suffer the little children

suffer the little children

a dislocated elbow
caused by a thoughtless jerk
A burn scar
covering a pale thin leg

a thin upper lip
a flattened sweating brow
two widely spaced and flattened eyes
from vodka in utero

two lungs gasping for air
as a small boy
tries to keep up
with his big brother but falls behind
forgotten

a broken index finger
crushed by a big hand
a twisted gnarled and pained leg
ruined by malnutrition

five oval bruises wrapped
around a fragile arm
one angry phone call
one cop car

one frightened face hiding
behind a chair
one angry man pulling her
by her hair

a tub
filled with scalding water and one
tiny
unprotected
arm

an electric burner coil covered
by a tiny hand
the scent of burning flesh
drifting up to a ceiling fan