Out of the Mouths of Babes…Perfected Praise

and We emerged
out of our mothers womb
bursting into flames

before we’d ever conform.

born into the village
of scorned lovers,
encouraged to embrace
the snares of years
that should have faded
but made it
into our reason

and We, the scholars
euphorically holler
out of our fathers tomb
fashionably attired
to inspire the fire
that is the messiah in you.

Little Brother

i look at the sky
a little longer for you
i feel the breeze
i kiss her like she’s mine

i do it because
you’re serving time
another sacrifice
to the lifestyle

you just wanted
to feel free in the
concentration camp
where joy rides turn
into robberies

a quick dollar
becomes years
in confinement
you meant to free
your mind

but your thoughts
were limited at the time
tied to chains of story lines
that glorified violence

little brother,
i wish you had paid
attention to the end
of “Paid in Full”

that’s where the message was
in the epilogue of your favorite movies

i wish your father was a man
i wish your mother taught you something
i wish my poetry saved you