Michael Poem by Francis Duggan

He does not wish to stay in fostering home
And he does not wish to stay with family
He'd much prefer the streets and living rough
Perhaps his way of saying that 'i am free'.

Each time he runs off the police bring him back
But Michael at home has no wish to stay
The police for miles around now know him well
Each time they bring him back he run away.

A school refuser he hates the thought of school
There's more and better things to do he say
He'd much prefer to be at Sandown Track
And a day in school to him a wasted day.

Thirteen years old he's only still a boy
But he can't seem to settle anywhere
And though he seems a nice enough young lad
He refuse all help from those who for him care.

He can live in a comfortable home
In heated room in from the cold and sleet
But he refuse the comfort of home life
He'd much prefer to live free on the street.

He needs help now but all help he refuse
And the police bring him back each time he runs away
Perhaps it's just a phase that he's going through
And that he will live a normal life one day.

He does not wish to stay in fostering home
And he does not wish to stay with family
He'd much prefer the streets and living rough
Perhaps his way of saying that 'i am free'.