Young Lad Around Town Poem by Paula Glynn

A fourteen year old lad in the 1980's
Is an attractive young lad around town
Always up for what's going down
Hanging around streets corners at night
Often getting into a self-preserving fight.

A fourteen year old lad in 80's London
Does live a rough life in a concrete jungle
He does even consider carrying a knife
But decides not to for his own safety
Instead relying on a good old fashioned punch.

A fourteen year old lad is treasured
His grandmother cherishing his emotional strength
And praying at night he is never put in prison
Asking God to look after her special grandson
And God faithfully answers those prayers.

One night after a particularly violent fight
Her unconscious fourteen year old grandson
Lies helpless in a hospital bed
A severe injury to his head
The thugs who did it now soon to be dead.

A fourteen year old lad has now become 18 years old
He has finished secondary school
His history clear of a criminal record
Although always affected by his head injury
But the boys who did it were stopped by police.

A man who had a caring grandmother
Does pray when he can at her holy grave
Knowing him she did willfully and boldly save
Violence not a habit he does any longer crave
His adult life happy with him also boldly brave.