— Before he got his first tablet he was a nature boy
Unlike his brothers and sister, he loved to be outside
— But now that he has it, you’ll hardly face the boy
he’s somewhere tucked in the corner requesting extra time
the father finds it ironic, thought he would break the trend
he was the baby the parents would have to chase the most
— but now he’s a zombie, another fiending kid
things been different ever since he got the first dose
if he don’t shake it the father wonders the outcome
what if dad goes to battle fighting from overseas
who’ll be the balance he needs, among the years to come?
— how far will he spiral, when he turns 19?
the only male in the house, both of his brothers gone
— one goes to college, the oldest finally moves
there was sometimes another, his name was Joe or John
— but lately these days, he’s been missing too
his mom and sister be screaming it seems the whole day
— at first he could take it, but now its overbearing
went from rubbing their backs as a way of consoling
now with every rant, he simply stands there staring
so just like the older brothers, he finally leaves
shacks with one of his women—got his phone in hand
of course she goes through phone, as soon as he sleeps
therefore the unforgiving streets he eventually lands
And through his 19 years, he ain’t gain no skills
because his only hobbies lived inside a bright rectangle.
he had a couple friends but they both had kids
thought to go back to his mom, but she was quite unstable
with the data he had left inside his iphone-meta
chatted with the GPT, “what do I do if I’m homeless?”
it recommended shelters or the bridges for weather
or to go and wash dishes at a Denny’s or Cheddars
to his detriment, the nearest group home that was listed
would give his feet at least a couple bunions or blisters
but he didn’t have a choice so he embarked on the mission
to become his own man and not depend on these women
—his mom would call daily just to cry and insist
that her baby come home said his presence was missed
he was now on day six and he had to admit
that he longed to come home-the shelter smelled like piss
—But in that very moment—
their call was interrupted by the second eldest brother
— he wondered what he wanted
cause if his brothers’ called then it usually meant trouble
— he pressed the green button.
— at first he said nothing
But then he said “whatsup”
“hey bro I’m glad you answered, need for you to check the news
— tell me if I’m trippin
“oh yea bro I’m fine. Thank you much for asking”
sarcastic cause his brother had a knack for lacking manners
“my bad, I’m just frantic. No time for talking small.
I think our brothers bout to do a bid inside a prison
“oh naww you tripping nigga” then he tried to check the facts
except he maxed out on his data and he lacked a WiFi signal.
so simple would it be for him to check the television
in the corner of the building but such things been obsolete
For a minute he insisted typing characters and digits
til his brother pressed a button, shared a picture on the screen
and indeed it was the oldest of the trio on a street
near a chapel cuffed in links, in between a couple cops
he could tell it was his brother, cause of course it was his brother
plus he’d never known another man with pink and purple locks
he was shocked because he knew his brother not to harm a fly
in fact he rarely ever seen his brother stop and interact
with any guy or any gal who didn’t bother with him first
let alone catch a body in the middle of a church
But there he was on the tube, the youngest had to leave the room
and take that walk back to his mother cause this wont the type of news
that he could give her on the phone, but too late —the phone rings
she was screaming, she was crying, asked him if he knew a thing