Babysitter
Lawrence S. Pertillar 1947 (Connecticut)
I am not,
My neighbor's babysitter.
Although remain I will stay,
Concerned for their wellbeing.
With a business to keep distant,
From personal affairs.
Not mine.
But theirs.
I don't live my life,
To set my sights...
On anyone else done uninvited.
And if that should happen to be the case,
My face within their comfort zone...
I let known I am a guest.
And not one to give opinions.
Or advice to give upon request.
Neither do I know it all.
And those I have known and met,
Can verify to validate that.
But the best I can for others to do,
I can be dependable to do it.
Until my doing of it is through.
Many take for granted others they use.
As if those others are on a mission,
To be disrespected and mentally abuse.
And this God did not give,
As a commandment to follow or obey.
Diapers I don't change.
Nor do discipline I teach.
To grown adults who seek,
Someone who beats around...
A bush to avoid,
Getting to the point.
When I speak it is direct.
No tours do I take to evade the truth.
Sweetened delusions,
Introduced misunderstandings to produce.
And many today,
Are products of this mindset taught.
To have become,
Excuse making conflict creators.
Creatures of thoughtless selfishness.
I am not my neighbor's babysitter.
Guardian or hired security guard.
However...
Concerned I will remain and stay to be.
Especially if I am dared,
With evidence to prove...
My tolerance for immature people,
Calling themselves adults acting like fools.
Claiming to raise children they insist,
Are 'angels'.
Yet...
Can not prevent to stop them,
Creating havoc through the neighborhood.
Then come to their defense,
After they have been arrested.
For threatening and/or beating up,
Their elementary school teachers.
'Our children are the way they are,
Because of the unqualified teachers hired.
What we need,
Are better schools!
Your Honour.'
'I'm no psychologist nor a psychiatrist.
As I told you before many times.'
'I know, Your Honour.
But...
What am I suppose to do?'
'Do your hear that?'
'You are snapping your fingers together.
Yes.
I hear that.'
'How many fools does it take,
To make one idiot?'
'Your Honour?
I was never a good math student.
And my teachers knew that too!
So I settled that problem.
And broke my science teacher's jaw.
Telling without Math,
Science will a problem for me too!
He don't know me.
To tell me I had a problem.
And I let him have it!
I'm the jury of my judgements.'
'You did...WHAT?'
'I broke his jaw.
That's right.
He got all up in my grill.
Like...
Like Mike Tyson or Joe Louis.
I ain't haven't that!'
'And...
You have the nerve to admit that,
In this court.
While defending a similar act,
One of your children has done?'
'Yeah!
Yeah.
You heard it.
Who else is going to teach my kids,
How to defend themselves?'
'Uh...we're going to take,
A 20 minute recess.
I have to decide,
Who is in need of what the most!'
'Thank you, Your Honour.
I can use that 20 minutes.
You have no idea,
How I'm 'feening' for some fries.
And some crunchy nuggets.
You 'feel' me?'
'Oh...
Mos def!
I got you.
Right where I want you!'
'Hey...
I ain't into that 'freak' stuff.
Wow!
I can't believe you came on me like that!'
'Trust me.
There is more to come.
Believe me!
20 minutes.
20 minute recess!
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Submitted by lpahtillah on August 17, 2021
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 2:58 min read
- 18 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | xabxcdxd exxxxfgf xhijkj lmlxb xxxxxxxxgl bxnox axapxxxqxxhxxxxxo xxxqA xx arj i asi tr Acjnuxjpnkx uxxxxi xixxm VVkxx tsxx awxxwp xejj bxxi pnpws |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 3,073 |
Words | 596 |
Stanzas | 22 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 6, 5, 10, 5, 17, 5, 2, 3, 1, 3, 2, 11, 6, 5, 5, 4, 6, 4, 4, 5 |
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"Babysitter" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/107263/babysitter>.
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