the little shadow that runs through the grass

I was trained to think crcilialty from childhood. Really hard to put into words so I wrote a poem about it many years later. Read it and you'll understand. In a previous life,you killed and raped,cutting off the heads of kids,tying them to your shieldsso their kindred knew fearbefore they fell beneath you. You do not rememberyour guilt,but; you know them to be truebecause I knew.Why else would I beat you so?Before you could walk, I beatyou with the hand,the belt,the wall,and best of all, the closet. You suckled the titof fear and painbut you grew. After school, I beatyou. Question after questionuntil you missedand I began the lesson.You became smartand still you grew.Older,you had twelve incheson me. You would not standstill so I clutchedyour hand and followedyou around the room;told you to stop cryingwith every lunge of the belt,the switch,the hanger. You learned.The painbecame yours.I beat you neveragain.You are a Viking.The son of Odonand the Motherwho beat you so!