SHIT JUST GOT REAL PT. 2

You constantly cry that you're being abused
Scared to go home because of the verbal and
 physical punches
Mentally and physically drained you ask for help
Plans are made for your escape from pain and
 entrance to a new freedom
Everything and everyone is in place to help
 you survive
Waiting and waiting you never show
Finally you call saying you're staying
Disbelief surrounds your would be freedom
 fighters
Shaking their heads they disperse
Battered and bruised you again ask
 for help
Incredulous stares are aimed at you
They answer no because they can't help you
 until you're willing to help yourself be free
Shit just got real

Looking around you see your own striving
 to succeed
Jokes and disparaging comments spew
 from your mouth
Everyday you block the path to greener
 pastures
And everyday they find a way around your
 blockade
You and your crew thinking intimidation
 will keep them down
Yet they and their dreams use your weapons
 to spur them on
They're supposed to succumb to your taunts
 and aggressions and you wonder why you fail
The question is asked
 Why do you keep trying
The answer is given
 We honor our destiny and not your fears
Shit just got real

SHIT JUST GOT REAL PT.1

 

In a moment of reflection
 reality hit me up side the head
Looking at myself I saw a stranger
 I don't even know who I am
Constantly being a puppet on a string
 passed around seeking approval
All the while never giving approval
 to myself
Shit just got real

Slowly being killed by the pains
The pain of rejection
The pain of illness
The pain of loneliness
The pain of poverty
The pain of unacceptance
The pain of struggle
If I give in to the pains I'll be gone
Shit just got real

Lord knows I'm tired
My body is weak and my mind
 is struggling to keep me moving
Negativity is trying to gain control
 and the fight is slowly leaving me
Shit is getting real

Everything is weighing me down
I see the dreams and goals in
 the distance
All I need is the strength to
 keep going
The desire to give up and let
 the dark abyss swallow me whole
 is so strong and tempting
It would be so easy  to give up
 and give in
Shit just got real

AND STILL I RISE

You have put me down with your negativity
Your words and actions have weighed heavily on my spirit
I became so bogged down that each day it was tortuous to move
My light dimmed and my spirit became weak
I just fell down face first onto the ground
Eyes closed
In the distance I heard you laugh
You told your minions "She is down She will not rise Victory is mine!"
I lay on the ground face down and I prayed "God give me the courage to turn over"
He heard my prayer
I turned over to my back
I felt the light on my face
In the distance you still laughed
Your laughter made me open my eyes
Your laughter taunted me
Your laughter annoyed me because you claimed victory too early
It started as a thought in my head that I could not voice because I was weak
That thought became my mantra "And still I rise"
My eyes opened
My spirit was battered and bruised
My body ached from the fight
I was tired and worn out from the battle
I so wanted to quit
Then I heard your laughter again
It annoyed me
I repeated my mantra "And still I rise"
I lay there and looked up
I smiled
The darkness you sent to dim my shine was going away
My spirit was bathed in the waters of unconditional love and infinite hope

I now whisper "And still I rise"
My strength has returned
My light is shining bright 
I now shout "And still I rise"
I am like a phoenix rising out of the flames
You thought you had defeated me
You thought you had dimmed my shine
You thought it was over
Well you were WRONG
I burst through the flames of despair hopelessness hate and jealousy
I rise out of the fire

You have put me down
You have ridiculed me
You have made me the butt of your jokes
And still I rise
You have spread rumors
You have lied
You have stolen
And still I rise
You have taken what was mine
You have turned others against me
You have isolated me
And still I rise
You have put obstacles in my path
You have tripped me
You have stabbed me in the back
And still I rise
You have told me what I can't do
You have told me I would fail
You have told me I was a fool
And still I rise

I rise because I know who I am
I rise because I know my worth
I rise because I know I am loved
I rise because ssuccess is my destiny
I rise because it annoys you
Most importantly I rise because its God's will
My shine is bright
My spirit is light 
Because still I rise