"A Side of Humankind" (A poem by Cathy Gruman)

he learned a new side of people this day
when he was walking to the dime store with his ten cents
a kite he was going to buy
to take it out and fly
he was seven
off he went to get his kite
the kite he grabbed
the merchant paid
and he headed out the door
across the way a bully stood
and eyed this little boy
walking innocently
ready to go out and fly.
And as the bully crossed the street
the youngster had no fear
because up until this moment
he had only good people near
love and security are what he'd known
so his instincts were properly shown
the bully grabbed his kite and broke it in half across his knee
just laughed and walked away
as his eyes welled up
the tears began to flow
the shock kicked in as he lost his innocent glow
he never knew until this day
that there was more to life than play
some people laugh, some cry
some things are happy, sometimes sad
he had even seen his dad mad;
these things he knew
they were familiar,
but in this moment
all he felt was why.