The Devil's Hiss

When I was born I came out bawling Red and raw, with the devil's hiss Mother said I was always squalling A toddler next, still caterwauling, Swaddled tight in life's chrysalis Raggedy kneed from lurch to crawling Then came school, dreich days, appalling Failing to please some tyrant Miss All of my letters, tumbled, scrawling Teenage moods, the pretence of drawling Trying to woo some Adonis Wrestling off his urgent mauling Love of a sort…a skylark falling Hard for an Irish suitor's kiss Crushed by his after-math stone -walling Ever since then, emotions, stalling Knowing each fence hides an abyss Locking the door when love comes calling Pain is the price for ardour's bliss