Little Lamb Lost

An evil menacing scowl on her face
The witch raised her smoothly sanded red staff
And then swung it down hard in the right place
Cries of anguish and pain making her laugh

Again and again she ceaselessly beat
Her young victim convulsing with each stroke
Pain from the welts an unbearable heat
She would not stop until his will she broke.

Harder, faster, a frenzy of movement
While purple, red and blue welts did appear
Raised an swollen; to her an improvement
Over soft smoothness that once was his rear.

“I want my mommy,” the little boy cried
Which only made her cackle all the more
“I’m your mommy, now,” her shrill voice replied
Then she beat him again to keep him sore.

Alone in his room after the beating
Fear and anger fired hot bolts through his chest
His muffled crying sounding like bleating
A little lamb lost in a dark forrest.

Try as he might he could not think of why
He was so naughty and made people mad
Tears formed in his eyes; he began to cry
He tried stopping ‘cause she said it was bad

His tiny hands balled up into soft fists
And wiped from his eyes the last of his tears
With them went the confusing clouds and mists
From his mind replaced by anger and fear.

Anger and fear mated within his heart
And two new emotions did they create
For there in a dark, remote and cold part
Was born their children Cruelty and Hate.

He could not let that wicked woman live
Strange new thoughts came into his mind and said
What she’s done today you cannot forgive
Believe us, they jeered, she’s better off dead!

Like a wild animal trapped in a cage
His cooling heart acting as a bellows
Fanned the smoldering embers of his rage
Her life, he swore, would end from his fist’s blows.

Only five years old it was the first time
This child, inexperienced with such things
Dwelt and obsessed on committing a crime
By thoughts that only the Evil One brings.