What about these young people 
Standing on street corners 
Answerable to everyone 
But themselves? 

Where is their space? 
Who is giving them their 
just deserts? 
Is this all they deserve? 
Reprimands 
And the constant monitoring of progress? 

Surely they need something more than this? 
More than the constant 
Reminder of their own insecurity 

And their own mistakes 
More than a short sharp 
Rap on the knuckles 
By the Law 

After all 
Isn’t it 
just about 

The worst thing 
For a young mind 
To be ignored?