Abusing Children

it takes a lot to become a man
the process that a larva
takes to become a butterfly
with everybody’s eyes on it
uncles and kicking nuts
aunties cuming with ungodly sermons
like thorn veils, from top to bottom
songs by Aunt Margaret, Aunt Shade
and tales too dark for moonlight tales
stories written in blood
buried within my veins
dancing to sounds from drums
beaten black and blue by mad men
once,
and more times I’m not allowed to remember.

Victor Oyedele