288(A)P.C.

I saw you when they brought you

to the station, escorted through

the door. Your body bore a thousand

wounds, your soul a thousand more.

Your were 12 but so stunted by

suffering I thought you only

9. Your eyes were darkened

spheres of glass that no longer

noticed time.

Every officer who saw you was

moved in the same way. We fumbled

for some good to do or a soothing

word to say.

Failing with our words turned to

anger, and anger turned to hate.

Someone was to be punished and

punishment was late.

Who could so hurt this child who

God has made as whole? And who

could force her to this station

and injure all our souls?

TO A 12-YEAR-OLD WHOSE NAME I NEVER KNEW

Your mother failed you because

she was a small, bitter woman.

Your father failed you because

his new life was found far away.

Your social worker failed you

because your name was one of many.

I failed you because a badge

and gun do not help me to see.

Wearing a soft black dress she

went to the closet where you

lay, passing silently through the

locked door.

She placed her pale cool hands

on your wounded brow and said:

You will hurt no more, because

I am here.

You will fear no more, because

I am here.

You will never be alone, because

I am here.

Take my hand child, if you will,

and we leave this place together.

Offered what you never had

you took her hand. A sigh of

exhaled breath, as if passing

into sleep, and you were gone.

You left us behind, behind our

own locked doors. Guilty and

damned we sit in doubt of our

own salvation.

Officer Lorne D. Gilsig of the Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Dept. submitted these poems with the following comment:

“As a police officer I find myself going from one radio call involving someone’s personal trauma to another. In response to that I wrote the two enclosed poems.

“I was told, by people who wouldn’t tell me they were bad, that they are good. I think they help illuminate why LAPD officers behave as we do and are as sullen as we are.”

The title of the first poem, “ 288(A)P.C., “ is the penal code for child abuse.

1993 by Lorne D. Gilsig. Reprinted by permission.