Cruelly plucked
From a troubled sleep
Yanked to my feet
It's nearly three
...
Read full text
Ohhhhhhh. I hadn't read this one. Heartbreaking. The writing style lends well to the image of a child woken from sleep by an angry, drunk, and abusive father. The lines flow from one line to the next, similar to a mantra re-recalled countless times, to the point of thoughtlessness, because it is a repeated offense and a repeated stress response. The imagery is riveting, the speaker's chosen words convey the meaning compactly with no explanation needed. Well written account of child abuse.
Had to read it a few times so I could pinpoint which lines are narrated by father, which by son. That was throwing me off and taking away from the true matter of the poem. I've been on the younger end of this encounter myself. Your poem is a 'nail on the head' description. Really a nice piece of writing. I like the repeated line at the end. Firmly adds staying power to the statement and gives us an insight to the fathers (or father figure's?) standpoint on all this. Another good one Brian
If my sons would return late, all drunk And wake me, I would be in a funk I would be delighted If I was invited Since not, I would lock them in their trunk
beak? ? i had a bit of trouble following this. let's see another! bri :)