Indecent Use Of Purity

I am no stranger to pain,
learned in 1951 during
utter confusion of a first
school year when our

beliefs of the nursery-
World were challenged
by the day’s implacably
rigid structures in mad

array; the losers – an
innocence vigilantly
nurtured in caring and
warmth, hugs and kisses

sought wrenched away for
disembodied praise or the
sharp conflict orientation
of a leather strap.

Where threats of a slap
made one less brave the
strap cut all pretence of
stoic defence – rendered

raw agony. No stranger to pain
but no slave of it, no new wave
of hurt-seeking self-mutilators
springing up in defiance. Livid

stains of piss hot-leaked into pants
remain a shameful embarrassment
reminding me for eternity of man’s
indecent use of childhood’s purity.
© 21 May 2007, I.D. Carswell