A Ballad About Myself Poem by Paul Buttigieg

Mr and Mrs Buttigieg is the boy seated your son
Yes your honour (there's a relief)
Are you aware why you are here today said the Adelaide children's court judge
He claims he worked at a sawmill tailing out for one pound
Whilst wagging school
He used this money to buy a pushbike you could not afford for him
Mrs Buttigieg you reported your son for stealing a pushbike is this correct?
Yes your honour (my own mother so wrong)
Mrs Buttigieg do you know of a child called Derek Baskerville?
No your honour
Mr Buttigieg do you know of this boy
No sir
Please address me as your honour Mr Buttigieg
This boy was the child known to Police who supplied your son the pushbike
Do you both realise you have put your son in jeopardy of incarceration
My Mum said what does that mean your honour?
It means if you do not want to take your son home today
He will go to Glandore boy's home for assessment
Mr and Mrs Buttigieg I have serious reservations about incarcerating your son
He is young and the evidence produced by the police is non meritorious
Are you prepared to take him home with you today?
No your honour we are not
Okay thankyou Mr and Mrs Buttigieg do you realise your son will now be owned by the state
I ask you one more time are you prepared to take your son home with you today
Clerk; please put it on record that both Mr Buttigieg and Mrs Buttigieg have handed their child over to the state of South Australia
Please take the child away
My first night was locked in a dormitory at Glandore haven't eaten for a while
Thank god they brought me some breakfast next day my tears soaked the toast
Where has my mum gone, where are my brothers and sisters to help me
Then I met Mr Rebbeck, he took me to my new home at Kamanka
First night the big kids pissed all over my allocated bed I fought out of fear
Where were my family why was this allowed to happen what have I done?
I hid in a wardrobe bottom for two nights crying terrified not prepared to sleep on a urine
Soaked mattress
I was eleven years of age not wanted by my parents not wanted by my brothers and sisters
Left to fend for myself for the next five years living with scum and government guardians whom didn't give a toss
I rebelled determined to defend myself from the big boys who felt they could help themselves
Yes I was raped and abused, it was by a big boy during one night in my first week I never dobbed but I responded with a determination to defend myself
They branded me violent I learned to box, I learned to be angry, I learned to defend small boys like me
Finally they feared me not knowing that my anger came from not having a family just like them
I forgive them all, they were just like me, kids deserted by their parents for unknown reasons that left fear in our hearts as little kids who just wanted a mum a dad a brother or a Sister.

Copyrightpaolo2024-03-09