Meanness

Like a bear
shaking off sleep 
and leaves and 
twigs so do
I the epithets 
launched at me 
a million arrows 
sent skyward without 
aim just misery
and I unshielded
duck and dodge 
vainly attempting to 
avoid the attack 
into a door 
I stumble maybe 
little more than 
a ditch in
which to hide 
smelling the carnage 
of my cowardice