Stripped Clean And Swung Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Staging tantrums with a stubbornness,
To demand with a yelling of attention to get...
May be a custom in some privileged households.
You know the ones.
The ones on TV and in the movies done.
However...
No one I grew up with and knew tried that.
It was understood a public whipping would be had.
Either with a belt 'momma' carried to swing.
Or with a switch picked from a near bush.
Stripped cleaned and swung to hit immediately.
Momma didn't play that way.
Watching us display our tantrum fits.
Momma swung quickly to nip things in the bud.
'And I 'dare' you to cry.
What's wrong with those lips? '
That's right.
Momma didn't take no 'switch' to nip it for nuthin'.