Might It Have Worked

Might it have worked
this National School Pledge

Might it have worked
on the young schoolboys
I physically separated
from each other just
a stone’s throw away
from their primary school

Might it have worked
on these aggressive youngsters
knee-high to a grasshopper
(perhaps too much TV and
cheap sweets and chips)

Might it have worked
should I have asked them
to swear allegiance to all
things respectful and civil
(while they were instead
cursing each other)

Might it have worked
should I have asked them
to recite our proposed pledge
in between energetically
trading insults learnt
probably right up your street)

Might it have worked
this National School Pledge
on one and all of these
future leaders of our land
amid tearing each other apart
(like it is the done thing)

Might it have worked
would you have pledged
them something different
to respect and tolerance
(maybe to honour and obey
as was done in days past)

Might it have worked

Unnerved by a group (I refuse to say “mob”) of young schoolboys doing the nasty to each other, in front of their schoolgirl colleagues, along Klipfontein Road, Silvertown-Gatesille, after an invigorating day (no doubt) at school, Wed, 14 Feb 2008.

- David Kapp, davidkapp@webmail.co.za