Because Your Choices Were Poor
Foolish boy, you chose
your parents poorly-
junkie mother and who knows
which irresponsible father.
And this neighborhood,
where you first soiled a diaper
once home from that poorly chosen
downtown county hospital.
And how could you have selected
such a terrible elementary school
and grimy middle school,
and the razor-wired and metal-detected
high school you didn't elect to finish?
With you, it's one bad decision
following another and here you are,
thug from a drug gang,
starting prison, just turned sixteen.
your parents poorly-
junkie mother and who knows
which irresponsible father.
And this neighborhood,
where you first soiled a diaper
once home from that poorly chosen
downtown county hospital.
And how could you have selected
such a terrible elementary school
and grimy middle school,
and the razor-wired and metal-detected
high school you didn't elect to finish?
With you, it's one bad decision
following another and here you are,
thug from a drug gang,
starting prison, just turned sixteen.
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Author's Note
It's all about the choices.
Other stories by Gary Hardaway
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Yup. And it was also ex's fault that he was born black, poor and with an absent father.
Pick a better family, man.*
Punk. Serves him right. *
The Aristotelian notion of the tragic how turned on its head.
I enjoyed this, in all its lack of mercy. Such is life. *
Brilliant, Gary, this is how people think when they don't think. *
Thanks to everyone for responding.
The tiresome memes we all see about success/happiness/etc. being all about the choices we make are such patent bullshit. It's the choices made for us that determine most personal trajectories. Dumb luck is the maker of fortunes more often than not.
That should be hero turned on its head. My Kindle and I are having issues.
Social Darwinism--Only the best genes succeed; I succeeded therefore I'm the best; I failed therefore I deserved it.*
Sad but true for too many in all countries.Well put Gary. *
Too true. Powerfully said *
Thank you, Gary, Daniel, and John.
Powerful and cutting.