Child Discipline Poem by Paul Sebastian

Spare the rod
And spoil the child
An adage of old
Yesteryears had tried

Cane had often spoken
When spoken words failed
Bane of riled-up parents
Quick-fixing advice derailed

Corporal punishment hurt
Pain deep scaring emotions
Crushed spirit hard to revert
Child's self-worth worsens

Punish only to correct
Do not punish to hurt
Counsel to educate
Love be your guiding art

Caning's not meant to vent
Helpless parent's pent-up anger
On a child, being disobedient
Plant violence seeds, love asunder

Emotionally-bruised grown child
Reciprocate buried hurt on others
Become bullies, misfits and guiles
Boys tend to ape after their fathers

Knowledge is wielded through love
Discipline is love-taught by mothers
Firmly molded between ages two to five
Loving unconditionally, by their fathers

Give a child respect, he grows to respect others
Give a child dignity, he grows to value others
Give a child love, he learns to love others
Children become what they're taught, by others

In parents' hands, child's character is shaped
Investing love-time, his growing is helped
Appreciate, accept, and affirm: he'll grow to shine
Parents' role-modeling, grow-up a child to be fine

8.2.2015