My words are meaningless
2 a young boy struggling
2 hold onto innocence
Yet so insistent to book a passage
to the next stage
Becoming a man.
You can't believe
I've been in your shoes
As If I were a middle aged man
Suddenly snatched from my mother's womb
Suffering has no prejudice
Pain awards various degrees
Experience the master of ceremonies
But don't give me the medal of valor
Bless me with a doting mother
And a present father.

If you want me to give you the riot act
It's been done--
The destiny is in your hands
As she's nowhere to be found
It's up to you
2 prove the naysayers wrong by
Choosing life and freedom
Over jail and death.

Nothing but faces have changed
Out there in the streets
Slinging dope is a quick fix
Upon a lack of opportunity
It doesn't matter what side
Of the fence one straddles
Even old codgers like me
Can definitely agree that
The road you're traveling on
Will not lead you to a retirement villa
Of the south of France with the promise
Of a sweet retirement package
Only green pasture
Needless tears eulogizing
A ungrateful blessing...

P-May 11/Sep 13, 2007.