'I saw the pain in this city'
Hit the brakes! This alley broke my heart:
On God, my Queen— souls ache when you 'trick'.
Your warm smile appended with wink.
I cannot look you in the eye.
Babies run scared of my skin:
'White'. Family of Man estranged.
You with nothing. Selling 'hard or soft'. Kicked out of home.
On the streets selling 'ass'. 'Ass out' as they say.
Screaming out loud, you pulled some 'bitch'. To avoid reality:
You are losing our masculinity.
'Yo on Crip. I ain't take your money.
All I have is crack. You want some crack?!'
Gang -banging in front of me. Jeans mid-thigh, worn. Dirty drawers. Haven't been washed since Moms banished you from home.
'Yo, what are you sayin? On Crip. I got them hands.'
Without the morning malt. Didn't drink till the afternoon.
'—gettin lit!' Strong Jawline chides as she passes.
'Had this bitch the other day. She...' I INTERRUPT!
Down the block—confiding, they illuminate:
He had to sell himself for money to live.
But it's the last week of the month. You were just flush with SSI.
Yet, the money couldn't last the weekend. Much less a lotted month.
There is too much hunger. Too much pain. Cold. Demons. And the cash is gone. Before the month even begins.
Teeth broken. Fighting fire. Yes I want smoke—
and it's no wonder that we stay on the block. We want to and do protect.
He grabs for my phone to listen. 'Do you hear that? God speaks in this music.'
He don't want him to leave. 'No, no. Listen...'
Hugging me. Begging not to be left. **
I AM here to help.
-----
Thinking of getting a back piece. Thoughts??