Build the Lives You Want

With complaints of racism 
people complain 
life is not fair 
from banks that refuse loans

To elite schools that have more funding
better equipment 
better education
the rich get richer

their children 
have a better chance
prestigious schools
prepare children 

for better lives
you are right 
greater wealth 
gives wealthy parents 

more money to fund schools 
to improve resources 
to improve education
improving children's knowledge

gives children
a greater chance of success
life is about choice
If you choose to waste 

your lives on alcohol or drugs
don't blame others 
for their success
working together 

you could create wealth for yourselves 
between brothers, sisters, 
cousins and aunts 
every family

would have 
a hundred people
in their extended family
a hundred people saving

ten dollars each per week
a thousand dollars per week
fifty-two thousand dollars per year
the deposit for a house every year

After ten years 
you could sell the houses 
to create companies and jobs
for yourself and your family

building family wealth
creating the wealth to fund schools
to provide a better education 
for your children by becoming wealthy

Poverty keeps your people suffering
your children turn to drugs 
selling drugs to make money
but destroying lives
 
we could all make better decisions 
working together 
you can create family wealth
that lifts you out of poverty

that allows you to fund your schools
granted it would take time
to provide a better education 
for your children

Instead of being angry
because of other peoples success
become successful 
build the lives you want

Ten dollars per week 
can build housing 
but another ten dollars 
a week each could be used 

to help your extended family's children
gain the education to improve lives
fifty two thousand dollars per year
given to one child every year

Could give them the education
to lift them out of poverty
living in poverty
struggling for every dollar

drives your children 
to make bad decisions
gangs from to protect the group
it's safer to live in a wars zone

than it is, to walk down the streets 
of gang-related territories 
your children die every day
from the wars on the streets

Yet children turn, to selling drugs
to make money
to have a life they enjoy
gangs provide comradery

Children just want to have fun
poverty breeds hatred
but if you want 
to provide a stable environment 

If you want to climb out of the gutter
then people 
working together 
can create a better life
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Maverick Avatar
November 21, 2022 at 12:36 AM
Fair comment, Bernard i've often thought Similar in a past life lol))) yet now the reality Is bared i see there are more people conniving To keep the average familiy down that I knew.' So a lot to digest in juxtaposition to this Hope you are going well '
Barclay Avatar
December 5, 2022 at 8:04 PM
All the best Joe hope you have a great Christmas
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace