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The System
Into the system another poor child is born
From the arms of his loving mother he is torn
Says that she cannot take care of him anyway
Another needle mark in her arm added every day
Grows up alone and angry learning in the streets
Hard to be honest when you have nothing to eat
He is seldom seen by anyone but he is always heard
Speaks volumes to the masses without saying a word
Put in the system with locks and guards on the door
Rehabilitation is what they say it is all designed for
Comes out worse than he was when he went inside
Any hope that he had for himself has since died
Shot down cold dead in an ill conceived burglary
Only way from the system he could break free
About This Poem
Last Few Words: I had a brother......
Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft
Comments
Geezer
2 years 10 months ago
Biological brother?...
So sad that we can't figure out a way to keep people from ruining their lives with drugs, and in the meantime, their children too. Even in a perfect world, where people didn't need drugs to get them through their day, there would be other things to make us crazy. We are just a crazy species! Try not to be crazy, in a world of insanity. ~ Geezer.
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Depressed 1
2 years 10 months ago
Yes
Yes a biological brother.
Geezer
2 years 10 months ago
So sorry....
for your loss. I lost a stepson a couple of months ago, due to an overdose.
~ Geezer.
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Depressed 1
2 years 10 months ago
Thanks
Thanks Geezer
RoseBlack
2 years 10 months ago
This resonates
On a very deep, emotional level. I have brothers also...destroyed by a biological mother who "tried" to raise them but didn't succeed and wound up lost in a system that was supposed to place them in loving homes but did the opposite. Your poem describes much of my one brothers life...he is still with us but badly broken....I'm sorry for your loss.
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Depressed 1
2 years 10 months ago
Thanks
Thanks RoseBlack it is very ironic that the system that is supposed to "help" actually hurts and makes things worse.