junior. flower2 [act:1] [birth – 14 years old]

raised. with a heavy hand

dad? he's angry at the world

trying. to make Junior a man

by beating him silly

until he learns

that how he operates is wrong and sissy like

because real men don’t cry

they grit. they strike.

they fight.

then ask questions

they hit their spouse

to get respect

and

they disrespect the weaker

because they can

[they disrespect the weaker because they can]

they drink when pissed off

and they stay pissed off

because

“this world isn’t worth a log sinking in the commode - after a Taco Bell brunch!”

[act:2]

he stayed in the corner of his room

holding his knees

dabbing his mouth

with a napkin

the color of Jolly Ranchers -

cherry

[act:3] [15 – 18 years old]

dad tells him how he has it so good:

1-he has a roof over his head 2-food in his belly 3-and his own room

but that Budweiser love can’t make the cut

he hasn’t had a hug

since he put the lunch box on the shelf

and traded it in

for a paper bag full of:

stress, worries, and life altering decisions

like:

1-doing homework 2-getting to school on time 3-fighting off future convicts 4-and keeping a sane mind

in this harsh world full of devil advocates

and open sores on your genitals

because the spur of the moment is the only reality that matters

[act:3] [19 – 25 years old]

so your lover of the moment? is loose like you

your lover of the moment? their goose is cooked too

too many achoos and low blood cells

statistics fly -

and you’re on that chart

[act:4] [final act] [26 years old]

i guess dad was right.

you ain’t so special now – huh?

Copyright 2014, Duaynekalade Parnell Bey, All rights reserved