When Im Gone

When im gone and someone asks any of

my children what their father was like,

I pray this is what they'll say.

He lived paycheck to paycheck
...
in part breaking his neck to earn the respect

of his children

Because in todays world one lesson learned

is that success tastes better when earned

life tainted by rags to riches

boys dogs girls bitches

STD itches

t-shirts lettered with death to snitches

that will not be their domain

I will not refrain

from telling them how ive lived life fully

knew the joy came with the pain

knew I couldn't love the sun

if I didn't adore the rain

strived toward perfection

by embracing imperfection

succeeding, failing yet striving

but with honor ending in the right direction

we are everything

we are this world

I am my little boy, and certainly my little girls

we are love

realizing there is hate

he was a father passing on that love before it was too late

he was a lover, a friend, a blessing, and a sin

the rock that breaks windows

yet comforts when one needs let in

worked as hard as the best, and partied like the worst

pissed out negativity, drank spirituality for thirst

and when in any race made sure to finish 1st

for our lives are blessings, and there could always be worse

on a day to day basis

you want to feel bad stand in some others places

he said fluidity is the key

to find our way through tight spaces

he said children look at me

don't need to find strength in others faces

papa was a rolling stone, but,

he was the man that brought his ass home

he loved us for who we are

and encouraged us to brave the world

I his little boy, we his little girls

When im gone and someone asks any of

my children what their father was like,

I pray this is what they'll say.

He lived paycheck to paycheck

in part breaking his neck to earn the respect

of his children

and as good as he was

We are and will always strive to be

Better.