Misconceptions

Sometimes some things aren’t what they seem
Like the dude who flashes the money, but really has none
Or the popular pretty girl who lacks the self esteem
There’s another common misconception with the single life
People think that there isn’t a single strife
It’s funny, cuz among all the serenity there are things that test your integrity
This is what I struggle with
Others too busy figuring out who’s next to snuggle with
While I’m trying to figure out why they drop these subtle hints
By ‘they’ I’m referring to the forbidden ones
Some have boyfriends; others have husbands with daughters and sons
Hard to understand their romantic advances and sexual innuendo
Claim they’re happy at home, but the next day someone’s climbing out their window
I will never be one to hurt the one I’m with, for now I’m walking alone
While I’m searching for my other half
They’re taking for granted what they already have
Being a man it’s hard to say no to temptation
Even if I don’t believe in sex without true feelings, I’ve taken part
No real connection, just the lust and a meaningless sensation
I now understand when they say that it’s an empty feeling with this kind of sex
After the fact, really hard not to be vexed
I used to promise myself that I would never be ‘that guy’
The one to potentially home wreck
I’m sick and tired of giving a piece of mine
I write this to give y’all some peace of mind
It’s not about me figuring out what to say, but rather saying what I feel
I can no longer lie to myself; I have to keep it real
To those in a relationship, hold on to yours as tight as you could
If you don’t, some other person out there gladly would.

Angelic

This one goes out to a beautiful angel in the sky

Every time I think about you it's hard to not break down and cry

Although I've been to plenty of funerals, yours cut me deep

Mind clouded, thoughts crowded and losing sleep

I know you lived a short time but you did so much

It’s been a long while, but you’re still missed so much

I spent nights heavily thinking, on the verge of heavily drinking

Gladys, little did you know how you impacted my life

I used to have tunnel vision and would forget those around me

Meeting you opened my eyes

Showed that I needed to look at those that surround me

Enjoy the company I keep in order to experience life like we should

I remember you and your crew "The Nackz"

Always together having a great time

Most importantly you had each others backs

You were a great person to those in your circle and strangers too

That smile and laugh were contagious too

The most loyal of friends

For you, I wish these rules of life I could bend

It seems like we're losing this battle against evil

Where too often bad things happen to good people

But we have to keep our head up and keep the faith

I write this to show that in my heart you're still living

Even if this life we live in is unforgiving

People like you come around once in a lifetime

The impact you made set the bar high

Now you got me busy trying to match that with my time

You're a true angel that taught us to see how much better life can be

Living it to the fullest all in your memory.

Believe in YOU

We have to take advantage of the choices we’re given

Especially when growing up in a bad neighborhood

Little do we know how our hood can be dangerous

It’s so bad, it can be the death of us

Growing up hearing the helicopters and gun shots

Thought that was normal in any place

Thought it was normal for a living space

They say life isn’t easy and this makes it worse

You’re often guessing or conducting a search

To try and find what matters on earth

Hard to do when the opportunities are limited

People scoff at that notion but it’s evident

Crazy how oppression is still prevalent

I remember in the sixth grade a TA telling me something I would never forget

Saying I should focus on sports to make it out of ‘this hell’, but not through education

Why would she try and poison my free mind, I was confused

Putting me down because her own worth she struggled to find, she just abused

Abused the position of power she was in

Able to influence young kids but she committed the ultimate sin

Tried to crush my dreams because hers she couldn’t achieve ‘em

Made me scramble for something to believe in

So I bet on myself

I went out to prove her wrong, athletic gifts can only last so long

But the mind lasts a lifetime

That’s why we need to take advantage of the little we’re given

Growing up we’re categorized to be dead or in jail

People act surprised that we actually aimed to succeed and didn’t fail

Or act surprised that we’re well-mannered and respectful

These stereotypes we live through are regretful

Grew up in the hood but my momma raised me proper

She never made excuses, the conditions didn’t stop her

I actually want to thank that TA from back then

Wish I knew where she was so I can visit and ask, “Do you remember back when..?”

