He watched on as his dad beat his mother and now he beats his wife
And in so doing he is only repeating a lesson in life
His children watch on as their mother he beat
The Father's bad behaviour they too will repeat.

From their leading role models their mum and their dad
Young children they learn what is good and is bad
As adults they do what as children they see
We become our role models with that would you agree?

More likely than not in life you will fail
If in your young years your parents are locked up in jail
For serious crime, you go out of control
As you follow the path of the parental role.

The child of bad role models low in self esteem
And as adults we become our parents 'twould seem
At least that is how it does appear to me
Though we all look at life one might say differently.

Francis Duggan

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/we-become-our-parents/