born and raised in the ghetto of america

life became unpredictable

difficulties that smothered one's growth

still remember those days

where one thought life would be simplistically easy

one had his mother, his older brother, and baby brother

there was love connection in one's immediate family

raymond,

who is the father of the three kids

was an irresponsible person

though

one knew who he was

and periodically, stop by the house

from time to time

his visits were not primarily to see his boys

his purpsoe was to fulfill his desire

and that was to satisfy his sexual urges

part of it explain was why one

calls him by his 1st name, never dad

strange things came about

as one was growing older

raymond would come by,

and both parents would fight

at times, it was violent

one didn't understood why at the time

he understood now why

his dad's unwillingness to take responsibility

as a parent

in that same token,

mom lost her job

family became a statistic

they were on welfare

longer than a person's height

and raymond took off like cowardly lion

not skipping down the yellow brick road

but the avenue where deadbeats scattered like roaches

not to be founded

he needed to search for his own courage

one vow that once family were off the system

life will have a fresh start

without the presence of raymond

who only by blood is one's father