the darkness within

you knew boys
who would put a dead cat
on the railroad tracks.
hunt frogs
with bleached needles
on the end
of long sticks.
they were bad boys.
lighting on fire
Halloween bags of candy
as children screamed,
slashing tires
on the school buses.
peeking into windows
late at night,
throwing rocks
at cars. crank calls
on the phone
feigning death of sons
or daughters.
you knew them by name.
they knew you.
you were there for some
of these things.
stunned and amazed
at the cruelty within
them. how easy it was to go
another way.
never to cross
paths with them again,
yet you know they're
out there, somewhere.
a part of this world,
as you are.