So Tough

A poem about a kid who thought he was tough.

Genesse brings Hennessy
to the law of the land.

With a fist for a gavel
and a horse for a stand,

he laid down each sentence,
each one momentous,
with much celebration and doom.
 
His subjects, unhappy,
they called up his pappy
and soon the Moon shifted to new.
 
Bright cherry blossom,
the color of his bottom,
when lo the boy’s father was through.

Author's Note

To spank or not to spank: that is the question.

Reviews

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

Yes, it is old school now
but some question this...
what memory will it etch inside the head...
Judgement can be punishment
or a lesson learned, and actions can be severe.
as a parent, I often think about how to convey the right message to a child when they are out of line.

[Mrudula Rani]

"Bright cherry blossom the color of his bottom? "
Seemed like the punishment was too severe. It is a known fact that physical punishment leaves emotional scars, and never is the solution.

[Brent]

You're right in thinking that the punishment was severe. The great part about writing is that we can present and explore the ramifications of such actions. Having both perspectives is vital to making an informed judgement in real life.

Thank you for your review!

[Mrudula Rani]

I agree with you, exploring social issues is an obligation of writers. You have done a beautiful job.

[Ian P. Albrecht]

Having a couple of kids who occasionally need an "attitude adjustment", I really appreciated this. Thanks for the author's note. After reading it, the scene you were illustrating became clear. Thanks for writing this.

[Brent]

I like your phrasing of "attitude adjustment"; I'll have to remember that one. Yes, it's interesting to think about different parenting styles. In the poem, at least, an attitude adjustment was necessary!

Glad you appreciate my poem and thank you for your insightful review!