The Man At The Party.

The man at the party
says,
voice fragmented
wrapped in static,
"spare the rod,
spoil the child,
that's my philosophy."

The speaker's eyes waver,
dying candles flicker
in cut glass goblets;
voice, fainting, falls to slow glide,
recalls the sounds of unbuckling
before the beatings
that made him a man.

Dance rhythms contend
with dissenting voices,
the uneasy beat of shuffling,
the cruel march
from childhood
to manhood.

FOOTNOTE: I know there is a difference between an admonishing smack and
a "belting". I have no problem with the former, but I do have a problem
with violence being used as a main deterrent to the "naughtiness" of a
toddler.
(c)2001 Patrick Talty