Broom Street Boy
[for Marco Archer]

death as sweet as candy
calling out to him
had to go out to meet it

money from mommy
change from Baygon
he was sent out to purchase

required, requested
need to go out again to death, to die
too sweet not to meet

why else would he have run out to meet it
to fling himself into arms, into hands
as dirty - as rough as the grave

why he did not run the other way, a mystery

why he did not know better
than to run towards it, towards death

its arms outstretched like a parent
or grandparent

like grand-papa or grand-mama
why did he run in response to such a call

into such arms, outstretched to crush him
squeeze his life out, out his lights

gone for candy, would not return
would not be seen again, alive

his mother regretting, will always regret
rewarding him with change from Baygon

he needed, wanted, waited,
saved it to ask for to go buy candy


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2011
4:29 p.m. 29.09.11