Toybox Mnemosyne

When I was a boy, 

I was given a few toys

And then shoved in front of a TV.

Hours were spent 

With imaginary friends

Drowning out the sound 

Of maternal screams. 

Sometimes I would play,

Locked out all day 

With only a hose 

That would provide relief

Blacked out in the drive

Burning alive,

While father slaved 

To make ends meet.

One time in the sun

While forced to have fun

I snatched a stick,

And went digging to Greece

Some kids on their bikes

Began to recite 

Those violent words

That would make me a Beast.

The hell that I'd take

For endless hours they'd say: 

    "Look, look! that little faggot's a Freak."

    "He can't leave the yard, 'cause he's a retard, he's got no friends.. You need a fuckin' shrink!" 

It would all go black

Raging with past

Painted in blood 

By my swing in the street

If I refused to throw

More bruises I'd own

As that was the lesson 

That my mother would teach

It was either me or them,

So, I better win  

If I like to chew

When I wake from sleep

I grabbed my gift:

A trusty brick..

For messing with a devil, they did

I heaved fist-clinched 

Kneed face, he winced

A broken neck, I gave that prick

His brother jumped in

My mom decked him 

Their mother had to carry home both

 

Dragged from a ditch 

Out of the Hell that I had sent them

Earning their hospital robes