Where
was safety, where was love,
At
home with her mother’s offhand flop
Or
here with her father’s guiding shove?
The pavement seemed to shake; she cried,
“Oh
dear, oh dear.”
Her
mother in spasmodic throes
Found
time for her, but preferred to sleep;
Her
father, following his nose,
Did
much, but thought himself too deep.
The pavement seemed to sink; she cried,
“Oh
dear, oh dear.”
Children
need little, a bite to eat,
Some
rags of clothes, a toy or two;
But
those who sit in the mercy seat
Should
act as if they think it true.
The pavement seemed to shiver; she cried,
“Oh
dear, oh dear.”
Children
are tough and soon grow to the full,
But
do they forgive, will they forget?
There’s
one who was tugged as unballed wool;
Her
parents now crones, will she void their debt?
The pavement seemed to shatter; she cried,
“Oh
dear, oh dear.”
====================
© December 2015
