Approaching Evil Poem by peter rodenby

"For evil to survive good men need do nothing"

I was only a child
only eight years old.
I had walked with my mother
to the shop where she worked.
Then I started the mile to school
On my own.
It was just an ordinary day.
looking forward to playing football
in the school yard with my friends.
On my way down a back alley
a man approached me
"Can you show we where there is a toilet? "
I knew this was not right.
He tried to grab my arm.
"Come on show me, you know you can"
I avoided his grasp and ran away frightened.
.
I went to school
never telling about the incident.
I was frightened and embarrassed
I did not talk because I was ashamed
That evil predator had convinced me
In that brief contact
That I had done something wrong.
In my naive innocence I did not consider
Other possible victims, consequences of my silence.
I should have spoken out,
He may have been caught
I may have prevented other approaches.
But I was only a child.