Poem Analysis | Zimmer in Grade School by Paul Zimmer

The speaker says, "when I hide behind an elaborate mask." {line 22} can be mean that he is a scared boy hiding behind the truth, but never succeeds, everyone still knows it is him, as in line 23, "it is always known that I am Zimmer" shows how other people know him with all the mischief and bad things about him.

This poem is about his experience as a grade school student. The poem illustrates a dark and ominous picture in which the speaker appears to be a bully who has insecurities and failures. Zimmer inscribes an image of a grade school bully whose days were torn by puffed knuckles from a nun's ruler and fighting, and it is exacerbated with a seat outside the school principal's office. "And sits all day in shame/Outside the office of the principal"{lines 27-28}.

It is sad when he gets bullying in school, bullying is a major problem in our society that occurs beyond grade school. Zimmer may not have enough time spent with his parents; a reason for him to feel slightly humiliated. but actually, he knows how not to bully people, that's why he focuses on himself more rather than wasting his time for others.