Happier Chapters
I spoke once beforehow mom made a house a home,
I'm told of a story
about a talk on the phone
between mom and her sister
'bout a pain in mom's bones
while fixing to prepare dinner
putting chops on the stove
'fore the evening was over
you could stop and behold
a li'l pale faced baby
outside Chicago
Now my dad, the truck driver,
he was out on the road
I'm told once he got word
hw was dropping his load
saying "Sorry, Boss,
but I gotta go
to see my new son!"
so it was home he drove
Stories of my early years
causes a giggle or a scoff
cause mama says she was tough
and daddy was soft
this is whe I was a toddler
as I understand it
but I remember my daddy
being heavily handed
I remember people needing a place
and my parents they'd grant it
and every child that comes around
they treat them like grandkids
"Paw-Paw and Mom-Mom"
thats what my children call them
now I'm working the discipline
while they're doing all the spoiling
as a parent I understand now
all the working and the toiling
as I just follow their example
you can see by my involvement
I'm never without problems
and they're quick to help me solve them
and we can disagree
but we
will quickly
resolve it
To say my parents are the best
could seem unfair
but then again
what do you know if
you weren't there?
My parents were always with me
not who knows where
making sure I was in order
cause only the true ones care
enough to stick around
to praise and scold
I was a special case
with my thick-made skull
I remember getting laughed at
when mama came to school
lokkin a fool
as she asked in front of the class
"You want your dad
to come whoop you?"
I'll never forget
the sound of that laughter
bbut as an adult
I think about the after
and how the story of my life
contains happier chapters
my parents are more
than champion slappers
both are in the church
both are hand clappers
singing hymns or songs
the sunday school teacher
could be him or mom
and now daddy's a pastor
for these last days
as we wait for the rapture
contrary to his belief
his thoughts
they capture
the essence of me
with his lessons of peace
as he tries to walk
in the steps of
Jesus' feet
with mama by his side
they both keep
feeding me meat
for my belly and my soul
they're both sweeter than treats
the two make a whole
I love them
I'm their son
T. Deimaris Barlow
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