My block

"My Block" Block cold, street lights flicker Mama working doubles, fridge light dimmer Hoodie on, face low, December winter Footsteps echo, heart a little quicker Corner boys posted, watch the perimeter Used to play tag there, now we sling splinters Of the dreams we had, innocence withered Age 12, saw my first stretcher Told myself “don’t let ‘em picture You as a stat,” so I moved different School books thin, but street code thicker Teacher said “you’re smart,” but I couldn’t listen Too much noise home, plates gettin’ missing Bro said “trap or starve,” wasn’t no decision First pack heavy, palms start glistening Sirens far off, but my soul still in prison Auntie prayin’ loud, I’m tryna stay Christian But devil in my ear with a proposition “Easy money fast, you got ambition” I said “nah,” but hunger got permission To twist my mind, and blur my vision Saw my dawg locked, face on television Same block we raced bikes, now he in division H for holding weight, judge ain’t forgiving I kept my hands clean, but the dirt still clinging To my name, cause where I’m from it’s written In the pavement cracks, in the bottles hidden By the curb where lil’ man now sitting Same age I was, eyes already driven By the lack, by the fact that we ain’t given Nothing but examples of men in prison Or men in caskets, both feel like tradition So I broke it, grabbed a pen and started spitting Words instead of shells, cause I was gifted With a voice that shook when the pain was lifted Off my chest, every bar I drifted Through the memories, through the times I risked it All for a dollar that never fixed it Got a job cleaning lots, sun out, blistered Hands raw, but my mind less twisted