bad I was

Always picked last

©2009 Mark Bird

💡 My shame poem for kids is inspired by the fear of being picked last in P.E. and, as a teacher, seeing that potential fear and soul-destroying shame of children if situations like this aren't dealt with compassion. As a kid, I loved being competitive and I believe nothing should stifle the love of competition. However, no one wants to see children hurt by being picked last repeatedly. In my P.E. lessons, I choose two team captains, ask them to turn their backs and then number the rest of the class. The captains choose numbers to create random teams and whoever is picked last knows it's nothing personal. I should write a Part 2 poem about shame for kids turned into a pride poem for kids. So many times, I am overjoyed to see those children, freed from the stigma of being picked last become something incredible and unexpected. Please get in touch and share your own shame poem for kids to help children explore their boundless potential when the shame is taken away. Beyond every shame poem for kids, should be a pride poem waiting in the wings.