Allowing children to be 'fondled' by others is child abuse!
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I remember Momma would say,
”Listen or you’ll be sent away
to a place where there is no play--
everyone has to work all day.”
We cried for children there
who had no joys to share,
wore smelly underwear,
had no one to love … care.
I remember …

I remember Mom would laugh, curse,
”But … there are things that are much worse.”
Grinning till her laughter spilled, burst.
”Those who dare fight will be ‘snaked’ first.”
Raped by words spreading fear,
jumped, on edge, when folks near,
trembling … I couldn’t hear.
Tears drizzled away all cheer.
I remember …

I remember Momma let men
hold us in their laps … now and then.
They were ‘touching’ … shouldn’t have been …
and all the while Momma would grin.
They made me feel like dirt,
where they probed we all hurt.
It felt like something spurt
underneath our wee skirt.
I remember …

I remember Mom would sigh, cry.
She’d say, “I’ll wash your mouth with lye!
I’m an adult--would say you lie--
that you spit in my face, punch my eye.”
I said, “Mom, I don’t care--
won’t trod in underwear!
We might as well go bare.
I don’t like creeps who stare.”
I remember …

I remember Momma--though six--
told my four sisters I would fix
those guys whose fingers were doing tricks,
who made their ‘bulges’ turn to sticks.
”I told Daddy on you!
He told me what I knew--
to call the men in blue,
give the Devils their due.”
I remember …


and … Mom … Dad was talking about you!