I Never Meant To Make Him Go Poem by Charlotte Peters Rock

He loved them most
those people arguing at night
He heard them fight
and - frightened - cried
They fussed him

Blue with distress
the little boy kicked over toys
'Boys will be boys'
his mother said
..and slapped him

Screaming all night
about the swings in the dark
'To sleep..the park
will still be there'
She hugged him

Hitting the girl
he turned around and pulled her hair
'That’s not too fair
You can’t hurt girls'
She caught him

Kicking the dog
he found the dog turned round and bit
Frightened of it
he ran to her
She held him

Punching the man
'You always shout at her You shout
Get out Get out
Go on Get out'
He held him

His father left
The little shadow-boy fell silent
'I never meant
I never meant..'
She soothed him