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For The Love Of Little Children

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A report has been published today on the abuse of children by Catholic Church organisations in Ireland. In many cases abusive priests were moved on and nothing done to stop the abuse or bring the perpetrators to justice.


For The Love Of Little Children


Hello! I'm Brother Blessed.

I have taken holy orders.

So that I may praise the Lord

and love the little children.


Straight out from the seminary

I was a brother teacher

Helping the sweet little ones

in learning to be good.


The wickedness within them

was the greatest of my burdens

The devil fought with vigour

before it left their

striped red cheeks.


I inject the love of Jesus

to the sobbing contrite cherub

and forgive him

for the pain he's brought

by letting evil in.


My Lord the Bishop

thanked me for the

depth of my devotion

and gave me my own parish

to build the congregation.


I am Father Blessed

and all my little children

are angel faced, angel voiced

angelic of complexion.


My choir is a glory

of unbroken vocal chords

I love them each and every one

A love unknown, unspoken.


I devoted many hours

to more coaching in my room

bringing sacred music

to the mouths of

my best boys.


His eminence the cardinal

honoured my achievements.

On the holy Father's orders

I was raised to greater things.


I am Father Blessed

Head and overseer

of the many teaching orders

spread throughout the land.


All the best and brightest scholars

are brought to my attention

that I might admire their qualities

and guide them on myself.


The lord has blessed us beyond words

with the beauty of creation.

I worship at the altar

of young bodies beautiful.


Now upon my later years

there is time for reflection.

Dear Mother Church has granted me

a care home and a pension.


I pray for the misguided

and the wicked lies they utter.

The dear lord will reward me soon

for I loved his little children.

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Comments

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Malpoet

Thu 16th Jul 2009 16:41

You are far too kind Cynthia, but thank you anyway.

A lot of people don't like this kind of stuff which I turn out from time to time whe n I am moved by something with feelings that I simply cannot express other than in verse. I don't think it will ever go anywhere other than this website though. :-)

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thu 16th Jul 2009 15:27

This poem is brilliant, so subtly and chillingly does it expose the situation. This is a poem fit for the future studies of literature.

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clarissa mckone

Sat 23rd May 2009 03:24

Hi Malcom, well do tell! The scum need to be ratted out, they are evil! Im glad you wrote it!

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Isobel

Fri 22nd May 2009 12:46

A poem that makes very hard reading but I guess that is why a lot of this was ignored - just too hard to hear or read about.
Very very painful and sad.

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Gus Jonsson

Fri 22nd May 2009 12:37

Winston has made a very powerful comment... which I am, for the most, in a agreement with. I too am angry.. no thats not strong enough an emotion, but I am unable to be wordsmith of my emotions here... my return of serve to such vile acts of hypocrisy is uncontrolled and becomes a hysterical rant of the vigelante. well done Mal

and well done Winston.

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winston plowes

Fri 22nd May 2009 12:01

Hi Mal
I have read this several times. It is a topic so serious and sensitive to tackle in poetry and it is difficult to keep on the right path without appearing over angry on the one side or failing to make a point and being weak on the other. I have read some of your previous poems which have attempted to make social or political comment and for me they have not struck a chord (This sort of poetry is not normally my bag anyway) This piece is different however, maybe because the subject is intertwined with my own life. It pulls no punches and stikes right at the sorded heart of the whole secretive business. It cleverly reveals how lies can be consealed within religious practices and how young people may be led into a discraceful and damaging world. A world within which the practices should be of love and care. Some people will consider that others all to ready to be judgemental on these organisations which no doubt contain many many well meaning and honourable people. But should the comments stop when we are given more and more examples such as this one. The structure of the poem, a stark choice of words which describe religion, childhood purity and strongly hint at sexual deviance make this such a powerful piece. These words and the structure of the poem seem to help you realise how these practices are justified and twisted into something which is fine and even to be rewarded. It made me cry this Mal with tears of anger and pain in equal measure. Thank you for posting. Winston

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