Family First

“Family first,” my father said,
“friends from the door out
don’t let strangers pollute the pool
of blood that binds us to each other
the ties of generations entangled

in our veins, pulsating to our hearts
a narrative of memory guiding us
to stay strong when we are
bonded to one another.
Temptations may lead us astray
abandoning what is important

but like a boat tossed in the sea
with no anchor to tie you down, 
no harbor to call home,
you tend to drift away.”