He sits by the junction
scraped knuckles, half a smile
a boy with more scars than years
each one a story no one asks to hear.
I saw the truth in his trembling vow
heard the break in his voice
when he said he’d left Kush behind
but all they saw was yesterday's face.
He carried hope in both hands
knocked on doors he once knew
but locks remember what hearts won't
and no one answered.
Now he sits in the same spot
half in prayer, half in pain
asking time for mercy
when people won’t even say his name.
Street life is like
Wild life; law is needed to
Neutralize troubles.
Every night I walk these streets
Where the neon lights shine so bright
People rushing all around me
Barely stopping to say goodnight
Homeless ones are lying on the street
Dreaming of a life that they may never meet
Fighting for a meal, day by day
Trying to keep the sorrows far away
The corners filled with heartless souls
Trying to make their living from their goals
The sound of gunfire in the distance
Evoking fear into a heart's resistance
Yet, there's a sense of community
In these streets where people roam
Where each other they know
And they make a place they can call home
This is the life that we've been given
And we all make the most of it
In these streets we call our own
That can give us joy as much as it can spit
So walk with me on these streets
And you will see life in a different light
It's not always pretty or glamorous
But the street life is worth the fight.
A box made of cardboard with nothing inside
Came from a shop where white-goods are supplied
The high street still busy but less than before
When I used to manage the furniture store
The shoppers are rushing to spend lots of cash
They're choosing gifts hoping their choices aren’t rash
The street lamps are lighting as dusk rears its head
And queues in the take-outs await to be fed
Folk rushing now to be home with their kin
Where cosy and warm they will lock themselves in
The pub opens up for its late clientele
I’d go there each evening and lunchtime as well
Crowds thinning out as the cold starts to bite
And my box made of cardboard is home for the night
Street life
We know no night
Cos we can sleep
A little at noon
We can't be sleeping
When the night pays our due
We are like the angels of the day
Yet the devil's at night
That is the calling of
Street life
Street life
Silver spoon was so
Far on the day of our birth
As we grow we don't even need it
Our talent inspires us
Our inspiration is our diamond
Far Better than the silver spoon
Our talented are hard to support
Yet we are able to shine from
Grass to grace
We don't need no teacher
We simple live to learn of
Every experience from the
Street life
I was runaway at 16
the streets was my
new home.
My knight and shining
armour turned out to
be a fake.
He made me think I
was beautiful and loved.
He was all I had so l
did everything he asked
of me.
Next thing you know I
was degrading my body
and giving him all the
money.
To prove my love l laid
under complete strangers.
Living like this was hell
on earth.
And I wanted out be-
cause he didn't love me
I didn't even love myself.
I was in the life for five
years.
At tender age of 21
when I finally wanted to
live, I found out I was
sentenced to die.
Alexis Y
10-27-16
Mug of Joe
Tarp hung low
Living under an over pass
Is better than dancing in jail
Day old butts
And dumpster meals
A cart with just three wheels
Got a place staked out
On the corner of Main
Cardboard on my chest
Says, “Bless you anything will help”
I dyed my haired in a Exxon
And took a shower in the rain
Going to take it to California
Where the weather suits my clothes
It’s too damn hot in Birmingham
And the women are so cold
Old Dirt Clod Betty won’t
Share her wine
And Lawanda is a *****
A man like me don’t have the time
To put up with this ********
So I tell them they can sleep alone
And chew on and old dog bone
I know one day I’ll make it home
It’s not that far away
Because I am a lucky man
I got no bills to pay
You see I’m saving up my money
To get a V.A. loan
And buy a condo in East L.A.
Magnolia walls
that lay like beaches
around this island bed,
neon pollen throwing crosses
from windows pane
as Friday nights vocalist
vomited lyrics into hedgerow mike.
Macadam stretched between penguin houses,
black ice with diamond eyes shone
as she stood in spotlights glare
of the last bus,
never knew her name only her stare,
sweeping the damp street for sanctuary
away from needles making love to junkies.
Bump and grind persona pulsed
like an aftershock through the cotton night,
and even the shadows thrust
through an endless swirl of hidden pleasures.
Tomorrows regrets,
and how I see a world content
to keep revolving, while I am forever in dusk
asking questions, pleading answers
from the nameless faces beneath my tomb.
Click click boom and your brothers gone
Sittin at his funeral knowin he aint’ do nuthin wrong
Was just at the wrong place at the wrong time aint know where to start
Messed around, got 3 bullets to his heart
Grandma on a breathing machine
Take all her breath just to tell you she loves you, make you wanna scream
Scream and pray to God why you?
How to get out of it, what you gotta do?
Sleeping with ak’s and pistols under your bed
Cause you never know whats going through these sick peoples heads
Auntie Cindy just found out she got a STD
Daddy out to kill that hustler when could he be?
All this weight on your shoulders cant even sleep
Im far from hood but understand he streets, call on me
10.21.10
STREET LIFE
DAY IN DAY OUT LIVE OR DIE
THATS [STREET LIFE].
MANY OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
LIVE BY THE CODE THE STREET CODE
THE STREET LIFE CODE
.ITS THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE OUT HERE
FOR MY AKHIS AND MALIKAS
.DAY IN DAY OUT
THE CODE YOU LIVE BY DETERMINES
THE DAY THAT YOU LIVE AND THE DAY YOU DIE.
NOW AS FOR YOU YOUNG BUKS
YOU NEW COMERS TO DIS LIFE,
I"LL GIVE YOU THE KEY
TO UNLOCK THE CODE,
AND IT IS TO LIVE TODAY
AND LEARN HOW TO SURVIVE
FOR TOMORROW SO THAT YOU
CAN DO IT ALL OVER AGIN.
IT SUCK BUT THATS LIFE
SO LIVE IT UP,
AWHILE YOU CAN.
IF NOT I"LL COME TAKE IT FORM YOU,
FOR YOUR LIFE IS ALREADY MINES
YOU BELONG TO ME,
WHEN YOU ARE APART OF THE STREET LIFE B.ICTH.
LIFE IS NOT PROMISES..
FOREVER THE SAVAGE Gz UP ZULUNATION
A corner lamp post is home
a fiery steel drum keeps 'em warm
eyes that never say goodnight
cigarettes that hold 'em tight
up the nose in the arm down the hatch
drugs and alcohol just dont match
everyones looking to be free
feel'n cool such a fool
in there eyes the silence cries
all these people walking the streets
so many distorted visions
the cry of help just echos on
so many say escape is impossible
a no way out street situation
misguided and misinformed
street life survivor
all the vibes are right
her fish net stockings look outa sight
the grin of your appetite
life and death penetrate the night
teenage runaway and so afraid
used and abused pregnant or confused
the list goes on 'n on
on the streets trust is rare when your the shadows prayer
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