But here I am Trapped by lines walls window door shadows on the moonlit floor Fencing me in Cutting me off Slicing me away Making me cry cry cry for home Morning light streaks through the too-high window tickles my sore eyes teases my skin Bully boots thud, thud, thud Big keys jangle clink-clank clink-clank Door gives a rusty warning Right you – out! I shrink small as a spider press my face to the wall He yanks me up like a sack of flour Fist opens Here — eat this Not from him No bread from him! I spit on his bully boots He drops the stale bread Clouts my ear Been hit before Been hit on the station when I spilled tea on Boss’s visitors when I got in the way when I asked Boss a question Policeman sneers Why the Government’s wasting schooling on ungrateful kids like you beats me He pulls me forward Out! Where is he taking me? Where is my mum? Rough hands hurry me down a sandy track empty of Mum empty of anything except a swarm of flies buzzing a dead bird My ear throbs chest aches sobs bubble inside Down down down the track to the big saltwater Mum’s not here I look around She’s not here not there not anywhere Policeman yanks my chin up Look at me!
