Facing Fear

Question

A. Gautam

He stands by my locker
Like a yawning lion
His leg ready to trip me
In the hallway
5 Like yesterday
Last week
Last month
Last year

He smiles by my locker
10 Like an Olympian on the dais
Head cocked for the gold medal
And his eyes scan
The hallway
For all the boys to learn
15 For all the girls to squirm
Like this morning

But I don’t feel like falling
Or shrinking near him
When I reach for my own book
In my own locker
20 Near my own friends
Watching me

So, I stride to my locker
Like a new police recruit
When I stand tall
25 And stretch my shoulders
I feel like a wrestler
In a ring only for a fair game

And today he won’t sully my name
The poet uses a simile in line 10 to describe the bully’s attempt to —
Responses
A seem threatening and scary seem threatening and scary
B appear victorious and pleased appear victorious and pleased
C flaunt his medals to the speaker flaunt his medals to the speaker
D look bigger and taller than adults

Answer 1

B appear victorious and pleased