deepundergroundpoetry.com
An angry verse
A nine year old girl, raped by the lodger-
My student, thirtyish. Off he went
Abroad, away from British law.
The Asian family wanted justice
Should he return-
Not in a way to bring
Upon the girl vilification,
On the family ostracization
In rejection by their community.
That was the get out for authority.
My superior: 'Drop it. Sex cases
Are endless trouble'
NSPCC:'Report it.'
Despite hurt to the girl and family?
'It is your public duty.'
Physician:'I cannot examine the girl.
The assailant may have been my patient'
Twenty years later, the policewoman
Taking my statement:
'An interesting story.
Most I write up are so boring.'
No resolution
What happened to the little girl?
Does she file the case
In 'best forgotten'?
Not for me. The eyes of the girl
And parents still trouble
And my failure.
My student, thirtyish. Off he went
Abroad, away from British law.
The Asian family wanted justice
Should he return-
Not in a way to bring
Upon the girl vilification,
On the family ostracization
In rejection by their community.
That was the get out for authority.
My superior: 'Drop it. Sex cases
Are endless trouble'
NSPCC:'Report it.'
Despite hurt to the girl and family?
'It is your public duty.'
Physician:'I cannot examine the girl.
The assailant may have been my patient'
Twenty years later, the policewoman
Taking my statement:
'An interesting story.
Most I write up are so boring.'
No resolution
What happened to the little girl?
Does she file the case
In 'best forgotten'?
Not for me. The eyes of the girl
And parents still trouble
And my failure.
Published 7th Nov 2013
| Edited 3rd Jan 2014
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Anonymous
8th Nov 2013 1:37am
Elie Weizel said that the reason evil flourishes is that good men do nothing. You have written a good poem which we have probably all done something similar. We witnessed something and could not get anybody to do anything.......
Thank you for a thoughtful poem
Cheers
Kitty
Thank you for a thoughtful poem
Cheers
Kitty
8th Nov 2013 5:39am
Many thanks, Kitty. In some ways it is one of your 'therapy' poems-delayed by a promise of confidentiality to the parents.
I had to simplify the story to keep the impact-a work colleague who had been a senior policeman with experience of such cases agreed to help and did interview the girl and parents and was convinced of truth of the story. He tried to use his police contacts but also failed. M.
I had to simplify the story to keep the impact-a work colleague who had been a senior policeman with experience of such cases agreed to help and did interview the girl and parents and was convinced of truth of the story. He tried to use his police contacts but also failed. M.
