HOW MANY
How many sons must a mother lose to gang violence
And be greeted by the deafening absence of their sons’ silence
Hopes and dreams just gone … just like smoke in the wind
Potential cut abruptly sort … a life brought to a tragic end
How any times must a mother cry and her cheeks be dabbed
After hearing that her son has just been beaten, shot, or stabbed
And sob uncontrollably with a flood of tears, along with overwhelming grief
With nothing that can be said to bring immediate comfort or relief
How many funerals must a mother attend
Of sons whose lives are no longer, and are left with hearts that rend
Having to deal with heavy feelings that aren’t at a loss or a lack
Faced with a very certain reality that their son isn’t coming back
How many mothers must comfort other mothers experiencing what they’ve been through
And tell of the dark places in the emotional abyss that they’ve been to
Forging themselves into a sister-hood with a bond – a soulful alliance
Calling, in one voice, for the end to the violence
How many parents must surrender to the wayward vagrancy
Of their daughters falling victim to teenage pregnancy
Tainted by a flawed perception of love that doesn’t quite keep pace -
With reality, and later becomes a slap in the face
How many mothers must become grandmothers sooner than they need to be
Particularly those with the mentality of their daughters, are they really free to see -
That they are perpetuating a cycle of irresponsible behavior
Placing blame every where except where it counts – yet they long for a savior
How many daughters become ‘baby mommas’ and are relegated to be such
All because the men who helped make the babies don’t think of them as being much -
Much more than just a good time and an instrument of sexual gratification
An object to be used for the purpose of concupiscent satiation
How many young girls must go about confusing love for sex
Later to find that the man with whom she’s been consorting with is now her ex
A man with the mind of a boy for whom at one time she had nothing but praise
Who has left her with a child who she knows not how to raise
How many parents must lose their children to a self-fulfilling prediction
Of their son or daughter falling prey to drug addiction
An affliction that retards development with euphoric feelings that are rife
In more than most cases it’s a distraction to ones purpose in life
How many parents make concerted efforts and attempt to delve -
Into conversations discouraging drug use, while being addicted themselves
Touting the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ mantra and chants
As well intentioned as that is … most sons and daughters just can’t
They can’t resolve in their minds something so seemingly hypocritical
A message that has an air of the ecclesiastical and levitical
Not realizing that there’s a warning in the message that is poignant and pivotal
Pointing to an outcome, that for most is certain and unequivocal
How many parents must watch the futures of their children take a turn
And look on helplessly as the children decide to learn -
The hard way that a stay makes a hard lay and a hard play
There is no rest for the weary, and the dreary have a hard say
How many times must “How did I fail my children” be a clarion call
Provided parents even care to ask the question at all
Question of disappointment and regret that linger on in the mind
With feelings of self pity that are more calloused than kind
Weary is the spirit and heavy is the brow
How many parents said “If I know knew then what I know now”
Would their children be better off if they could do it all over again
Or would they go down the same paths and repeat the same sins
How many lives must be adversely affected for lack of being adherent
Because of the reaping of the transgressions of the children, and the parents
For present conveniences that bring future wailings, and woe
For failing to train their children in the ways that they should go
Is there redemption for the parents and children … will there be veneration
Or must we look for redemption in another generation
Is there atonement ... however little … if any
If not, well be stuck with asking the question of “how many”
Written by: Charles
© 2009
How many sons must a mother lose to gang violence
And be greeted by the deafening absence of their sons’ silence
Hopes and dreams just gone … just like smoke in the wind
Potential cut abruptly sort … a life brought to a tragic end
How any times must a mother cry and her cheeks be dabbed
After hearing that her son has just been beaten, shot, or stabbed
And sob uncontrollably with a flood of tears, along with overwhelming grief
With nothing that can be said to bring immediate comfort or relief
How many funerals must a mother attend
Of sons whose lives are no longer, and are left with hearts that rend
Having to deal with heavy feelings that aren’t at a loss or a lack
Faced with a very certain reality that their son isn’t coming back
How many mothers must comfort other mothers experiencing what they’ve been through
And tell of the dark places in the emotional abyss that they’ve been to
Forging themselves into a sister-hood with a bond – a soulful alliance
Calling, in one voice, for the end to the violence
How many parents must surrender to the wayward vagrancy
Of their daughters falling victim to teenage pregnancy
Tainted by a flawed perception of love that doesn’t quite keep pace -
With reality, and later becomes a slap in the face
How many mothers must become grandmothers sooner than they need to be
Particularly those with the mentality of their daughters, are they really free to see -
That they are perpetuating a cycle of irresponsible behavior
Placing blame every where except where it counts – yet they long for a savior
How many daughters become ‘baby mommas’ and are relegated to be such
All because the men who helped make the babies don’t think of them as being much -
Much more than just a good time and an instrument of sexual gratification
An object to be used for the purpose of concupiscent satiation
How many young girls must go about confusing love for sex
Later to find that the man with whom she’s been consorting with is now her ex
A man with the mind of a boy for whom at one time she had nothing but praise
Who has left her with a child who she knows not how to raise
How many parents must lose their children to a self-fulfilling prediction
Of their son or daughter falling prey to drug addiction
An affliction that retards development with euphoric feelings that are rife
In more than most cases it’s a distraction to ones purpose in life
How many parents make concerted efforts and attempt to delve -
Into conversations discouraging drug use, while being addicted themselves
Touting the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ mantra and chants
As well intentioned as that is … most sons and daughters just can’t
They can’t resolve in their minds something so seemingly hypocritical
A message that has an air of the ecclesiastical and levitical
Not realizing that there’s a warning in the message that is poignant and pivotal
Pointing to an outcome, that for most is certain and unequivocal
How many parents must watch the futures of their children take a turn
And look on helplessly as the children decide to learn -
The hard way that a stay makes a hard lay and a hard play
There is no rest for the weary, and the dreary have a hard say
How many times must “How did I fail my children” be a clarion call
Provided parents even care to ask the question at all
Question of disappointment and regret that linger on in the mind
With feelings of self pity that are more calloused than kind
Weary is the spirit and heavy is the brow
How many parents said “If I know knew then what I know now”
Would their children be better off if they could do it all over again
Or would they go down the same paths and repeat the same sins
How many lives must be adversely affected for lack of being adherent
Because of the reaping of the transgressions of the children, and the parents
For present conveniences that bring future wailings, and woe
For failing to train their children in the ways that they should go
Is there redemption for the parents and children … will there be veneration
Or must we look for redemption in another generation
Is there atonement ... however little … if any
If not, well be stuck with asking the question of “how many”
Written by: Charles
© 2009
