Make way for the Boys
They have been passed by
Too many times
On the other side
Left faceless and foot free
Uninvited
Unrecognised
Not given the sanction
To be themselves
Shelved and quite fecklessly
Left in rotten rows
The boys were not
Expected to be good
Just to get out of the way
While the men abandoned them
The women indulged, ignored or
Screamed at them
They were not
Expected to be good
Just to do what they were told
How did you bear it brave boys of today?
You bore it by
Being the warriors of the night
By bitching the streets
And plummeting club depths
By charging the future
With your own deaths
You were very brave
And very angry
And despised everyone
I salute you, boys
Would your lonely fathers
Have survived the alleys like you?
Would your hurting mothers
Have known
How to hallow the thick streets?
Would your teachers
Have had the gall
To meet you as men and equals?
I love you, boys
And I wish your future
Could be as passioned and attacked
As your now
But I fear you will be
Thwacked into false goodness
Or behave as badly
As we who have abandoned you
To the streets
(c) John Macdonald – 2 Nov 2008
johndwmacdonald 
Brian Looney
January 24, 2012
This is excellent. The term ‘false goodness’ really stands out to me. I think there’s a lot of that around these days. Sort of a role people play, inspired by fear. The photography is a nice touch as well. Very dystopian.
Power to the people. 🙂
nevercontrary
January 28, 2012
Beautiful
Sharmishtha Basu
May 31, 2012
its amazing John. Assuming you are talking about boys, not a metaphor or some one in specific i should agree with you that boys are truly the ignored one, every one frowns at them, scowls at them…
johndwm
May 31, 2012
Yes it came to me when I was in a train and was about to push through then decided to let a couple of young boys go past me rather than the other way round. Within a few minutes the poem was written! again although I wrote it it just sort of happened! Many thanks am so glad you like it and it touches something real for you!
Debra Colby-Conklin
December 9, 2012
Poetry does indeed just happen…the same way as life does. I’m so glad I found your blog. So you know, John, I’ve nominated you for the Liebster award. For more about this award, come over to my blog. http://debracolbyconklin.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/ive-been-honored/
johndwm
December 9, 2012
Many thanks you are very kind. Ill look inbto this…
jmweselby
September 3, 2014
There are some truly beautiful lines in this … ‘bitching the streets’ and ‘left in rotten rows’ particularly stand out….
johndwm
September 3, 2014
Thanks. I wrote it on a train when I decided to make way for a couple of boys to go past me. Amazing how something like that can provoke a poem! Very glad you appreciate it…