Traffic lights

 

Green

 

My eyes are wide open

And all I see is green

Emerald and jade

 

My dad has chucked me into the bricky pond

And I sink like a stone

The water is a soup of duckweed

Tainted with dead and rotting dogs

Un-wanted pets drowned by callous owners

 

“It’s character buildin’”

“Best way to learn how to swim”

And I accept my fate

 

Green

My eyes are wide open

And all I see is green

Emerald and jade

 

Amber

 

My eyes are closed tight shut

And all I see is amber

Bright and brilliant

As the sun burns through my delicate

Six year old eyelids

 

My dad has staked me out

Spread-eagle on the meadow 

Shirtless over an ant hill

 

And as the ants nip and bite

It’s just a distraction

To the sun burning my eyes

 

“It’s character buildin’”

“You wanted to play cowboys and Indians”

And I accept my fate

 

Amber

My eyes are closed tight shut

And all I see is amber

Bright and brilliant

 

Red

I hope I never get to see the red

I hope I see another Christmas