Forgetting Where You Came From, Part Ii
...“While I march for justice in our neighborhood,
you were out here running ’round in the woods.
While I protested to bring about change,
you sold out to whitey, just to get paid!
“I stand by our people, our women proud,
not marrying some pale ass that I plowed!
I fight for mothers who do it on their own,
who get by with nothing, barely have homes!
“I want to get us a much better deal,
While staying authentic, keeping it real.
But it seems that I am the only son
who cares to remember where he came from."
Booker bit back at his brother’s words,
said,”All that I have I worked for and deserve.
I had had hoped that age would wisen your head,
but it’s clear that you still do not get it yet.
“You think I don’t remember where I grew?
Hardly, the problem is that I do!
I remember mom always passed out drunk,
if she wasn’t out late, high on the junk.
“I recall seeing two of my friends shot down
in turf wars with gangs raging all across town.
Half of the girls in my high school class,
dropped out pregnant, and still gave out sass!
“As if they were just the greatest of things,
didn’t need no man, didn’t need a ring,
bound to walk the path that ruined mom’s life,
crying children and a new man every night!
“That is what you call ‘keeping it real?’
That’s what you think should charm and appeal?
And as for improvements, I remember well,
I offered ideas, they said,’Go to Hell!’
“I said we should study, strive to do right,
they sneered at me, said,’Stop acting white!’
I said with more fathers it would be less grim,
they snarled and said,’Stop blaming the victim.’
“I said lower taxes might bring in jobs,
and more police would stop them getting robbed.
They mouth platitudes, cried,’Corporate shill,’
some can learn lessons but they never will.
“By this point you’d think even a fool wouldk now
that failure awaits using your approach.
Unwilling to change, so why waste my breath?
The place where I came from was a living death!
“No smart man would stay, suffer misery,
you don’t’ stay in Hell if you can up and leave.
I feel no regret for improving my lot,
this place functions better then what you’ve got.
“Better ideas, customs, and expectations,
build up a better life then the ghetto nation.
I’ll gladly forget where it is I come from.
My kids will have a father when the day is done.
“My wife will have a husband, all of her days,
if you were smart, you would too walk away.
But dare to insult my fiancée again,
I’ll show you how much I ‘recall’ of back then!”
...
Copyright © David Welch | Year Posted 2018
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