Abusing Children

a child whom a man causes harm
may no longer be a child again
a child whom a man makes to lose charm
may grow to cause another harm.
so, in the natural order of things
a disorder is sorted by human beings
and a child may no longer be the same
may no longer trust her father.
may have been sold by his mother.
and a child may never know
the difference between the street and his home
if he is robbed in both places.
or the church and the school
if she is defiled in both places
by those who love them and those who don’t.

leonell echa