The Struggles and Growth of a Man

Marriage and Kids

I never saw a functional marriage in all of my years growing up,

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 My grandparents were dysfunctional and stayed together for my aunts and uncles.

My grandfather died of a heart attack in his 60s, health came back to get him,

And also karma for all of his cheating ways which is what my uncles are now.

I didn’t have friends who had both parents married and living together,

The classic line I’d say because I live in the ghetto, right?

You still don’t know my race and that’s good, that’s the whole point,

Don’t get it twisted it’s not just blacks and Latinos that live in ghettos.

My reality of marriage was non-existent and that’s a sad thought,

Most of the people I admired and emulated weren’t married.

My favorite rappers and entertainers were players and didn’t appreciate women,

The lyrics in their songs surely didn’t portray a positive image of women.

It wasn’t until listening to Tupac where I understood women, he was their voice,

It wasn’t until I started going to the suburbs with Mr. Marble to see a fully functional marriage.

He had a beautiful home, 2 boys which correlates to my situation, my brother and I,

Riding in his nice car that he paid for and it wasn’t done illegally, that inspired me.

Seeing his immaculate home and the cut grass, even the air felt different out there,

His wife was a diamond cut from a different stone to put it in truthful terms.

The trees blowing, leaves falling, kids outside playing, it was a breath of fresh air,

I understood there was more to life than the projects I was living in.