The Boy With the Freckles

I was enjoying my time in the sandbox When a redhead with freckles climbed in. The glint in his eyes left no question, His mission was ruin and sin. With my pail I had sculpted a castle, But he eyed it with fiendish disdain. His foot was the boot of destruction, And he smashed it without any shame. He laughed when he saw my reaction, Through my tears I could tell he was glad. My first lesson was learned in that sandbox, There's nothing can keep out the bad. I discerned that the boy with the freckles, Had no interest in making a friend. Though he had the face of an angel, His looks hid a devil within. I met him again in the school yard, He was older and meaner by then. He twisted my arm back behind me, And insisted that I holler out, "When!" I wish I could boast I played hero, But he scared me out of my wits. He growled "say when or I'll break it." And I knew that I dare not resist. All through the rest of my school days, He tormented me whenever he could. I spent way too much time in hiding, Too fearful to do what I should. We crossed paths again playing soccer, And of course we were on different teams. His attacks were not part of the playing, He got off on the pain and the screams. We never met while I was in college, Though I heard he had landed in jail. I wasn't glad at all that it happened, Till I though of that sandbox and pail. Like all lights at the end of the tunnel, Aren't those that you wish would remain. For a light in the darkness can fool you, And turn out to be an on-coming train. There's no judging a book by its cover, So I caution you girls, "stay alert." Some of those boys who have freckles, Are devils who love bringing you hurt.