some boys are allowed to dream,
out loud

and some boys are confined by nightmares,
elaborated by their mind,
wrought by the screaming,
the disputes,
the fire,

the wounds and
the bruises

there's the days spent at church,
the beatings and
the silence,

"pretend" mother says,
let go, and move on

some boys are allowed to dream
and some boys can't

dream anymore