Saturday, 30 July 2016

But a child

What crimes he committed, I ignore
He was tried, found guilty, 
Put in a detention centre 
He was but a child.

He spat at his guards
He was incarcerated 
In a solitary confinement cell
He was but a child.

He was put on suicide watch
A hood on his head
On a restraining chair
He was but a child.

He was beaten, three men to a child
When he should have been safe
Tear-gassed, all videotaped 
He was but a child.

I keep wondering 
How much brute force
Is necessary to curb
The spirit of a child? 

I keep wondering 
How much abuse
Is sufficient to break
The mind of a child?

The system is broken 
There is no doubt about it
When it puts children in detention!

Lucette C. Bailliet 
All rights reserved 

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