To all of us who can related to the way it was back in the day...
Back in the day,
We lived a different way
There was responsibility
And accountability
One to another
We genuinely cared for each other.
Our neighbors had our back
And no one thought that was whack.
If you showed at a friend's house to play
Someone wanted to know
whether your parents said it was okay.
Otherwise, you couldn't stay
We weren't allowed to stay out all day.
Now, children are on the streets till all hours.
My parents would have had the neighborhood scoured
Until we were back where we were supposed to be.
They would ask if I was okay after they whipped me
It wasn't enough that they kept us in line.
The entire neighborhood kept us in line.
Whatever we did around the corner got home before we did.
Nothing was hid.
People we didn't know would point out our wrong
If they saw you in the wrong place,
they told you, "git" back where you belong.
You knew not to talk back
Because what you said beat you back.
Your parents knew everything you said
My grandmother was quick to say,
Next time we acted up, she'd whop us upside our head
We were never allowed to forget
To treat others with respect
There were all kinds of manners,
Visiting manners,
Church manners
And school manners
We were expected not to act out.
If we did, we got knocked out.
When you acted a fool in school,
News got home fast.
Parents weren't ashamed to whip you in front of the entire class
They didn't come to school to kick the teacher's butt
Like someone nuts.
Teachers were held in high esteem.
Parents and teachers were a team.
That's how it used to be.
Now, teachers put up with the unnecessary
Fingers swinging in their face and stuff.
They have it rough.
Too much time is spent on keeping children in line.
We went to school in line.
You knew what not to do,
Because your parents taught you.
Unruly, rude kids are not cute to anyone but you.
No one should have to deal with their attitude but you.
Maybe we need to go back to the old way
The way it was back in the day.
Maybe there would be no more Timothy McVey's,
no more Sandy Hook, and no more Columbines.
Maybe we would see an end to these violent times.
Copyright Patricia Newman-Harris
