In 1951, some would have said
that youngster’s a bad seed, a vicious boy
who baits his sister, sneaks out of his bed,
steals booze and smokes from parents to enjoy
when he should be asleep. He would have led
a gang if some would follow him, employ
his brain to cheat and duck and lie, instead
of learning. Nowadays he might be called
a borderline, but still we’d be appalled.