Nostalgia:

[billy]

edit based on what leanne and ligitana said. (L 6, 8, & 9.

Okay, maybe it was me who was churlish.
Mother was an unpaid prostitute
with stupidity for a pimp.
I loved her like a puppy she fed
every now and then.
Her men were Legion;
bastards who had kids of their own.
but liked to travel
I commuted from fist to fist
like a worn out speed ball
She cared, but not too much.
When she left,
childhood returned.

original
Childhood was churlish:
At the age of six,
or seven it took a bow
and fucked off.
It didn't desert me
as much as it took a hiatus.
Okay, maybe it was me who was churlish.
Mother was an unpaid prostitute
with stupidity for a pimp.
I loved her like a puppy she fed
every now and then.
Her abusers were mean spirited
bastards who had kids of their own.
Beatings were commonplace
commuting from fist to fist
like a worn out speed-ball
She cared, but not too much.
When she left,
childhood returned.

[Leanne]

Childhood was churlish:
At the age of six, -- probably could do away with the comma
or seven it took a bow
and fucked off.
It didn't desert me
as much as it took a hiatus.
Okay, maybe it was me who was churlish.
Mother was an unpaid prostitute
with stupidity for a pimp. -- great image
I loved her like a puppy she fed
every now and then.
Her abusers were mean spirited
bastards who had kids of their own.
Beatings were commonplace
commuting from fist to fist
like a worn out speed-ball -- These lines I think have too much tell about them, though what's being said is important, so I'd suggest thinking of an idea other than "abusers" (maybe something that ties up your puppy simile?), and though I like the "commuting from fist to fist" I think the preceding line is too overt.

She cared, but not too much.
When she left,
childhood returned. -- this simple statement makes an excellent summary, but would be strengthened by more metaphorical language in the lines before it to contrast.

Oh, you said mild critique... damn, can't help myself

[LaGitana]

I agree with Leanne about the five lines to a degree. I almost feel that you can do away with the "her abusers...." sentence as it is almost TMI... but the next line, I like, except (and maybe this is an American vs UK thing... and correct me if I am wrong (although I never am, lol)) isn't a speed-ball (w/o the hyphen) some kind of drug? If you're talking boxing training equipment... it would be a speedbag, no?

Hey, I'm a chick, right? But I know boxers... and I've read about drugs... I could be right...

just my two cents... or pence. what ever does it for yea....

[billy]

thanks for the feedback leanne and lagitana.
i think you both made valid points and i tried to address the abusers line.
i googled speed ball hehe, in the uk theire is a speed ball but not not a speed-ball.

due to my youth i did now it was also a reference a drug cocktail.

once again ..thanks.

[Leanne]

I didn't know it was anything to do with drugs, I thought it was some kind of pinball reference

I like Legion with its connotation of numbers and of violence, very clever. I am not sure about "friends" -- what about "her men were Legion"?

And the full stop after "own" is kind of out of place now.

[billy]

i agree, and i missed my period
i placed your suggestion in the edit, thanks leanne