Dropouts Anthem

Here I am for the first time in a few weeks with my books full of drawings

My binder full of papers

The person in charge takes one looks at my profound street apperance with disapproval

All at once I take a seat in a desk marked with my label

"Unable and Unworthy"

Suddenly the high power demands "I need you to read page 7." 

All  I can say is, "How can you call on me if I didn't raise my hand?"

I feel my voice raising while I'm thinking who really cares if I get an education? 

Like my father I'm a failure, these grades don't make me 

I'm not fit to be a congressman or doctor, I'd rather die in these streets 

The system can't detain me

I'm on a paper chase going state to state 

You won't catch me in school

I'm a black teen in corrupt America, of course I break the rules 

All of you 

Sports jocks, cheerleaders, chess clubbers, and over achievers can have the love and attention 

I'm not fit to be a president anyways because I have quarterly house inspections

Look down on me if you must 

But my mom's rent was due last month

My only talents consist of moving bricks faster than a track college kid 

I make a difference with three gun shots, three impacts

BANG, BANG, BANG

Bullets at my friend's chest summer 2012 

I seek revenge on the killer, I can't get to class before the bell

I finally got 275 for my mom's rent

But there is no class on how to make a payment 

The landlord foreclosed my home along with my dreams 

So save it!

"I need a good reader to read page 7."

My hand raises though my heart is shaking

All I want to do is have a decent education

See, if I can propounce

"emancipation proclamation"

School will raise me into the man my father never was

Instead those watchful eyes skip over mine like that mini heart attack when you miss a step

A prebble over lake waters 

Or when you mishear the word death

Maybe it was the fact that my shirt was a little too big and pants a little too low

But my talents consist of running as fast as a college track kid

I make a difference off my poetry skills

Look down on me if you must but I keep straight A's through several months

The person in charge could make or break my future decisions

 

But to them?

My exsistence makes no difference.

My seat is marked with my label

"Unable and Unworthy"

The sad part is I was named before they even got to know me

Now I wish that teacher would have changed their impression 

So the name on my desk would read

"Successful If Given Attention"

 

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