Crossing Point

At what point, does a parent disciplining a child become abuse?

Through my haze

I hear

A child cry out

In protest

To his dad's actions.

As he grabs him

By a handful

Of the hair

From the back

Of his head.

Trying to control

A four year old

With his ham fists.

How can any parent

Justify this type of action

In controlling

An unruly child?

Would never

React this way

If Star Venus

Or Squeak did

Something wrong.

And trust me

There have been times

I have felt angered

But I have always

Been strict

But gentle

On them.

Where violence

Of any kind

Is the very last resort

By me,

Not

The first action

When talking fails

Like this.

I know

How one reacts

To a cat or dog

Is different

Than a child.

Except

A good milestone

In measuring

Our own response

Towards others.

Who are

In a lesser position

Of power.

Author's Note

My reaction, to what I saw, this morning, at a local public library, by a dad, to his 4 year old child.