Gone Past Here Now
By: Keith (Donyel)

Gone are the days when I could wake and play all day.
Gone are the days when I did not have to worry about what to say.
Gone are the days where innocence was king.
Gone are the days of jump rope, jacks and swings.

Here are the days of doctors and bills, headaches and heart aches medicines and pills.
Here are the days of promises and lies, which are still with us and who recently died.
Here are the days of car notes and time clocks, good times and hard knocks.

Past us are the days of old, giving skin slaps, wearing brimmed hats and saying, " I got soul."
Past us are the days when peace meant peace and not the metal beast that fires hot metal at you and me.
Past us are the days where you Cub and you Scout, and Brownies knew what Girl Scouts were all about.

Now is the time to kneel and pray and look for strength to make it through the day.
Now is the time to stake your claim and find ways to shelter yourself through the rain.
Now is the time to say to yourself; " I need me more than anyone else, because I cannot do me as someone else!"