Strike Three

If we listen to the wind will we hear the call? What of the years we spent “Back against the wall” Years they come and they go “All is the same” When you find yourself with a number for a name First they load you on a bus in a paper suit Making jokes with the homeboys “Bro you sure are cute” Then comes the dreaded ride on the prison bus Transport guards let you know “Don’t even mess with us” You finally reach R&R really quite the treat “I don’t care what you need I said take a seat” As 5 minutes passes by you think of all the years Getting set in your mind to face all your fears You do the things that you must do in order to survive Unless your one of the unlucky ones who doesn’t make it out alive You don’t even realize that you are overwhelmed with hate As the day finally comes and you make it out the gate Then your back on the streets as healthy as can be Hooking up the party life like when you were free Just as though some real smart dude planned this to design Because of the number on your back you are right back doing time Then you catch a second term and this one is a strike Nothing new ahead of you it’s just like riding a bike Soon as you hit the yard you fall into your routine Everyday like the one before one hell of a bad dream Then again you are released but nothing is as it seems Because your life has turned into one long desperate dream You are driven by a desire to rise up to the top For some reason that desire just won’t seem to stop Even though your doing well against everything you feel You go against your heart and soul to conjure up a deal As the pitcher takes the mound you step to the plate Problem is he’s throwing hard and you are swinging late You want so bad to hit the ball as it whizzes by You hang your head full of dread with no tears left to cry Now you’re back in the cell with an L and 37 years Maybe now you’ll have the time to face all those fears The year’s forever come and go like dust in the wind The only thing that I know “I sure do miss my friend” I dedicate this poem to my dear friend who is currently fighting the California three strikes law for his life. If you could please hold him in prayer thank you. Jesse (REDMAN) Wasson