Hgarvey Daniel Esquire Poet Free verse

Ma'Am

The Webb’s my second Mommy and Daddy of the year ; It’s only June
 Mr. Carver, the social worker rambles on as we pull into the driveway 
 My five year old eyes open wide as I see the giant mansion dotted with children
 Ten new brothers and sisters, painfully shy, fear elevated to a joyful want of family

 Sunday dinner, introductions: Mr. Webb a Fuller Brush salesman , meek and gentle
 Mrs. Webb a stay at home Mom, a beautiful woman : with wicked sky blue eyes
 Alice the oldest of us all, looked up to by her younger siblings ,the Rock of the kids
 Virginia, frail , the twins Joe and Jim, rambunctious, Bobby, the loner, Millie,deaf 
  I would learn sign language. Rebecca, shy as me, William, Mom’s favorite. Dotty
  The humorous one. George six month older than me, soon to be my closest brother
                                                I slept well that night
 Good morning, Harry I’m going to work I’ll be back Friday night, a chorus of Goodbyes
 The nightmare begins :  Harry you will call me Ma’am you snotty nosed little bastard
 Alice, Joe, fill the bath tub this filthy little boy must be cleansed .Ma’am he’s only five
 Don’t sass me ***** with a slap across the face Alice fell to the floor. The tub filled
 The chlorine made my eyes water,tears rolled down my cheeks. Are YOU Crying?
 If your going to live in this house YOU will be a man now scrub your genitals, did you 
 Hear me? Mom; several slaps to the head ,YOU WILL call me Ma’am, now scrub
With tears flooding my cheeks, Ma’am I don’t know what genitals are, the bleach burning
Ma’am beating me with a Fuller Brush scrub brush dry yourself, go upstairs get dressed
As I limped by the girl’s room I saw Millie, Ginny straped to their beds I started to help
Alice gently pulled me back : Don’t help them Harry Ma’am will beat you: but, but Why
The atrocities I saw that week scarred me for life Thank God, Mr. Webb came home early
Tuesday morning Ma’am in a straitjacket being put in a  Police cruiser. All the children :
                            Heading to new Foster  Homes : We kept in touch
         Inspired by Deborah Guzzi”s Contest : Something wicked this way comes

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Laura Breidenthal February 25, 2012 at 9:01 PM Wow. This was very well expressed. I love how you incorporated these people and experiences into free-verse. Very well written. And thank you for your kind comments on my poetry. Always, Laura

Lynette Chachere March 15, 2010 at 3:15 PM I swear,Grown people like this have a real mental condition in the brain.its really f--'d up.did this truly happen, Harry?were you adopted,or..and this story made me so sad.i just hate to see cruelty happen to small children.and to know if this is true,it makes me even more upset because i truly care for you.and this wasn't a peaceful place..at all.it was painful in every way..for my spirit brother, who didn't deserve it.i can feel and i can't say it enough..i hate this cruelty.and i hate Ma'am.

Colleen Bono December 14, 2009 at 5:43 PM Indeed wicked and sorry to say this kind of thing happens everyday.

John Freeman October 25, 2009 at 10:13 AM HG, this sounds like a real hell hole, it's not bio is it? I should hope not, but I know these things do go on in this wicked world. Sincerely, moses

Barbara Gorelick May 14, 2009 at 3:28 PM Just a quick "well done" to my dear HG. BG

Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen May 14, 2009 at 10:13 AM Hey HG, You won second place! Congratulations!!! Love, Dane

Colin Mitchell Williams May 14, 2009 at 9:57 AM Hi .. HGarvey... out standing ! congratulations

Vince Suzadail Jr. May 14, 2009 at 6:40 AM HG, congrats on your being one of the winners in Deborah's contest. It never gets any easier seeing what happens to kids. The system has failed them and society has failed them. Even now, with all the outlets, once they are part of the system, they never see freedom until they are adults. This poem was a reality check for those looking the other way. God Bless. Vince

Lena Townsend May 14, 2009 at 5:49 AM This one makes me so sad as I know so many children that have been in the system and have suffered this type of treatment. Congratulations on a great write and your second place win. Smiles through tear filled eyes from Lolita

Brian Strand May 13, 2009 at 11:46 PM Congrats on your success in Debbie's contest HG Rgds Brian

Raul Moreno May 13, 2009 at 6:44 PM Nice work HG and congrats on second place...Raul

Barbara Gorelick May 13, 2009 at 6:02 PM HG, I'm so proud of you.., you write from your heart..congrats on your win..Your Barbeeg

Sandra Hudson May 13, 2009 at 5:46 PM Congrats on your second place win in DG's contest-AA

Carrie Richards May 13, 2009 at 4:27 PM Wow...I missed this one the first time around....so painful, so well written, ....such wickedness, and an excellent choice for winning in the contest!! Congrautlations, GREAT JOB!! Love, Carrie

Sharon Winter May 13, 2009 at 3:52 PM CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND PLACE WIN!!!! So proud of you, so well deserved! Bravo! Something good comes out of something bad in more than one way. You are amazing in every way!!! Love you! Hugs! xoxoxoxoxo

Brian Strand May 10, 2009 at 12:36 AM Best wishes with this narrative HG.Rgds Brian & thanks for your welcome comments

Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen May 9, 2009 at 9:12 AM You got me on thiss one. I was appalled from the third verse on until justice ended it... The disturbing part of this poem is that this type of thing really happens to real people and they hurt...almost forever. I'm shuddering at this write...It's that real. Good luck in the contest. DAS-J Hgarvey Daniel Esquire December 13, 2012 at 2:52 PM It was Real, I was there LOVE ALWAYS and FOREVER YOUR Eternal Liege...Harry

Barbara Gorelick May 8, 2009 at 6:43 PM HG, I come again to read your work...Again Im devestated at what they did to you. FOr you to come away with such a beautiful heart is a miracle. Love, BG

Daver Austin May 8, 2009 at 9:24 AM Yes, Poe is the inspiration...a great word, tintinabulation. They is some awful people in positions they are not by nature fit to hold. We just got rid of one. A real eye opener, HGarvey. Love, daver

Sharon Winter May 8, 2009 at 9:06 AM Oh dear God, you poor child. So, so sorry for what you have been through in your life. And to quote a dear friend of mine, if this is not a BIG winner, than I'm a monkeys' uncle. I am sorry you ever had to write this, but write it well you did. Exceptional. Love you, Shar xoxo

Corinne Curcio May 8, 2009 at 5:57 AM Oooh - that was hair raising indeed! To learn that it's true is even more frightening! Powerfully written HG

Hgarvey Daniel Esquire May 7, 2009 at 8:15 PM To my Fellow POETS Ma'am Part 2 will be Posted in a few weeks I shortened it for Deborah's Contest I spent 10 and a half months at the Webb"s I keep in touch with all my foster sisters and brother Except George the reason Mrs. Webb (Ma'am) was arrested LOVE to all of YOU ALWAYS...HG

Phyllis Babcock May 7, 2009 at 2:23 PM I know this happens but it is so hard to believe that there are these horrible humans in this world. Children are so precious. I became a grandmother for the first time on Apr. 30 and have become a doting grandma already. Wish we could change the past and correct all these wrongdoings. Blessings Phyl

Barbara Gorelick May 7, 2009 at 12:07 PM HG, how i wish i could change your childhood..it makes me so sad. This is the face of wickedness..to harm a child. You have a winner here. Love, Barbeeg, Barbara jean