I was young once
Now I am 44.
At a young age I walked through
The system’s revolving door…
I started out in a juvenile hall
Thought I was a cool cat
Trying to live a tough life style
Thinking I was all that…
I didn’t think about the future
Or about my father
Or the grief and pain
I caused my mother…
I didn’t think about my family
Thought I was bad and cold
At the time I didn’t realize
I was playing a role…
By the time I woke up
It was too late
I ended up in a prison
A penalty from fate…
Now four decades later
My advice to you
Is there are severe consequences
For the wrong that you do…
You can play bad boy
And she can play bad girl
But think about all the freedom
And adventure in the world…
Think about the park
The animals in the zoo
How life in society
Is so much apart of you!
Everything you do
There’s a price to pay
Don’t let crime
Stand in your way…
I know you say, “yeah!
Who is this fool?
He’s trying to tell us
About being cool…”
I didn’t learn my lesson
I even ditched school
I was a 14/k
Hope to die fool!
No I didn’t want to hear it
I never shut my mouth
Nobody could tell me nothing
Or what life was all about…
Oh! I was ready to chunk’em
And didn’t know how to fight
I got beat down plenty of times
Before I saw the light…
When I did learn to fight
I got really good
Thought I could whip everybody
In the neighborhood…
Yes, I been there done that
In and out of juvenille hall
Things got to bad
I kept my back against the wall…
To make a long poem short
I made very bad decisions
Didn’t think about my freedom
I started doing time in prison…
Now I don’t have a family
They have all since died
But I could have been there for them
If I had opened my eyes…
So please young people
Don’t travel this path
It’s a life of misery
And constant wrath!
Artwork by a student at Pine Hills Correctional Center.