Not An Excuse Poem by Francis Duggan

The man who ill treats his children and beats his wife
Is one who has not learned from the book of life
And though he himself as a child may have been abused
From his bad behavior he cannot be excused

For such an excuse it is not good enough
Since many men as children who have known it quite tough
To their wives and children are loving and kind
Aggression and violence are born of darkness of mind

For violence of all sorts excuses are often made
But it only does show the darker side of the offender when violence is displayed
And domestic violence is on the increase as a statistic this is quite bad
And to read of this to say the least sad

Of domestic violence we so often hear of and read
A good man by good example always does lead
And though the man who beats his wife and children himself a victim of abuse
For his bad behavior this is not an excuse.