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See ‘em acting up, tearing it up like a cyclone through a village,

Even in a public space, their parents trying to save face,

Reprimand is in order, maybe time spent in the corner,

Take away from ‘em their latest obsession, whatever it takes so they learn their lesson,

It ain’t no fun to be the villain but it’s part of being a parent,

Can’t always be their hero, you’d be foolish to enable ‘em, better re-check that job description.

Love ‘em, play with ‘em, open ‘em to countless possibilities,

A positive childhood lays the groundwork, basically,

Then you can be sure they’ll grow up good and proper, ready to spread those wings and soar higher and higher,

But good old-fashioned discipline is in order, they’ll thank you for it when they’re older,

Kids get outta line, sometimes, push boundaries like only young’uns can,

That’s your cue to step up to the plate, put ‘em in their place before it’s too late,

Youthful innocence and ignorance are limited excuses, you’d be remiss to let ‘em slide,

Be a parent, Mom and Dad, it’s your duty to guide ‘em through this life,

Some days might get ugly, they may hate you for it at times,

They shout “I hate you” or “I’m running away” when you teach ‘em right from wrong? Don’t take it serious, ain’t nothing but sticks and stones.

Peep at those that treat their own like lil’ buddies,

Won’t ever be the ‘bad cop’, tell ‘em ‘no’, ‘can’t do that’ or even when to stop,

Any semblance of order is stifling, they say, to sort them out tantamount to abuse,

Then their wee ones turn into monsters while they smile and gush about their cuteness,

No laughing matter when monsters grow to be menaces to society, lacking empathy, accountability and personal responsibility,

That’s the price paid for being too afraid to step up when it’s needed, congrats, Mom and Pops, y’all had a job and ya blew it,

Now comes ‘life’ to fix ‘em the way you never could,

It takes no prisoners, won’t let ‘em get away with murder, you left ‘em high and dry, now they’ll face the consequences.

Teachers ain’t paid to mind ‘em, and why leave that to strangers?

It always starts at home, do your damn job and raise ‘em,

Know when to be their pal but also when to exercise authority,

Pull them in before they fall, that is your responsibility,

Sooner or later they’ll understand that there was method to the strictness,

Maybe when they’re raising the next generation, using the very methods you’d all but patented,

It’s the greatest job in the world, parenting, the best you’ll ever have,

Not for the faint-hearted, every step there’s a test, in the end you can only do your best.

So you chose to swerve the path, beaten to death, trod by many,

Rewards guaranteed, mostly, at the very least greater security,

Ran in the proverbial race for years, a better life the promise powered by the dollar,

Before life’s true calling was encountered in the midst of a personal war,

Set off on a mission the mind’s eye can only see, to the majority it goes unseen, a hiding to nothing is what they feel,

More risks, to be sure, fueled only by dreams,

Heavy lies the heads of they whose destinations remain shrouded in uncertainty,

Hard work and dedication pays dividends but in the end the luck of the draw says all,

Better plan that next step, pronto, never know what could happen tomorrow.

Work on it day by day, at your own pace, you’ll be ok,

But for every step taken a price must be paid,

They’ll have plenty to say, it all comes in waves,

Assuming the worst like you ain’t ok, your dance in the dark conjuring up whispers for days,

They mean well, you can tell, concerns wrapped in more backhands than Federer,

But the choice is yours, always, whether to be better or bitter,

Then there’s the voices within your mind, from them there’s nowhere to hide,

Harder to dodge than those throwing stones from out the house, locked doors are futile when the tormentors are inside,

Can only block the noise and keep at it, persevere through the whippings,

Small wins in the process are your best rebuttals to the judge, jury and executioner.

Then when you’re ready, go put it out there, time to do your talking,

Let ‘em see what’s been cookin’ from the do-nothing,

Where will you go from here? Only you know the answer,

Will you find gold at the end of the rainbow? Only time will tell, but rest assured, win or lose, you ought to be chuffed,

By giving it a go you’d already proven enough, only the mad and the brave take their shot,

Fewer are willing to step into the void, to leave it all behind without giving a second thought,

Come up roses, it’s a hell of a legacy, come up short there’s no regrets, you’ll still rest easy,

Eyes forward and march on, follow that dream, life’s too short,

Time is a thief, as you already know, why waste it where you ain’t thriving?

