Survival

Hard to believe

It's been 150 years plus

Take a look around

Things haven't really changed much

If only they understood

What it's like to be us

Hard to witness

True kings drop like flies

And watch from above

As the undeserving stay alive

Please keep your faith cause at the end

Of this marathon lies the ultimate prize

Hard to feel

When trauma leaves you numb

I wish we weren't segregated

I wish we moved as one

If only we let go of the ego & the pride

Many love to point fingers

But hate to look deep inside

Hard to hear

The screaming of mothers on TV

Imagining how mine would weep

If it were to be me

I guess many are clueless

It still comes as a surprise

While you're too busy living

Others are just trying to survive

Momma's Garden

So many lessons learned

Growing up in Momma's garden

I remember you cleaning the house

Singing along to Lauryn Hill

And similar to her lyrics

Your lessons guide me still

Always climbing to the top

No matter how steep the hill

There wasn't always sunlight

All flowers need balance

In order for you to grow

You must endure challenge

All of us have heroes

Strangers who we look up to

Well how fortunate am I?

Cause my hero, is you

With all odds stacked against you

Young, poor and brown

You made sure that your seed

Would never be let down

One day you'll leave the garden

It's sad, but it's true

So while you're still here

Momma, I love you

Electrify

From the start you've always been a bold rebel

Taught to aim high & always strive, never settle

Talented in various ways since way back in the day

Back when we only had until sunset to go outside & play

No matter how old we grew you never lost your temper

Arguments in the winter kept us warm through December

Nights we spent together were nothing short of unforgettable

Soldier of love with characteristics of a general

Enormous purple heart hidden under that rigid surface

Daddy wasn't around, so her trust? I had to earn it

Questioning if you took a chance on me, would I be worth it?

Heard a lot about me and how I'm the furthest thing from perfect

Every step swift with grace, every move made with a purpose

Our energy grew so strong whenever we touched it blew circuits

Out from the mud you grew, victorious through the pain

Never were scared of storms, you always embraced the rain

Although our time ran out & other loves began to supply me

I'll never forget the way that your love electrified me