Ten O'Clock Newsflash Poem by Barbara Clafton

She argued with her parents,
decided to leave home,
packed her small school bag
and left, feeling alone.
Took a train from the station,
destination London - so easy!
But she was young, naive, so pretty
and London was so sleazy.
She soon ran out of money
cardboard box bed in shop doorways,
nowhere to wash, feeling dirty
and not eaten for days.

Ten o'clock newsflash - MISSING TEENAGER.
Parents pleading, police description
offering a substantial reward
for any genuine information.
Heard nothing for ten days now,
she's caused them so muchtrouble,
if only they would find her,
she would come home at the double.
Eleventh day - they found her
beside her cardboard bed.

Ten o'clock newsflash - MISSING GIRL IS DEAD!