hold me accountable
those that came before me, started this story
showing me how to grow
disappointed, with most of the appointed
i branched off, to stand tall
saluting heaven; your son's a man ma
though three decades & some change
is nothing, compared to grandma
still, change is contagious
& here i am centerstage, with thoughts of grandeur
my president paves the way & sets the standard, of what not to stand for
before him… sadly, a bad daddy, comedians, musicians, athletes
i'd expand more, if i was sure, you had the stomach for, tragedies
pardon my candor
from plantations to my generation, we so misguided
without hesitation, saying no, means we'd be lying
so, yeah, more than likely, you hear me trying
all my wrongs, i've righted while enlightened
psalms recited; nightly while crying
whenever led astray, folded fingers in my palms tightly; fighting as i pray
lacing angel wings upon my poems; writing
saying things you don't hear in songs; fighting
to heal these scars, & unfold these arms, to steer this car
away from, where all these mirrors are
& face the world, or at least my fears; finding a clearer star
overwhelmed, i'm scarred, with pride & anxiety
saying bye to an angry black guy, inside of me; dying me
on this day of atonement, tossing my stone in, causing ripples in this river too
with a clearer view, this moment's bigger than pivotal
too often life's my opponent; as a grown man, it's shown me... it's livable.
ripples
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