Self Assessment

 It's been quite the week for marking your own homework

My brother was easily caught

turned his pockets out for the store detective

no-one looked at me

playing the tape I'd wanted

later, I investigated my actions

I found I'd done nothing wrong

that boy I fought

the one that called me a faggot

and I opened his face up

I found there was no case

to  answer, my actions

were proportionate and unavoidable

the casual use

of others, my carelessness

with their hearts

was, I concluded, not

my fault, there were

mitigating factors

everyone was like that then

I didn't know better

later, my parents were to blame

and when I was finally caught

I forgave myself easily

I was just going through some things

I'd like to say I've learned

truth is

we'll have to see