A sea of hostile faces

Tables like fiefdoms

Royalty presiding 

Surrounded by 

Ladies-in-waiting 

Coats of arms 

Differentiating 

One table from the next

Defined by social status

Stereotypes abound

Chaos in the room

A cacophony of colors

With one color per castle

Mouths exhaling fire

Inclusion is only a term

Venom sharp as carving knives

In the cafeteria

Sophia wanders aimlessly

From table to table

No place to hide

Fragile teenagers

On tight reigns at home

Un-muzzled and unhinged

Searching for prey

Baiting the daily catch

Sophia is a marionette

Or a Party City piñata

Pull her strings and she dances

Pummel her and she opens

Organs oozing like wrapped candies

By the end of the day

Sophia has been shattered

Face in anguish

Spirit broken

So much for Sweet 16.