I remember when I was just a wee lad
In school, I must’ve been 10
Teacher told me I did bad
Opened his drawer, scowl on his mouth
He pulled out a long, leather strap
I was scared, I wanted my da
Told me to hold out my hand
I screamed
“NO WAY”
He grabbed my wrist
His eyes demented
I struggled, I screamed
I didn’t want him to hurt me
I wanted my ma
My da
To save me
From this wild deranged beast
I saw the long strap
Being raised in the air
My arm yanked forward
I saw only his back
Then the strap went down
JESUS CHRIST
The pain was raw
Pins and needles
He is trying to **** me
I must survive
I thump his back
But the strap was raised again
WHOOSH
More pain, palm on fire
Oh please mister, I’ll do anything you want
Don’t hurt me again
He let go of me
He turned round
The mad look was gone
But still scared was I
My hand felt burnt
And pulsed with pain
I was told to leave
Eyes stinging with tears
I left the room
And with it my innocence
And what did I learn?
I learnt to hate!

Trees are sighing
Cascading spent leaves
Dead or dying
Gentle on the breeze
The sun's warm rays
Will soonest disappear
But, do not worry
It happens, but
Once a year

There is a tiny angel,
Locked away
Within a cage of ribs,
Next to my heart.
She whispers to me,
Endlessly.
Sweet Endearments,
Promises,
Never to leave my side.
I ignore her.
But, she is not angry with me.

There is a tiny angel,
Locked away
Within a cage of ribs,
Next to my heart.
She sings to me,
With a voice,
Of pure sweetness and light.
I drown her,
With rivers of alcohol,
I sting her eyes,
With foul tobacco smoke.
I abuse her.
Yet, she continues her song.

There is a tiny angel,
Locked away
Within a cage of ribs,
Next to my heart.
When the nights are cold,
and dark and lonely
Sometimes, I let her out,
We look at one another.
We both smile.
But, only,
For a little while,
The briefest of time
Then I lock her away again.
She does not protest.

There is a tiny angel,
Locked away
Within a cage of ribs,
Next to my heart.
I must keep her hidden.
Never to utter her name.
For such is what life has made me.
My path already tread.
She is my secret.
And, will remain within me,
Till the end.

Lying on my bed
In the dark
I have no fear
For I welcome
The dark
The black velvet
Envelopes me
Cocoons me
Soothes me
No ghosts, demons
Nor banshees’
In the still of the night
Permeate my darkness
For I’m not religious
I came from the dark
And I will leave
In the dark.

Here I am
In Afghanistan
To protect the people from the Taliban
But
The Imam
Laughs at me
Says
Stupid man
This
Is your Vietnam
You’ve been here now
Near 10 Ramadans
And
Still you cower
In your armoured vans

You!
Harbinger of wars
Impeder of enlightenment
I beseech you
Begone, begone with you
Cease beguiling
The weak, the meek
With atonement
For alleged sins
Cease spearing
The flesh of the simple
With your evil seed
Behind the vespers
In the corrupted house
Of your alleged God

For my eyes are open
I see the veracity
Behind the fraud
Scoundrels that you are
You think you own
By lies sown
Spewed forth from
The house of Rome
Intimidators of purgatory
And hell
Inquisitors of death
I pity you
For, you
Rule by fear
And fear alone.

I hunger,
For my youth.
For those lazy,
Hazy, crazy,
*****-filled days.
When my eyes
Feasted with devilment,
Instead of mockery,
Upon the young
School of nymphs
That swam up
And down the corridors
Like silver darlings
Of the sea

The wonderment
Puzzlement
Of the flesh.
Memories of
Soft bouncy buttocks,
Budding *******,
Licentious legs,
That tormented,
Teased, pleased
That frenzied, wild
Stirrings of my *****.
How i loved life then,
With it's silent promise
Of great things to come.