Poetry Week: Wild Child

They caught all the wild children,

 and put them in zoos,

They made them do sums,

and wear sensible shoes.

They put them to bed 

at the wrong time of day,

and made them sit still

 when they wanted to play.

They scrubbed them with soap,

and made them eat peas.

They made them behave

and say pardon and please.

They took all their wisdom

and wildness away.

That's why there are none

in the forest today.

~jeanne willis 'wild child'