Bells, Flags and Hearts

You could see the defeat written there from a thousand miles away.

The ringing of the bell
symbolizes her silent existence,
her small white flag
flapping half-heartedly in the breeze.
She gave up awhile ago,
having never really started in the first place,
but they're relentless.
Sticks and stones may never hurt her,
but the words do.

She tolls the bell,
and continues on,
waving her faded flag,
and dragging
her heavy heart.