Poem – Song of Innocence and Degradation (By Henryk Baranski)

Song of Innocence and Degradation

I LOOKED UPON THE CHILDREN

AS THEY SLEPT

TOOK A HAND AND TESTED ITS PULSE

PUT MY HAND ON A FOREHEAD

JUST LIGHTLY ENOUGH

TO MAKE SURE THEY WEREN’T DEAD.

AND THEN TO WORK

LEAVING THEM ALONE

AWAY FROM MY HEART

BECAUSE THE THINGS I SEE AND DO

AMOUNT TO AN ANGUISHED CRY OF GUILT.

I TAKE PAREGORICS

AND SPREAD MYSELF NAKED

PROSTRATE BEFORE

THE RAT F#¢KER ON THE CROSS

AND BLAME HIM, OF ALL PEOPLE,

FOR EATING MYSELF AWAY

UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING LEFT

BUT APPETITE.