434 Months & Counting
By: Keith (Donyel)

When I was born back in nineteen sixty-eight, who could have envisioned what would have been my fate? The lord was good, but I wasn't so great, I was supposed to be early but showed up late. Born during a country engulfed in a civil crisis and turmoil, saw my neighborhood begin to crumble like aluminum foil. Caught looking for a way out instead of creating a way in, as one by one they began to jail our young man. Black on black crime became more than a phrase, like crabs in a barrel we all fought to get paid. Threw liquor and guns into the hood like it was a can of Raid, eliminating a few brothers every week of the day. Some of us got so confused we forgot to pray, but our mothers worked hard to make a way. As of today I don't know what to say, I've had over thirty-six years to create a better day. I shook one problem and got another one on the way, I can't give birth to a child but I labor everyday. Who would have thought I would have made it to where I stand today, but I can name a hundred people who died trying to keep the devil at bay. I had to work hard to leave the bullshit alone, smoking weed, getting drunk and I even held a gun. Just think I did a lot of that shit just for fun, but I required a better life so in a different direction I had to run. Now Bush wants to make the path I have walked even harder for my son; I use to have a hundred dollars in my pocket and now I only have one. But still I could not have dreamed a better life; two kids and a wife, every time I thought something went wrong I guess it went right. I know my moms probably cried a few nights for her baby, and some how this kept the cops guns on safety. Hell you know this world is crazy and it ain't got shit for a brotha who is lazy. I thought I was stronger and these things would not phase me, but they get me down at times and drive me a little crazy. I just can't figure for the life of me why times are so hard, but I keep making it through so I can only thank God! That he has enlightened me and thus far shown me the way, to keep my head above water and make it to another day. So as the troubles of this world keep on surmounting, I will take a breath and keep on counting!