History Déjà Vu
The hardest part, is waking up to no father in sight.
Mom works days and we both work nights.
Our debt and income play tug of war over poverty.
So how can we expect minimum wage to make ends meet?
I know she blames me for the things she couldn't be.
The places she couldn't go and the goals she never achieved.
It's food for thought inside my lunchbox.
Served with cold shoulders and tater tots.
Screwing around in class but my attitude was celibate.
When graded against a scorecard not keeping track of melanin.
Sitting in U.S. history but it's not about "us."
Learning that freedom ain't free, everything has a cost.
Examples are hidden in plain sight.
The freedom of speech is charged to the Bill of Rights.
Congressmen afford nice vacations and luxurious meals
I guess that's the name of the game when sitting on capital hill.
Money does grows on trees, review the branches of government.
To check and balance--clearly worried about debt.
Judicial, legislative, executive, death comes in threes.
Malcolm, Martin, Huey, looks like a pattern to me.
Capitalizing off prisons, financially it's no holds bar.
America trying to knock us out, that's why everytime I look at the flag all I see are stars.
Remove part from the whole and it's not longer complete.
Remove indigenous people from their land and it's manifest destiny?
The bell rang just as I was about to fall asleep.
This textbook and I are 2 strangers trying to make ends meet.
***
The hardest part, is waking up to no wife in sight.
Died in childbirth, as my dreams remind me every night.
Pleasant memories take shape as I lay under the covers
There's life after death, and you take after your mother.
No I can't stay with you at daycare, I gotta go to work alright?
You won't understand but remember, you are my only goal in life.
I protect and serve not only you but our community.
Enforcing the law bringing peace and tranquility.
On duty in the concrete jungle, a scary place.
Patrolling with a familiar car but not familiar face.
3 o'clock and I'm due for a quick bite.
Hunger crept in as Autumn does Summer nights.
Sitting at this red light, I almost fell asleep.
This neighborhood and I are 2 strangers trying to make ends meet.
***
Both cop and student now in a state of alarm.
Wrestling arm to arm, reaching for firearm.
Beads of sweat, nervous as they sit upon brow.
Hearts racing to drums now.
Butterflies left stomach, flocked to esophagus.
Time stopped, clock with no battery inside of it.
Paralyzed by fate, as 1 bullet ricochets.
Off rib cage making lungs vibrate.
Trying to make ends meet; 2 strangers have met 1 end.
Black Lives Matter crossed paths with Uncle Sam.
Brutal cop and a Black student never to visit class again.
Becoming part of the U.S. history that won't reach the exam.
Story of the don't shoot, can't breathe.
Skittle eating, hoodie wearing, rolled up sleeves.
Where "Bland" traffic violations
Turn to noose alterations.
A story of repetition.
A story of tradition.