Frightening Cries

It has been many years since
I first heard him cry

To my surprise,
it often started with
a whimper

But with eyes shut tight;
In a hollow repose
His big salty tears
would begin
to flow

Perhaps it wouldn't have been
quite so bad,
But his head would rock
and his teeth would clench

God only knows what was
going through his turbulent
little mind
But then again,
perhaps it is not
so difficult to understand

His mother was a junkie
And his father an
unknown figure

Cigarette burns were on
both
his hands...
and feet

"But it was only
motherly discipline",
She would often say

But such a crime is just so hard
to understand

And it only
becomes impossible
when you see the excruciating pain

It has been years since
we cared for him
And lately I just can't stop thinking
about him

Chances are he wound up dead
Unable to concentrate,
focus or
behave at school

And I often think
of his mother...

Even though I may have
only seen her once

For heavens sake,
What could she have
possibly been thinking?

Insane I guess....

A new criminal left
to perpetrate
these horrific deeds

The damage
done;
With terror running
through his ugly veins

But such
is the nature of evil

When it strikes hot and quick
You must find an effective
way to strike back

On merciless city streets
It may be much closer
than you think ---

But so often I
hear him weep

Bringing an untold pain...
To both
my brain and heart

Gerald Marchewka is an American freelance currently living in Rangsit, Thailand. He is teaching at the Thanyarat school. He may be reached at geraldmarchewka@yahoo.com