Dunblane

Dunblane

I wept for the children of Dunblane as another madman is released

from behind the reassuring walls of Broadmoor Hospital.

I wept....

I wept for sixteen innocent, butchered babies;

as another lunatic is spared from prison for humanitarian reasons.

I wept...

I wept for the parents of Dunblane

and stormed at those who would see Hindley released.

I felt the deep scars reopen and the cries of a child

 pleading to be allowed to go home to her mother.

I wept at the flesh fresh tortured cries of Lesley Ann

and felt the pain as those deep scars burst bloody helpless pity.

I watch as each asylum crumbles

and is replaced by the tragic error that is community care.

Insane, insane I feel so helpless;

I squeeze the tears away and close my mind

to stop the agony that is the pain of Dunblane.

The scars will not heal.

They will fester and boil beneath the curtain of denial;

until they are again awakened by more unbridled madness.

 

 

14^th March 1996

[To Lesley Ann Downey and the other innocents]

Reviews

[Nicky Sarti]

This was another that made me cry John.
Very beautifully written as always.
It moved me and made me remember, I had not realised it had been so long since the tragedy happened.
It makes you angry and feel something, not just your poem; but also the events that took place ~ and have been.
Yes people have human rights, but I agree that if they are so willing and eager to brake the rules (law/whatever) then all rights should be wavered.
Maybe not treating them like scum, though that case can be easily argued; but let's not give them new identities. Let's not make it easy for them to "move on" and get a new life.
(Again, I am talking crap because I cannot sleep and have nothing else to do! Promise to go sleep in a minute!!)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I feel these things because of my field of work. See my book Trust and Integrity and just read chapter 1. I have written several on this theme including one on Gabrielle Gifford. Thanks Nicki now get some sleep!

[Nicky Sarti]

Shall do.
And thank you. Sleep has been gotten.
More should come.