Tracks.....

I grew up in a strange environment
Strange because I was exposed
To both sides of the track

I lived on the side of town where
Socio-economically people were
Challenged

Most of my friends were being raised by
a single parent

we caught the city bus to get to where
we were going

Had our first jobs

at 14

No

lexus’ or

mercedes i

n my hood

(didn't capitalize those names because they are lower case in my mind)

And if people had them
They were purchased with

Dirty money

Our Moms worked hard at minimal paying jobs
To keep a roof over our head

Most of the time there was way more
Month
Than there was

MONEY....

But we survived

My mom sheltered me as best she could
From negative influences

We went to church
And were fed a steady diet of
Love

We may not have had a

Fridge full of food

But
I never remember being hungry

Everyday

I got up from my side of the tracks
At 6:15
To be

bussed

To

THE

Affluent side


Where

people took family vacations
And came back

with

Tans

Their families

could afford tutors
And Cheer leading Uniforms

And the had money in their wallets for lunch

Mine was

Free

My friends from 7:30-2:45

were named
Becky, and Amanda, or
Meredith

but

After 2:45

I went home to

Keisha, Tasha, and Shanda

NO REGRETS

it all

made me cultured

People look at me wierd when I start my car

and

Fleetwood Mac

or

Bonnie Rait

are playing loudly

and

I know every word

to each song

Because...

Well for some reason they too were singing my blues

the same way

Biggie or Run DMC did

some how

a connection was felt........



Yall

I can dance

on any set ....

simply

because

It came to me early

“how to wear my mask’

I had to

Change my dialect,

fix my hair,

Dress a certain way

Depending on

what side of the tracks I was on

YES! I KNOW....

I’m different

Assorted

varied

Mottled

Spotty

Because.....

of this hand I was dealt

but

Im thinking.....................

Maybe,

just

maybe

I’ll stop staying on

one

side of the tracks

When it comes to

who I love

because

REGARDLESS

Its all a train ride………………..