Perseverance

Grass isn't always greener on the other side born from poverty Spanish-speaking English living Nuyorican lots of siblings government living Brooklyn streets roaches in the cabinets rats roaming to get feed hand me downs put on a front meanwhile constant screaming push and shoving broken never to be spoken scars fading not without leave a profound reminder of the leather belt that made you jump every time it cross your flesh a lesson to be taught stomach growling to be feed one to many sleepless nights no escaping our young fate but survive what doesn't break you sure to make you stronger looking back I have to say I survived my siblings and I back in the day not like today there would be no disrespect what would be call child abuse discipline was called back then learning respect your elders respect as you would want to be respected where has the love gone for one another for the wiser know more than the youth of today back in the day there would be no talking back eat what was served or starve eat nothing at all no name brands just what was a forded no talking back for a back slap would be your reward sure it was not right back then discipline was harsh but for those of us that made it were stronger respectful and know the value of a dollar sort to say how to make a dollar out of fifty cents think about it hard work never killed anyone now a day a easy way out is in demand is so sad instead of things getting better look around it's just beginning to get worse no respect no kindness no feelings lots of jealousy and envy lost of chaos broken homes broken people broken families corruption everywhere we turn sure back in the day race poverty drugs broken homes played the role but we made it no cell phones no name brand clothes no Internet no social media dinner time togetherness what you could afford is what you had and thankful for what little was had grateful for the little things in life it’s a shame that today's youth well never know back in my day I made it with dignity and respect for one another other with little to nothing to love and respect do unto others as you would want to be done unto you I thought I had it bad but going back in time I see it made me more appreciative of the little things in life This poem is a walk of perseverance in times of defeat