Let ‘em say whatever, everyone has an opinion, they’re entitled to it,

You’ll have the last laugh, in the end, you better believe it.

Been a rough ride, sadly, you never asked for any of it,
Dumped on you with no explanation, cursed from birth, it seems like it,
‘Just talk about it’, they’re saying, but you’re only met with silence,
Eye rolls and muffled laughter, so you put up walls around the fortress,
Double birdies for the masses for not helping with your baggage,
But that’s life, gotta carry your own load, no one’s checking for your weeping,
Hate to be the one to say it but you’re hurting ‘cuz of your misguided expectations,
The world ain’t fair, you’d be daft to expect hugs or back pattin’,
Better fight back or be consumed by it, those are your only options, which way you going? Only you know the answer.

By all means, turn to the one you trust when it hits that proverbial fan, it doesn’t make you a lesser man,
Can only keep the contents from bubbling when you’d been long stirred and shaken, sooner or later it’s spontaneous combustion,
But don’t think they’ll hold your hand forever, you’re grown and they ain’t your parents, support and encouragement is where their roles are limited,
You still need to get to working, in the end it’s still your call,
Sink or swim, use your resources wisely or not at all.

Why give another all that power? Why put your life in their hands?
Ain’t nobody perfect, Homie, what if they fumble it?
Why not take the initiative? Get active in your rescue,
Ain’t nobody coming to save you, dude, if you think that you’re a fool,
Everyone has a past, no one’s immune from challenges,
You’re no exception, admittedly, some go through it worse than others,
Apologies and sympathies if you were put through the wringer,
Only you know the horrors of it, ill-feelings are warranted,
But like it or loathe it, it is still your responsibility when it comes to how you handle it, will you rise above or become another casualty?
Think of others in your position, one of two outcomes,
You can leave it in the dirt, seek redemption and find your purpose, or stay stuck and self-destruct while they who’d done you dirty come out the victor.

And are you certain that those you’re trusting won’t turn around and bite?
Might be hiding knives behind those smiles, posing as lights of comfort and empathy,
Any intel that they’d gathered might be passed onto others,
To build an army to sink you further, such is the power of high treason,
Count your blessings rather than stalling, perhaps your might is stronger than you thought,
Been to hell and back over and over and still standing, maybe you’re meant for something greater,
Time for serious contemplation, deep thinking and meditation,
Find out what you’re willing to stand on, on which hill to die on, the roads to be taken, eliminate every hindrance,
Whatever time you have use it to make a difference, turn experiences into winnings,
Why be a menace to yourself and to others when you can inspire and be a mentor?
Gotta have an open mind, though, can’t advance without growth,
But stick to your guns and keep on truckin’, one day you’ll make it.

Triumph or victim, you can be one or the other,
And if little ones are present it’s a no-brainer,
If not for you then do it for them, break the damn curse,
Catch your breath then back in the fray, fuck being a quitter, keep finding a way,
Show ‘em Pops is a champion that keeps on fightin’,
Can’t give up on ‘em, those little cherubs are your reason,
Just a few gems to keep in mind next time that canine has you in sight,
“I always win”, “I got this,” “every problem has a solution,”
Repetition begets perfection, remind yourself ‘til it becomes habit,
Or use any other idiom, re-word it to whatever’s your liking,
Just a few jewels here, Pal, in the end it’s up to you,
You’re more than just your cards, get out there and kick some ass.

Forever etched in memory, those simpler times,
Messing ‘round, laughs a plenty, under them skies,
Looked forward to every summer, itching for some adventure,
Endless fun was had, time was inconsequential, just a never-ending cycle,
Ran with your crew, siblings from different parents, promised you’d grow old together, in the same block or retirement village,
But the clock ticks ever-onwards, quicker than you think, change is a constant not to be trifled with, might throw the wrench into your ambitions,
Y’all won’t see it coming, but one day you’ll head outside for fun,
For the last time under that sun, before changes gon’ come.

