I see you through a child's eyes
A monster behind a father's disguise
Charcoal was your heart, blood black as night
Humanity's face  forever out of sight

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All I wanted was your love and affection
Your encouragement and protection
But neglect and abuse were all I ever knew
Physical and mental, it came natural to you

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Mother didn't protect me from your monster inside
Drugs and alcohol were her only ride
No surprise then that I grew up empty within
Residual memories of violence and sin

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Animals brought me comfort by the age of school
Though my interest by some would be seen as cruel
My fascination with dissection I couldn't hide
Because I didn't wait until they had died

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Solitude was my one real friend
With other kids I didn't really blend
Awkward occasions when I had to engage
Left me angry and full of rage

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A girl in my street she tried to speak
Asked me to come play hide and seek
I hid her that well it took plenty of time
For her remains to be found in a bed of lime

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I'll always remember that first game I played
The feel of her skin as I slipped in my blade
That rush of excitement at seeing the blood
Fading light of an innocent childhood

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© A S May 2017

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A/N
This is a prequel poem, it goes some way to explaining how the Shadow Man became the killer he did