I Spanked My Child Today

I spanked my child today.
She'd torn her dress at play,
And tracked across the rug,
And laughed at me with such a smug,
Defiant, impish way
I sort of lost my head.
I spanked her till her little
Spanking place was red . . .
But now that she's in bed
I don't know what to say . . .
A sleeping child is such a tender sight.
One hand upflung against the pillow white.
A toy still clutched; the fair hair mussed . . .
If I've betrayed Your sacred trust,
Oh, Lord of little children, please forgive,
And let me live
Tomorrow to outweigh.
I wish I hadn't spanked my child today.

-From "As Tall as My Heart"
-By Marjorie Holmes