You’ll get up there in years, climb up the grades,
Homework piling up, free time further spaced out,
One or two might go M.I.A, scrapping plans day by day,
Others might fall with someone new, soon they’ve grown apart from you,
With age your priorities change, taking over fun and games,
Call it the end of innocence, gotta prep for grown-folks’ business,
But maybe you’ll get lucky, an opportunity might arise,
One final chance to turn back time, before you all get on with life,
To be young’uns once more, wild and carefree,
Get it out of your system before confronting reality,
Run, skip, catch and tackle, swing, hurdle and whatever,
Before walking off to the sunset, such an ending would be perfect.

But it need not be the end, maybe y’all can keep in touch,
But no such thing as guarantees, you’d be naïve to expect so much,
The winds can be unpredictable, scattering vessels in all directions,
Like an all-consuming hurricane barrelling over the terrain,
Might struggle to keep the crew intact in the face of such gales,
Might lose some, all might jump ship, but it need not end so grim,
Perhaps one or two might make it to the end with you, that’s already a blessing,
Enough to share the wins and losses, to take on all comers,
But no matter where y’all end up, the ties that bind will be enough,
What was shared and created, nothing and nobody can erase it,
Even if you’re apart, memories will stay in your hearts,
Triggering smiles, tears, laughter and longing in equal measures, a safe space from life’s daily pressures.

But no need to get ahead, these are mere musings,
Might play out differently, evidently, y’all are tight as can be,
Have fun messing around, kids, you might not know it yet,
But these are your golden years, the best of the best,
Better savour it now, enjoy each and every moment,
It’ll be over before you know it, live it to the fullest.

See her every morning, pruning flowers out front,

Heads out back to repeat the task, takes a big gulp from her flask,

Recently-retired, living it out on her lonesome,

Save for occasional visits from grown little ones, their tiny tots call her ‘Nan’, melting hearts like only grandkids can,

Had to do it the hard way, got here mostly on her own,

Paid the bills, raised the kids, worked hard and maintained the home,

Love for family powered her along after the greatest loss of all, fate hadn’t been so kind, he’s out of sight but never out of mind,

They’d met long ago, love was instantaneous,

Dated, married, had a few kiddos, before he fell to a wretched virus,

And so she stepped up, put the young ones through college,

Was with ‘em through every step, lord knows how much willpower she possessed,

Worked her fingers to the bone until retirement age, yeah she did all that,

It was perilous and messy but she came through all that,

All the while they asked if she’d ever find another, always she deployed the usual answer,

“Not a chance, I’ve had my happy ending, though he’s gone our union’s everlasting,”

She’d surely found the one, he could never be replaced,

Now she walks on until the day when they’re reconnected beyond time and space.

Another one bites the dust, never went beyond the second date,

Let alone first base, try as he might he only sees her face,

Been a few years since fate had the final say, she was mowed down on that day by a fool behind the wheel totally off his face,

They should’ve exchanged vows, it’ll never happen now,

He’s tried to find another since, it wasn’t supposed to be like this,

He’d found his happily ever after, no one can compare to her,

‘Plenty of fish,’ they say, ‘you’ll surely find another,’

But they don’t know he’d found the one, she can never be replaced,

Becomes apparent with every failed date, a solo life might be his fate.

They say there’s someone for everyone, if you’re lucky you’ll meet ‘em before 21,

Exchange vows then grow old together, create a lifetime of memories and adventures,

But the grim reaper remains unbeaten, never know when it comes knocking,

Some move on and find another, but others ain’t checking for a replacement,

Love of one’s life, the one true love, you’ve heard the clichés, it’s not every day they come around,

Time can’t diminish their significance, no one can replicate their presence,

And so they carry on faithfully until they reunite somewhere on the other side,

Better to have loved than lost, for many it’s no fucking lie.