January 29th, 2017
a mewling baby
swings in a basket
woven with duct tape
and nylon ropes
seven men surround the child
seventh sons of seventh sons
the baby cries for mama
while the men tuck in their shirts
“don’t despair!
you are secure!
and still you swing
so bright and free!”
10 years later
swings a monster
from a rafter
in the basement
spitting snarling
malformed and twisted
safe and bound
free as can be