pull down the blinds

close the windows

shut the doors

call him in

let him not play

let his voice not be heard

let him stay in

let him not peep out

let his eyes be shut

keep him away from noise, the celebration and the mourning

I will make him a sissy

and you will tease him all you like

I will keep him behind the curtains

away from the air and the sun

outside the predators roam

in their celebration

in their piety

in their vengeance

my boy is the casualty

I lost one, now no more ..