Planting Seeds

A Poem by Dina

She’s a good girl

And a book worm

Parents took her, and forsook her

He’s a bad boy

Carries Mag 40s

Daddy’s not around

So he runs the town

And they both get down, after school

Neither of them play by the rules

She wants protection, he wants Jewels

She does not fit in, he does too

Graduation time

4 years down the line

They now share a child

But now Jay does time

While Elizabeth grinds

Leaves the kid with her moms

Ain’t it funny how,

James does not know his father?

So he goes to school, always with new shoes

Teachers love him too, cause he plays by the rules

He is just like Elizabeth, but has traits of his father too

It is evident, when he flirts with the girls after school

Got them all lined up, but his eye’s one

She is quite withdrawn, acts a bit like his mom

But her story is funny, quite the opposite

Had a kid with Nick, but the baby’s sick

She does not talk much, just a girl from the projects

Made a name out of it, and she’s cool with the pimps

There is one just like James, close to the same age

And he goes to the school, but he’s gone before two

Says he loves his girls, but he’s gotta eat too

And the girls like him, til they’re turned into tricks

Soon they start hitting licks, rolling blunts, taking hits

James is not like them, so he keeps his distance

Then he goes back home, Momma scrolls on her phone

Quickly gives her a kiss, then asks if he’s dismissed

In his room all alone, ‘nother day gone wrong

But there’s one thing he’s stuck on, pretty girl from the 516

He knows mama would smack him, so he keeps it all to himself

Plans his move for the next time, texts his friends that he’s online

And while in the lobby, hears a voice that is lovely

Says her name is Liz, and she has no kids

James is all tuned in, while he waits for his friends

Says she has a job, doesn’t know her mom

She resides in the 514, but her father soon opens the door

Now the mic quieter than before, while her father proceeds to explore

And he smells like booze, asking her to move

Looks around her room, then goes back to shoot up

She returns to the mic, cracks a joke to distract him

Says her mommy has gone away, because she’s not herself these days

James asks “what do you mean?”

Waits a moment to speak

Then says “my mom is not like yours. She hears voices and shoots up drugs.”

James can’t think what to say

‘Nother girl ‘nother day

But there’s something ‘bout Lizzy

When she speaks, James feels dizzy

It’s not just ‘cause she’s pretty

Soon they make plans to meet each other

Lizzy’s taller than James had thought of

But he welcomes her with a hug

She’s exactly what he’s been wanting.

So they chat and then kiss

Different worlds, same stress

And the best part is, now they both remain kids.