I Have Earned What I'Ve Received Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I Have Earned What I'Ve Received



I have not had the experience,
To live behind fences protected and defended...
By standards and values I was taught to uphold.
Not me.
I'm a ghetto baby.
I grew up in the projects.
With a love I still have for the people.

All of my life I have been tested.
All of my life I have earned what I've received.
Be it punishment for being too independent,
With a stubbornness I refused to correct.
Or the facing of consequences...
If my curiosity led me beyond boundaries.
And limits and boundaries i don't accept. Period.

But never did I bow my head in regret,
When facing obstacles I met...
To accept as impossible.
The only thing impossible I couldn't do,
Was a looking into my father's eyes...
When I knew he knew I pushed the wrong button.

I was told whatever I did expect to be accountable,
For my actions.
And those were the days,
Before making excuses became the rage.

And perhaps others may perceive this as arrogance,
When this I confess...
But,
I'm not on a mission seeking acceptance!
Or if my boldness is interpreted as overconfidence.
I'm not on a mission to re-invent the wheel.
I'm here to live my life with faith and not doubt.

However...
I will admit this,
The shoes I wear, brand new or not...
I break in with a forward movement I will not stop.
On 'me' they fit.
And I walk a lot to know them to be comfortable.

Never have I used excuses to run away from responsibilities.
And anyone who says I've done this, lies!
They don't know me to describe me like that.
Nor do I feel I should express apologies for the life I've lived.
Time spent to do that is not on my agenda.

And as a writer,
I address my observances from 'my' point of view.
With a truth introduced as I know it to be.
No one else's.
I do my own research.
Regardless of who may become offended.
With belief I should show them courtesy.
I shown them that by revealing my honesty,
To take or leave.

In the environment I grew up in back in those days,
As a child being impressed by those both intelligent...
And unconsciously ignorant,
The only thing to me I remember that was given...
Was the right to fight to keep my identity intact.
And with a dignity to pride and let known.
That's it!

I wasn't one to practice becoming an escape artist.
Those were the other kids embellishing what they did,
On their Summer vacations as they got A's and praise...
From impressed teachers.
I was often accused of plagiarism.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Close
Error Success