Ghetto Life Poem by Jason Kirkwood

Now here's a story everyone should know,
About a young boy growing up in the ghetto.

His father was murdered when the boy was just six,
Now he lives with his mom, who makes money turning trickS.

He dropped out of school when he was still young.
Started dealing crack, strapped with a gun.

And near the corners with his friends he would hang,
And it wasn't long til he joined a gang.

He knew he'd never get a job,
It was easier to sell rock, steal and rob.

He lives like a banger well into his teens,
At war with other gangs selling dope to the fiends.

He meets a girl, and she brings him joy, as she gives birth to his little boy.

He decides to straighten up, get back on his feet,
Get out of the gang, get off of the street.

But before he gets to meet his son,
Cops pick him up as he tries to run.

One of his friends had turned mouse,
And gave up his homies stash house.,

And as the cops seized all the items from there,
They found his prints almost everywhere.

Now he's looking at some hard time,
As this is not his 1st major crime.

For 5 years he gets thrown in jail,
Not eligible for parole, cannot post bail.

But he decides not to be a fool,
He takes courses in jail, finishes high school.

He does his time, gets his life reinstated.
Beats the parole, he's rehabilitated.

He's grown up now, at 25,
Most of his gang dead, happy to be allive.

Takes the bus back to the block,
Where he spent most his life, slinging the rock.

He gets off the bus gets met by a young 'G',
'Hey buddy, do you remember me'

'You use to sell crack and drugs to my mother, and it was your gang that put 2 holes in my brother.'

' that was a long time ago',
'I'm not the same man, put down the gun yo.'

The next few seconds go very fast,
he's filled with bullet holes, Demons from his past.

He reaches in his pocket, pulls out his cell phone, as he is only a few steps from his home.

He wants to break the chain, and talk to his kid, and tell him not to do the things he did.

But its too late, his boy is their crying. Looking at his daddy dying.

'Daddy, Daddy, please don't go', 'I barely know you you know'

He looks at his son, tears in his eyes,
Gets out 'I love you' before he dies.

Now here's another story everyone should know,
About a young boy growing up in the ghetto.