The hand is there, accessible, you have it right –
And left – there. Often a belt is close, too,
If they’re wearing pants that need to stay up.
Thin ones work much better than thick, more of the whip
And welt action, the sting that remembers teaching.
Hangers can be had in most homes, both wire
And wooden work well, though like the thin belt,
Wire leaves a more lasting mark, a henna tattoo.
Once upon a time there was a broom, the smaller
Wooden version, more easily wielded,
The faster action preferable as
A knife is better than the sword in close quarters.
Once there was the whip that came with the Halloween
Zorro costume, so it became a tool
Perfect for instructional purposes
When it was handily nearby, depending where
The loving punishment was meted out. And such
Lessoning happened often because I
Was young and had to be taught more often
For knowing less about what was acceptable
Behavior and what was not according to them.
Spare the rod and spoil the child. If someone said I
Was spoiled I’d laugh, being anything but thanks to
Much of the rod and very little of the spare.
