SON

I remember smacking you 

at a birthday party, 

a stinging open-hander 

to your thigh, 

You’d worked yourself 

into hysterics over something, 

your mother’s mithering 

only heightening your cries, 

Certainly seemed 

to have the desired effect, 

a few minutes later 

you were happily at play, 

Was it right or wrong 

or somewhere in the middle? 

Can you even ask

such a question nowadays?