Be Lucky

by CJ Maleney   Apr 6, 2017


If they are lucky tonight,
We will have Chinese food.
If they're not so lucky,
They will come home silent and brood.

If we are lucky
We will have laughter joy and light
If we are not so lucky,
We prepare for the inevitable flight.

They have not been lucky,
We are ordered to bed so soon.
But there is no chance of sleeping,
When things are thrown across a room.

You raise your voice and scream,
To make your feelings felt,
But the only reply that's forthcoming
Is the crack of a leather belt

You knew it would be coming
But through your tears you glare.
So you take that strap across your back
For your sister hides upstairs.

    report violation
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Latest Comments

  • 6 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    Craig, thanks for pointing me in this direction. The trouble with the 70's were that physical punishment was accepted as the norm. The belt was one of the chosen tools, along with slippers, hands and fists. It's not the physical wounds that last though is it?

    Thanks again, Craig.

    All the best.

    • 6 years ago

      by CJ Maleney

      Very true,

      My parents are dead now. I shed not a single tear at either passing. That's pretty screwed up when you think about it.

  • 7 years ago

    by Hellon

    This is quite haunting, for this stanza alone gives a notion that children are sitting at home in a state of dread...

    If we are lucky
    We will have laughter joy and light
    If we are not so lucky,
    We prepare for the inevitable flight

    your words made my stomach churn...no child should have to experience this let alone have it in a horrible memory that they replay time and again....

    • 7 years ago

      by CJ Maleney

      It's a long long long time ago. Things ease.

      Thank you for your comments x

    • 7 years ago

      by CJ Maleney

      The sad fact is, it's still so true for so many

  • 7 years ago

    by deeplydesturbed

    Welp.. this hits home hard.. so to speak. How wonderfully written and honest and raw..

    Well done.

  • 7 years ago

    by Ren

    Craig...this is a terrifyingly powerful piece that sent chills up my spine and a shudder through my soul.

    "You raise your voice and scream,
    To make your feelings felt,
    But the only reply that's forthcoming
    Is the crack of a leather belt"

    The way you describe the cracking of the belt is spot on.

    Well done.

    • 7 years ago

      by CJ Maleney

      Thank you

      its one from the vault, actually the box at the back of the vault that's wrapped in chains with a big sign saying do not open.

      Glad I let it go though, kinda liberating.

      And remember the boy eventually becomes a man.

      Craig x

    • 7 years ago

      by Ren

      I understand...especially about the box in chains that says do not open...but you're right... sometimes the only way to heal is to embrace these feelings/experiences, acknowledge them, and then let them go. I'm glad this was a liberating write for you.

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