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.