What makes mothers cling to dangerous men?

Sometimes I go days ignoring the news in New Orleans because I don't want to hear stories with headlines like these, "17-year-old charged with murder, rape of 8-month-old." I don't if Arnold Ross did what they say he did. He is the boyfriend of the murdered and raped infant's mother, however, and sadly that makes it more likely his confession is valid.

Nevertheless, New Orleans and also deputies in Jefferson Parish, where the crime occurred, have a reputation for not playing fair with suspects, so I'll make sure to say Ross is the "alleged" murderer and rapists of Da-Von Lonzo, 8-month old. WWL TV provides this quote from the police:

Ross has a lengthy criminal history with arrests for possession of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, obscenity, battery on a correctional officer, three counts of battery on a school teacher, three counts of theft, illegal carrying of a weapon and assault.

Whether Ross committed this horrific crime or not, I wish I could see the mother who loved him enough to let him into her heart and near her child.

Yes, I know the following is a sentimental poem, but moments like this sometimes need sentiment.

Your Heart on Crack
A poem by Nordette Adams

A lover should be like the balm in Gilead,
Soothing each day's sorrow,
He should be Hope's conjurer,
Salvaging tomorrow.

A man you bring into your bed
Should be of fatherly fabric,
Not gangsta quieting babies with fists,
defiling life with his madness.

You can weep on my shoulder, young ma,
too young to know your own worth,
less how to protect what's precious,
the child to whom you gave birth.

(c) 2009 Nordette N. Adams