I once lived an in impoverished neighbor hood
Deep down in the dirty south as we say
Everything that surrounded me was pure fucken Chaos
The hood as we call it
Was a terminal Cancer infested with all the deadly trappings
Drugs, gun violence, gang rituals, and poverty
Everything that could drive a normal person insane
This is how I felt everyday growing up
Walking outside feeling like a complete stranger in my own hood
It was so different then
All I had to do was open up my back door to years of neglect
Some days I can literally see the silhouette of my soul slip through the floor
There use to be this old gentleman
That lived at the far east corner of town
He always walked passed my house everyday looked like he was in deep thought
Very dapper older grandfather figure
looked like he had a very controlled demeanor about himself
When ever the older gentleman would see me
He would always ask me how is my day
I would always return the respect in ask him how is his day going as well
He would say I am well Son thank you
After a few brief words he would continue his journey
On this particular day from hell
Its been a couple of days I haven\'t seen my old friend
The dapper older grandfather figure
I had needed to talk with a sensible like minded person
About some issues that had came up out my passed
That was haunting me like a ghost
I was outside amongst the everyday bullshit
When a Snake crossed my path
I freaked out in jumped back about a feet or two
Surprised to be seeing this creature cross in front of me
All of a sudden I see the older dapper grandfather figure walk my way
He says greeting\'s my young fellow
His heavy toned voice sounded Erie like a Vincent Price character
He said Son I never say a lot
We normally exchange a word or two
I am just in my thoughts any normal day
He said to me that he has a particular interest in me
I said why me sir
He said in a lot of ways you in I are a lot alike
He says when he was my age he struggled to find his way as well
He says he knows what I am going through
He says I know its seems like a lot is happening around us
He said but this is life what can we do but live
He said in that snake that just crossed your path is not your enemy Son
I said I don\'t understand
He says its not rocket science Son
He said be more afraid of those snakes that walk on two feet
He says they are the most dangerous of them all
As I reflect on that great lesson as a grown up now I can only say
That was an old wise mans tale