Scapegoat

One day we saw them load a cargo van
that ran away - across the dusty land,
left smoky pillars blown in restless plumes
which settled ages after their car left.

My daughter's grown up; years she has put on
through natural reasons caused as time moves on.
They say the human brain's a amazing tool
can hide the memory from tides of time.

Their neighbour's kids disliked to play with him;
was it the bloated face or lack of grace -
we'll never know for sure. My six year old
came running home one day with tearful eyes.

And worried as i was, to find out if
she'd hurt herself with playful antics kids
at her age do, parental instincts then
deduced it must have been that wretched kid.