Teacher Poem by Dónall Dempsey

'That will teach you! '

He learnt how to
hit his wife

from his Dad
who hit his

and his Dad his.

And his mother hit him
glad this time not to be the victim.

Whether it be fist in face
knee in belly
or the bitter welt from a belt

violence sleeps quitely
and dreams

of the people it will
come alive in.

All down the years
it mutates from person to person

face to face

not paying attention
to gender or age

or who hits who or why

as long as there is someone
to cry

'....no...please! '

And there is no one to hear

you screaming.