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neighbourhood

That woman could hang up her laundry each morning

With her suburban facelift

With her self-preservation

As if she was pasting up the sails of her clipper

As if the wind would blow through the sheets

Taking every drop of blood and regret with it

But I knew

I knew what went on in that      

-House-

That she called a home

I listened through the walls

I heard the howls and moans

I heard the screams and sighs

I heard the fucking and the fighting and the filth and the fury

I heard the innocence dying

Every night the innocence dying

I saw the looks on the children’s faces

When they left for school in the morning

Fixed smiles frozen from fear

Not daring to look back

In case he was following them

In case he hadn’t satisfied himself

He needed more

I saw the look in their eyes

Please don’t let my friends find out

Please don’t let my friends find out

I knew what went on in that house

I’d see him watering his garden

His semen stained boxers

His bare chest

He’d water those plants every day

Even in the rain

Hoping life would grow outside

While inside it died.

suburban delights

◄ the berlin wall

chained ►

Comments

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Martin Elder

Thu 23rd Jul 2015 22:40

This is a truly excellent poem Stu both in what it has to say and the way it s delivered. Nice one

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Stu Buck

Thu 23rd Jul 2015 14:31

Thanks so much for your comment. Having read your work, I know this is a subject that affects you, so I am pleased that you think I have captured it well. I know it is a difficult subject so I hope I did it some justice.

<Deleted User> (13947)

Thu 23rd Jul 2015 14:28

I am so moved by this poem. My emotions are all over the place. Memories flooded back--good and bad. You captured exactly what it is like for a child to live in that sort of dysfunction. The thoughts that repeat and the prayers that are sent up to a God they aren't sure really exists. Very well done. This poem has very much become a favorite for me.

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