He'll Get Off Easy

Over and over the cycle is repeated,

His daddy was in my classroom a decade ago,

Before he was even thought of,

And, sadly, he isn't thought of much even now.

After beating his mom then being hauled away,

His real dad went to jail when he was six.

Then daddy number two attempted to murder a man,

In a fit of jealous rage.

He too was hauled off to spend a lifetime locked up.

But he left for the boy a pregnant mom,

A little sister on the way.

High on cocaine, she didn't care,

And now sorely neglects both children,

For the next handful of pills or the line up her nose.

Now the school calls daily,

But they just don't understand,

There are days he must stay home for his sister,

For his mom cannot be gotten up.

And the gang members who have him running their drugs,

Give him more than his mother or daddies ever did.

Dressed in red, says he belongs,

He is somebody,

And out here on the streets he can make it make sense,

And make a few bucks here and there to help out,

And if he gets caught, and he knows he will,

He's a kid ad he'll get off easy.