This poem is about beatings. Yes, beatings, that were endured. It seems that this used to be the way to punish a child. It is a never ending cycle that comes from the grandfather to the mother to the child. I have to admit that I, the child, broke the cycle though. I never passed this on. I also have to say HOORAY to more than just me who have stopped this vicious cycle that does continue in some places today.
Child-cut your switch.
Make it so it won’t break.
Not too thin,
it will cut the skin.
Be sure to choose well…for it will be hell,
if it breaks and I am not done,
you’ll go get another one.
Got your switch?
Now go to your room.
Wait for me there.
When I’m ready, I’ll be there.
Drop your pants,
lay across the bed.
Put your hands near your head
for if they cross your back
they may get smacked.
When it was done, what she had done,
was more than I could bear.
More than a spanking,
more than a nightmare.
The marks on the body went away
but the marks on my heart
I’ve tucked those all away.
All these years
I’ve had a short fuse.
I never knew
it was the anger inside.
There’s more than that hidden away.
Embarrassment and fear,
they go with the tears.
The minimizing of me
has got to stop!
All these feelings have been hiding.
Now I fell like a bubble about to pop.
One day the child will let it all fly.
When the child does,
the child will laugh.
When again the child laughs,
someone will cry.
This poem only seals my distain for corporate punishment of any kind. My generation knew a lot of corporate punishment at home and in the schools. Your poem shows the pain that you still feel after this humiliating and painful ordeal as a child. I hope that generations to come will find intelligent ways to discipline that do no harm. I talked with my son from the day he was born and that worked. Parents who strike their children are out of control and need parenting classes. With all the technology and wisdom in the world, you would think that human beings would finally realize that striking our children only leads to a cycle of abuse and emotional trauma for generations to come. When will this madness end? I feel so sorry for your pain as too endured so much.
