Being .. a ..different .. You.

Today I shook a homeless mans hand

It was dirty,grimy and it felt like wet sand

I did it without a thought

He is still human I said

I understand his polite demeanor

He use to be a different person as well

Homeless like this old gentleman

Doesn't say a lot about me being poor

Raised from birth as a outcast

Thrown out into the cold streets

I grew up amongst the street hustlers in thugs

Not never having enough to eat

Having a lot of pride in my heart

Never crying out loud

As I walk alone in the pitch dark

Looking for a hand out if one was ever given

Not ever being asked or invited to a thanksgiving

Dying inside

Just one good cry could wash all my pain away

If I could just force one tear to fall

Seconds away from being a junkie

Having a Monster on your back

That dope fiend feeling

Like you are driving a Cadillac

Having a potential HIV needle hanging out my arm

I am cool today I have my fuck you face on

Thinking as I nodded on in off

If I died today

Whom will come to the funeral of a known bum

Then I cried deeply inside my mind

Releasing harbored memories as a kid

I don't want to fail my mom

She died of a accidental overdose

I struggle to pull that needle out my weak vein

Tears finally rolled down my face like rain

I was in a deep pain

I cried out to

GOD

To release me from this dark place

I stood up pulled the shirt tight around my neck

I said as I sweat profusely

This is going to be a helluva fight

I remember waking up thinking I died

In someone's bed

A homeless women I thought

She was very kind to me

Got me on my feet and things changed for me

I became focused

I was aware of everything around me

I prayed directly to God

He must have knew I was finally ready to do better

Today I am knew

Its tomorrow I struggle with

But today I am free

I have a family now

A lovely wife and 3 wonderful kids

I have a family I said damn that felt good to say

I struggle every single day

I am alive so I continue to live

Every morning is beautiful to me

The world in its self is endless with possibilities

I know exactly what it is to be poor

Homeless broke

I know what it is to be rich like white folks

I extended my hand to this homeless gentleman

Someone did me the same exact way

I believe in good karma

I think we are all steps away

From being a different you