Learnt behaviour

She stood in front of the pram
repeatedly smacking
into an unseen cry.
Greasy hair and dirty clothes
her body moved in a way
that hinted at issues
and sheltered housing.

Take it away at birth,
tubes should be tied,
can’t even look after themselves,
shouldn't be allowed to have a child,

He gave no eye contact
or opinion, somewhere else
shrinking into the shopping center,
watching the automatic doors
in crisis.

I caught her hand
holding on at the wrist,
she came back from behind her eyes
a sail boat emerging from a storm.

Its nappy was full
clothes covered in sick,
how could I explain what a child needs
to a mother that needed the same.