He loved them most
those people arguing at night
He heard them fight
and - frightened - cried
They fussed him
Blue with distress
the little boy kicked over toys
'Boys will be boys'
his mother said
..and slapped him
Screaming all night
about the swings in the dark
'To sleep..the park
will still be there'
She hugged him
Hitting the girl
he turned around and pulled her hair
'That’s not too fair
You can’t hurt girls'
She caught him
Kicking the dog
he found the dog turned round and bit
Frightened of it
he ran to her
She held him
Punching the man
'You always shout at her You shout
Get out Get out
Go on Get out'
He held him
His father left
The little shadow-boy fell silent
'I never meant
I never meant..'
She soothed him
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
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