All He Hears

One of mine messaged me
& I cried – his honesty stays
What’s bred into his bones?

I claim him as my own – his
ear is clipped by other whip
of tongues [& soured looks]

but he recovers from his fall
& his failing timbers/ I’m not
here to tell him to be kind to

those who use foul words or
froth over lies & coffees/ No
I am here to one day tell him

all that he half-hears [all that
background babel – clucks –
spat dislikes] – all that is fear