Caren Krutsinger Poet Free verse

They Thought

So they thought my folks were on drugs.
They thought my mom was a prostitute
They thought my dad was her pimp
Why? Because we live in the ghetto?

They thought I would have eight siblings
They thought I would be hungry.
Why? Because we live in the ghetto?
These teachers are uppity. I hate them.

They thought I would amount to no good.
They thought I would lie and steal.
They thought I was a grifter.
I hated them all until I met Mrs. K.

Mrs. K. came to my apartment.
She met my parents. She worked with them
To get me on the right path. 
They became a team.

And thanks to her, and my parents,
who were not drug dealers or crack whores,
I got out 
Of the ghetto.

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Gershon Wolf January 4, 2020 at 11:37 PM Way to go, Caren. You are courageous, prncipled, determined, big-hearted---and a bit lucky too! Proud of you all the way from Chicago! ~ Gershon Caren Krutsinger January 5, 2020 at 2:48 AM Thank you so much Gershon. I appreciate it. Sometimes all we teachers need to do is meet the parents and work together with them.