My Mom Told Me

I wanted to turn it down a notch.
Give my creativity a shot.
Just express life even if it isn’t mine.
To paint a pretty picture I’d have to lie in every line.
And I don’t mind that I’d do it for the art,
I’d do it for peace just to play my part.
I’d forget all I ever knew that’s unfair.
Forget that I cried so much that I ran out of tears.
I’d forget the failures and the let downs.
Just to make genuine smiles out of these harsh frowns.
So much pain my life has known,
Following me from childhood days until now when I’m grown
Peers dying in their teens, with nothing in between,
The day they were born and the last day they seen.
I wanted to turn it down a notch ,
but my mom said I better not.
You better keep it real that’s tell the truth.
We don’t need water burn off the roof!!!
They did it to the M.O.V.E. MEMBERS ,they’ll do it to you.
They locked up your brothers, cousins, and friends too.
Turned your fathers and uncles out on drugs.
Then raised you in the street with thugs.
Tell them that don’t cut your feelings off.
Whatever you do don’t go soft!!

My Prayer

I’m counting on you God to help see my way through.
I can’t count on anyone so I’m coming to you.
The unseen, the almighty, and I’m asking you some questions.
Why did you put me in this world without protection?
How could you allow the law to hold me back?
There's already so much I lack.
How long must I fight to keep my family from crying?
How do we fall for the same traps without realizing?

What do you want from us?
Suffering was enough for the Jews what about us?
The black American born from oppression.
Brought and sold and treated like someone’s possession.
Undereducated and experimented on.
Never promised a thing from the day we were born.
Raised on hatred guided by abused feelings
Getting by on robbing and stealing &bad dealings.
Life’s hard we learn that as children
Eating free lunches during the summer with our siblings.

What can we do God to earn your favor.
I love my family and my neighbor
Respect my mom and my pop
But who’s going to stop the cops?
Who’s going to protect my rights?
Who’s going to referee a fair fight?

I’m asking YOU GOD to be the one.
TO be with me while I fight so I won’t have to run.

Why ask Why ?

Don't you see me sticking with you?
Punch the wall, but won't hit you.
even in a state of total disagreement.
I thank god for the blessing he sent.
You only try to save me from myself.
Trying to keep me from risking me, for wealth.
Trying to keep me out of jail.
Slow my pace to hell.
So I don't ask why.

I like to rub away your pain.
Take on your strain.
Try not to bring you shame.
If it's going wrong ,I'm gonna take the blame.
You were good when I met you,
so I don't have to sweat you.
Worry never, about your loyalties.
So to me, you'll always be royalty.
Empress of my heart, Queen of my reality.
To make my day just smile at me.
So why ask why?

Just love me for the ease, I strive to provide.
Love me for our thoughts that coincide.
Love my body love my soul.
This is love, not a struggle for control.
You for me, me for you.
What else did you think we'd do.
I carry you, you carry me.
That's why I asked you to marry me.
That's why.

Boy To Man

I came into this thing, a young minded screw-up.
Through time, feelings, and responsibilities I grew up.
We survived rumors and lies, nothing broke us up nothing broke our stride.
Us against the world man and women side by side.
No shame, no game, and no joking.
We laying grounds setting bounds this bind can't be broken.
This is heavier than a crush and deeper than love.
Because of you I stand up plus we fit tight like gloves.
Not just sexual,not just intellectual,.
I know I'm blessed by the best when I'm next to you.
You made me a Husband, you made me a dad.
You make me whole, you make me glad.
Glad just to know you.
This poem is a monument of the love I owe you.

I'm Just Warming Up

I'm just warming up.
I can keep on writing.
Like the middle east gonna keep on fighting.
As long as urban hoods battle poverty,
that might lead to bank robbery.
As long as the poor will be under educated.
As long as being born black, mean being hated.
the world will never be color blind.
but even worse we're hated by by our own kind.
I can keep writing,
as long as politics is sure to be crooked
and, if a vote is stolen the republicans took it.
I can keep writing as long as the sky is blue.
as long as the picture of Jesus is a white Jew.
I can keep writing poems and articles that ring more true.
As long as i pray to a God in heaven.
I'll pray my writing feed my sisters and brethren.
I can keep writing maybe not to your liking.
I'm Housing Project bred and raised like a Viking.
or sent out early on my own like a Spartan.
I can keep writing, I'm just starting.
Providing literature that draws you in and enlighten.
That's why I'm writing.
To share knowledge and spread horizons.
Try to explain there's more to life than dying.
More than having our mom or wife crying.

How about making them proud, buying them home no one can seize.

They tired of seeing their man on his knees, facing arrest.
I write, 'cause when i do, I'm at my best.