Peter Pan

Her, me, them, us not all
Those poorly parented
Presented with troubles
Without a stable 'before'
Thought we knew best how
Stampeding through gates
Taking no prisoners before
Going to prison troubled
Gates closed shut locked
For our good and theirs
Every rehab a weak substitute
For the parenting we missed
Unhappy Father's days
Silent when others cheer
Mother's days muted
Shifting uncomfortably
In restaurant seats
With the good partners
Trying to share their joy
The joy of their childhoods
Shadows of orphanages
And adoptees struggling
To make sense of identity
Society not set up for this
For abortions unaborted
Roadkill for other values
Misunderstood uncomfortable
Grasping for certainty
Deemed irresponsible
Surviving on despite all
Or not surviving in time