Street Tech Poem: Shadows That Covered My Future in a Lost World
by Joseph Booth
In honor of Michael J. Booth
Shadows covering my future in a lost world
Gangs, drugs, and lots of friends never seem to help
Cold and lonely nights makes you realize things about yourself
No direction, no future and no concerns about myself
No one can ever know how my soul had felt
It was just another day, another night that had to be dealt
The day my brother had passed away from gang violence
My life had stopped as everything became silenced
Friends that were friends seemed faked,
Wanting me to retaliate
My life flashes before my heart can make a beat
As the gun was handed down to me
A tear falls from my eye as I walked away
Just couldn’t do it, knowing tomorrow was the day
Now as I stare at the casket while being lowered into the ground
I have then changed, wanting for my life to be turned around
Overcoming certain obstacles in my life
Needing to survive prevents me from doing right
Now it’s the time for a change, something new
Moving was the only thing that I could do
Going to jobs and getting rejections made me strong and able
to see
Almost started selling dope again; at least crack heads respected me
Staying strong, keeping my head up and hoping for a chance
I found a job where I felt I could advance
Five years within the company and what do I have to show for it
No respect for what I have done for the company, so I quit
Wanting more in life but could not afford to go to school
I then heard about a program called street tech, which I thought, was cool
Understanding where I came from and what I was willing to do
They gave me a chance to start something new
My life has become much brighter as the dark shadow’s caste away
Once was a lost soul with visions of a blind future has now
been saved.
Street Tech, San Pablo, CA
