[Christy Reno]

I agree with several of the things that have already been said.

Regarding the difference in opinion about the "Children don't know beans," whoever said similar phrasing has been used in the U.S., yes. It gives the narrator a voice, but I don't think we need the forced rhyme to justify it. As far as the "breeding bats" I like the enjambment, especially with the "breed...bats" stressed, but the alliteration doesn't quite work for me given the cliché of what follows. It runs fairly smoothly after that. I feel like the images are appropriate to the audience although slightly exaggerated.

I agree with Tracey's comments about animal hoarding.

Also my vote is that it is a sonnet. I feel like there's a shift in L8 and L13.

I was bothered by the shift to "Before...," but I can get over it.

I can see what Nemo is saying, but I still think this is the strongest contender of the first 5 sonnets (all the ones I've read so far)--Eratosphere Bake-off or not.