As If You Need A Warning ‘against Bullies' Poem by Kevin Kiely

You can just as well blame Cromwell's mother
and Adolf H loved his dog Blondi
see those newsreels where he smiles at children

the bully wants to control even this

they beat on the windows of sleep
awaken the past in your head
shaking you with their names
sad-sick-sagas endured and contained

I know your face should look blameless
in the hereditary mirror
not just a book on a shelf
since a bully begets bullies

there is no clear narrative at this hour
the street lights on Oblivion Avenue
are giant taps pouring rain
creating broken bracelets in pools

gleaming and mocking jewellery
Demolition Road, Annihilation Terrace
the door we enter is the door we shall exit
your past plays in my head

it leaks from you in staggered talk
he left after it started
a bygone boring movie
a woman flees with her child

the divorce judge in wedding clothes
parents with photos of their version
send her a greeting card in exile
we wish you unwell

out of our will
so what, he drank a bit too much
you baked the wedding cake
using ceiling plaster

and cut him slices of disaster
with your nightly bitching
just because he parked his van
in your kitchen

your stew tasted like glue
your blood stained face
all an accident
he'd never strangle anyone

why wouldn't you wash his T-shirts
be the slave hausfrau smiling
a real cigarette-smoking man
cannot take on domestic chores