Bad Me

bad me’
i heard his little voice say
‘bad me’

small head
turned
into the pillow

‘bad me’
i had scolded him
for breaking

a yellow
colouring pencil
he stomped it

into two pieces
discarded
for garbage

i found it
in the dirt
covered by grass

nga (why)?
i had asked him
in the tricycle

his head
dropped
feeling ignored

i think
while i talked
with street boys

knowing
i would find
no!

challenging me
to find
the pencil

‘bad me’
his little voice
downcast eyes

he believes
he is bad
he thinks

he is no good
for a yellow
colouring pencil

BAD ME!

© 2016 Melinda Irvine