the juvenile a child in manner

deceptively and dangerously alluring

stained in dusky skin

eyes big brown doe-like arresting

his charm the mask of chaos

at first blush perhaps a girl child?

our desire to save quickens the heart

light limbs soft voice pursed lips sweet

honey-blonde hair as fine as, yes, silk

but he is not to be mistaken for innocence

on 30 September 1970 in the Year of Our Lord

evidenced in Her Majesty’s Child Court Batman Avenue

the juvenile acting with “malice aforethought”

confronted an Officer of the Crown (page 7 para. 1)

with a savagery previously unwitnessed by said Officer

pages, entries, words contained within exhibit

a sorry tale of inevitable fall from grace –

troubled infancy, troubled schooling

trouble trouble trouble – triplicate

in bold in red underlined asterisked accordingly

a predicted story of woe (page 22 para. 3)

the child was “beaten repeatedly & severely”

aged 10 years 7 months 12 days

with metal bar trouser belt and fists

by “person or persons” of child’s own blood

the boy himself becomes that which he fears

violence courses his veins and therefore –

yes, therefore he must become the protected one

by us for us and himself and for the country

this the only Nation girt by sea