Shankbite, ribcrack, splitback lip; waiting

in ER to get stitched up. Ten years old

and thick with scars. Puberty arriving

early. Special Ed being doom, foretold

by the bullies who knew a fag retard

sissy when they saw one. Adults who preyed

on such flesh said I made them wet and hard

and wild. What soul brings a knife to 5^th grade

and then uses it? Children have no use

for a God that allows monsters to breed

monsters. It’s like having no God at all.

Childhood of ghosts, of excuse, of abuse,

needle and thread. Let it bleed. Let it bleed.

Let it bleed with ghosts that bully, that maul.