Thank you for doubting and making me believe in me

That’s the day I realized how powerful believing can be

To those kids in the hood your dreams were mine too

Never forget you can do anything you put your mind to

Legacy

There’s one thing I constantly think about and that’s my legacy

Forget the legacy that athletes try to leave

Admired for the wrong reasons, it’s hard to believe

Hard to believe that flashing money takes precedent over charity

I’m just looking for a little clarity

Busy thinking about how others will remember me when my time stops

What will be said at my eulogy when I’m in that pine box?

I used to not care what people thought of me

Until I realized how important it was to leave each person with a part of me

Changing a life for the better is an unexplainable feeling

It puts things in perspective how important you can be in someone’s eyes

That even after you pass they look up for you up in the skies

That’s what I want, I want to work hard enough for all of you

Hard enough for you to say ‘he made me a better person’

Not because of bragging, not because of flash, especially not because of cash

I want to leave words behind that will never die

Keeping my memory alive with every line

Memories, I just want to create a handful

Take some weight off of you when you have your hands full

This is why I put my life out there for y’all to read with no hesitation

At the end of it all we’re all headed to the same destination

I just want to make the journey there a little better

Want to make you think differently with every letter

Want to make you see things in a different light

Keep you from wasting away when everything else around you might

I want to make you smile when you’re having a bad day

Make you reflect when things don’t go your way

I want to push you to push yourself and make that leap

Long after I’m buried six feet deep

This flesh of mine will just wash away with the dirt

But my memory will forever last on this earth

This is why I’m forever grateful that I have you all

Those that read this I just want to say thank you

Thank you for your valuable time and attention

You know who you are, too many names to mention

I’m indebted to you because you’re allowing me a chance to live on even after I’m gone

That’s more important than any material thing can ever be

I’m busy trying to create a lasting legacy.

Flawed

People look at me different now because of what I write
Seeing my flaws on paper, telling me I shouldn’t do it
They don’t understand, this writing is therapeutic
That’s the problem, people scared for me simply for being me
Still worried that those others are hesitant of accepting me
Accepting me? There isn’t an exclusive group I’m trying to be a part of
Not ashamed to show what my heart’s made out of
Maybe those same people looking out for me wish they could express
Express and show what they go through so everyone can see what makes them tick
Hiding behind the fact that their skin isn’t as thick
We become too consumed with concealing our inner demons
Without them we would have never gotten as far
You can’t go around saying people should accept you for you
When you’re the one not showing who you really are
It’s ironic that some people want to be accepted when they can’t accept themselves
Too busy being worried about others except themselves

Embrace your flaws; it's a part of your makeup
Once you bring those to light and are comfortable being you
There’s absolutely no limit to what you’ll be able to do.

Healing

Don’t look for love let it find you
Most people are too busy picking up the pieces
Too busy scrambling that they forget what being at peace is
You have to give yourself time and let your heart heal
The pain in you needs to subside, so again you can feel
You see the heart is like glass
It wears out as we let the time pass
Both can get hot and cold and even shattered
Both being able to withstand being bruised and battered
If you handle broken glass you get cut
This is what I mean, same thing with the heart
You hand your broken heart to someone and they try to nurse it like an injury
Little do they know that it’s suffering and full of misery
How can you be unfair to someone who genuinely cares?
Cut deep into them but they still remain there
It’s not fair for anyone if you’re just worried about receiving
Aside from it being selfish, it’s really deceiving
It's like you're too busy thinking of how to get patched up
Scared to show your broken self in fear of getting passed up
It’s not that no one cares for you, you’re just not ready yet
Not ready to love, not ready to give
At times not ready to live
Instead of handing your pieces asking them to hold some
Focus on bettering yourself and becoming wholesome

Live your life like only you know how
And always make time to sit back and reflect
When you’re ready, the love you need will come when you least expect