In My Shoes
Put yourself in my shoes and see what I see
It’s not easy being me
At age 3, a defining me
Discovering I’m black, unlike my creator
5 and 6 a quick manipulator
Close your eyes and try to imagine
The aggany
The hatred put before me
Hatred so deep, who needs a enemy
In My Shoes, take a look
Come walk the road I took
Age 9 – 10 is where it all began
I wonder if that was in the master’s plan
To be picked on by others older than you
Criticized by the ones you looked up to
Put yourself in my shoes and see what I see
It’s not easy being me
11 – 12 I’d become me
No changing that, the damage was permanently
Being smarter, but trying to fit in
Hurting myself, my future, playing pretend
14 – 15 now I’m grown
And I’d like to be left alone
So much has happened, most I don’t understand
Respect who and what I am, a Man
16 – 19 lost as a fool with his clothes on backwards
Just headed in the wrong direction
Having had the hardest of time
Fretful of anyone crossing that line
Put yourself in my shoes and see what I see
It’s not easy being me
20-23 I’ve gained love
I’ve lost love, but it’s still plain ole jus me
Nothing has changed very much, but I’ve grown emotionally
Step into this 9 ½ piece of rubber plastic
I put around my toes, and see
In my shoes, it’s never easy being me
So talk what you know, and testify what you see
It has nor will it ever be, easy being me!
Copyright © Milton Brown | Year Posted 2006
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