Children Listen

This is a poem. It's not abstract. So if you just sit back and listen, you'll understand I'm going to say this poem twice, so listen with your heart the first time but listen with your heart again Say good morning when someone says good morning to you Speak when spoken to Look a person in the eye and be confident even if you're not and be willing to learn what you know not Don't be so quick to speak out loud and then cover your mouth in shame once you realize what just came out It's too late - so think before you shout Be accountable for your actions Your character is defined by what you do when people aren't looking because when they are They see in your behavior all the doings of the heart So be honest with yourself and do the right thing...it's not hard Learn! Use life's resources I know what it's like to be in dark places going through trials - unhappy child But learning and reading and growing is all relative to your future So escape in a poem or good book and don't let the enemy defeat you Stay in touch with positive members of your family ties Record yourself saying wonderful things about your life Recite them daily...then write Be the first to offer respect Stay calm give others a chance to talk Be humble, but never nobody's fool Don't allow others to mistreat you Stand up for your rights and have a voice, but do it with dignity and be tactful. And girls... Go ahead..wear your skinny jeans and your bangles but accept other for their style, their view see things from their angle And fellas... Pull those pants up..tuck those shirts in and stop trying to be gangsta If I can see your underwear thats unacceptable behavior and it's not okay It's embarrasing to the struggle and it's a disgrace It's time to move past the stereotypes of race I know you got alot to face but once you learn what your ancestors did to get you to this place, It will seem like a walk in the park and you'll be proud to have helped the case Young people I tell you if you follow these rules You can change the world and become a generation renewed