I hate statistics
because I have
defied all odds

Raised by a
single mom
no father

She had me
at the age
of only 16

Many step-dads
in and out
bad influences

3 more siblings
3 different dads
I was the oldest

Mom abused drugs
before finally
growing up

2 failed marriages
then finally
settled down

To the dad
of my youngest
two siblings

He was a wreck
alcohol abuser
bad tempered

Abusive to mom
and us kids
mentally unstable

9 different
public schools
total before 8th grade

I got good
at making new friends
out of necessity

Home was Hell
the devil my
step-dad

Subject to every
type of abuse
known to mankind

High-school dropout
teenage pregnancy
emancipated age 17

Finally free from
an unstable and
undesirable environment

I hate statistics
because I have
defied all odds

I've never hit a woman
I'm not dead from an
overdose or suicide

I battled my demons
with alcohol but never
led to doing drugs

I have remained
a good father
to my son

I've held a job
and always
have worked hard

Sure I have
my flaws
but dont we all

I've learned
about mental health
and how to grow

A lesson I wish
our schools
promoted more

I got my GED
I have a great
paying job

Statistics are just
very misleading sometimes
our hearts and minds

Can overcome all math
If we can realize
not all things are our fault