breeding

i never wanted
a child of my own
never wanted to breed
not even before i'd read
Larkin's 'This Be The Verse'
when i was about 11 or 12

"... don't have any kids yourself"
he'd advised
and i'd taken it to heart ever since
the line branded on my mind

(i only wavered once
 but the only person with whom
 i'd wanted a child
 never existed
 just as well)

"Man hands on misery to man"

what is damaged
will only breed
the same

so i won't
ever