HE STOOD THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
HOLDING A SIGN THAT READ:
HOMELESS....WILL WORK FOR FOOD
NOW SKEPTICISM KICKED IN AND
IN MY MIND, FOR JUST A MOMENT,
I THOUGHT......
IF HE IS HOMELESS, WITH NO FOOD OR SHELTER,
WHERE DID HE GET A MARKER TO MAKE A SIGN?
THIS THOUGHT PROCESS QUICKLY DISAPPEARED
AS I THOUGHT TO MYSELF
I COULD BE STANDING THERE....
IN HIS SHOES
I WATCHED HIM AS HE STOOD IN POSITION
LOOKING AT ME WITH HIS TIRED EYES
REALIZING THAT THIS SYSTEM HAS...
MANGLED HIS MANHOOD
LEFT HIM FOR DEAD
STRIPPED HIM OF HIS DIGNITY
AND HE STILL HAD ENOUGH GUTS TO ASK ME...
SISTAH, CAN YOU SPARE A DOLLAR?
AS I STAND HERE REACHING AND DIGGING
TO THE DEPTHS OF MY BAG....
GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU
IS WHAT I REHEARSED
PAY IT FORWARD
LOVE FIRST
I AM MY BROTHERS KEEPER
WHAT YOU SOW YOU SHALL REAP
SO I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO BE
THE REAPER OF A GOOD HARVEST
I WILL PLANT GOOD SEEDS
HE THANKED ME KINDLY
AFTER I PUT 4 QUARTERS AND SOME LOOSE CHANGE
IN HIS HAND
I SAID, "YOU ARE WELCOME MY BROTHA BECAUSE
I TRULY UNDERSTAND".
AND THE REALITY IS....SOME DAYS I AM
4 QUARTERS AND SOME LOOSE CHANGE FROM
STANDING WHERE HE IS
WE CALLED HER MS. SASSI
WHEN SHE WAS 18 YEARS OLD
SHE HAD SO MUCH PROMISE
"I AM GOING TO BE AN ACCOUNTANT SOME DAY".
IS WHAT SHE USED TO SAY
UNTIL...LIFE HAPPENED
SHE STARTED MOVING TOO FAST
AND GOT WITH THE WRONG CROWD
AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
HER LIFE NOW
SHE IS 35 YEARS OLD
AND THE ONLY THING SHE IS COUNTING
IS THE NUMBER OF BABIES SHE IS PRODUCING
SHE HAS FIVE.....SO FAR
AND SHE MARRIED A MAN WHO PIMPS
HER OUT TO PAY THE BILLS
I WATCH HER AS SHE BEATS THE PAVEMENT
LIKE A DOOR TO DOOR SALESMAN
TRYING TO FIND A WAY FOR HER
CHILDREN TO EAT
SEARCHING FOR THE FORK IN THE ROAD
WHERE THE ENDS MEET
PUTTING ON HER UNIFORM
DESIGNED BY HOOCHIE MAMA INC.
BECAUSE TONIGHT SHE HAS GOT TO HIT THE STREETS
AND SHE HAS GOT TO HIT THEM HARD
JUST SO........
THE $2 PIMP THAT SHE CALLS HER HUSBAND
AND HER CHILDREN CAN HAVE FOOD, A ROOF, AND A CAR
AS I WATCH HER SILHOUETTE VANISH
OF INTO THE NIGHT
A TEAR ROLLS DOWN MY CHEEK
I REALIZE THAT AS SHE GETS FARTHER AWAY
SHE IS SELLING HER SOUL TO THE MEAN STREETS
AND UNFORTUNATELY ON MY BEST DAYS
I AM 1 SOUL SELL FROM WHERE SHE IS
THESE GHETTO TALES KEEP ME GROUNDED
REMINDING ME THAT I DON'T HAVE TO BE
A PRODUCT OF MY SURROUNDINGS
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW
I'M NOT JUDGING
BUT I HAVE GOT TO BE THE CHANGE
I WANT TO SEE
AND MAYBE...IF I CAN KEEP MY LIGHT SHINING
I CAN HELP OTHERS TO SEE
ENCOURAGING THEM TO BE DREAMERS,
VISIONARIES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND BELIEVERS
HELPING TO CANCEL OUT THE DECEIVER
MAKING THE DETERMINATION THAT.....
WE WIN!!!
SO I HAVE GOT TO STAY TUNED IN
BECAUSE IN REALITY WITHOUT GOD
I AM 4 QUARTERS, SOME LOOSE CHANGE, AND
1 SOUL SELL AWAY FROM WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN
