For my people that work from sunrise to sunset and even under a harvest moon and pick and pull and clean and babysit and nurse and tell stories and plow and feed and nurture and read and write and live and laugh and cry and sorrow and breathe

For my people that know there's something more
Don't know what it is yet urged to understand it

For my playmates who left the hood
My brethren, I cheer for you—we did it!
For my playmates who are still there
Stay strong and be stronger
For my playmates that have died
You live on through me and my pen

For the boys and girls who grew up being told
"Don't be a statistic"
For the boys and girls who were told
"You all can't read!"

For my people that have had nothing all their life and strive for something more
For my people that want a life worth living and then they live it

Let a new earth rise for my people and for my playmates and for all the boys and girls that dreamt of shooting stars, colorful balloons and swinging so high your toes touch the sky

That! Keep that ember lit and bright