Growing up in the hood..

Million dollar wishes,
Dreams of rags to riches
while gaming on hundred dollar b*tch*s
Soulless, so please forgive us
While living, pushing the edge to the limit
I live it, so this ain't no gimmick
Nor for you to follow,
While drowning my sorrows on a wine bottle,
Putting my pen to the paper so I can appreciate tomorrow
Growing up I had my mother to follow,
My uncle & cousin were gangmembers, that helped me walk taller
Taught me to stick my chest out, so I didn't appear smaller
Iron my shirts and crease my pants so I looked like a baller
and learn the social game
to pick up lawyers and doctors daughters ....
But I was after more...
At 97, I exited moms door,
Entered the Army to explore
Open my eyes to see, open my lungs and breathe,
Back when the motto was "be that all that you can be"
I spent two years in Virginia, Fort Lee,
Than another two in Japan, slamming Sapporo with sake
with Japanese
Things were happening,
My life was awakening
Experience was taking me,
like wind to leaves, gently gliding into the breeze
While at night sipping wine writting poetry,
Because it soothes thee
and brings serenity
tranquility into my entity
I looked out the window
Escaped my imagination and felt the world dying slow,
I see it, does anyone else know?
I looked out the window..a lot
While listening to Marving Gaye, or playing Tupac,
Before and after he got shot.
Four years later I was back home
Kissed my mom and stopped by my friends to say hello
And found out I was alone,
Because I changed,
While everyone else stayed the same, I saw sun light , instead of rain
I felt happy instead of pain
I just got that much smarter,
Because I struggled and worked harder,
even without a father, I stood taller.
Still stick my chest out .., because I don't wanna appear smaller,
Iron my shirts and crease my pants
because this masters degree and family has now made me a baller...