Can I Live

As I ride through the night,
I ponder this distant life
seen through this near-sight,
pain endured light;
so no longer do I fight
in fear of what I’ll write.

So I re-evaluate life,
while shinning a gleaming light
on the battles that I fight
while I ponder what I’ll write
with this much so blurry sight
that’s even worse in the foggy night.

See what I believed is a beautiful sight,
has been disguised with a distant light
of the devils that I fight
too often every night
as I grab the pen to write
about this so-called life

Often what is done at night
is usually brought to the light
by the pen I use to write.
But from this obscured sight
my mind studies life
typically ending in a fight.

So I search for the light
to shine as I write
what I think will ease this night
illuminating my sight,
giving my heart for something to fight
placing a new perspective on life

But who cares what I write,
they don’t see it from my sight.
They’re too worried about their life
and the battles that they fight
that when speaking of my opaque night
they wouldn’t shed a fading light

So, to the air do I fight
on such a gloomy night
that I may live through what I write.

...Hey

This life I wish away
Because you are not here
Is enough to say

But when it is night, I hope for day
So your voice I do not hear
For it is long gone away

I couldn’t fathom this space
In which you were not near
To attempt to have your say

These clouds are darker than gray
Its silent sounds in these ears
As your image floats away

My mind became a stray
As you found a different tier
Before goodbyes I could say

So now I kneel to pray
About this death I do fear
That when I float away
To you I can say…

Free Slave

Don't give the black man books

Keep 'em far away from the river

Scare 'em with a look

So they won't turn up missing

Thoughts while hanging from this tree

From a voice unheard

So foolish how they think of me

I know what happens when you feed rice to a bird

My children know better than to be held back

I taught them that they're scared of what the literate black is saying

Especially when we're saying facts

That just might loosen the nooses from hangings

So as I become a martyr on this tree

I am proud to say I did all I could to give-us us free