In my poverty songbook, I wrote
Fear nothing but to do some wrong
Yet I wrote nothing about being broke
All because poverty made me strong.

From birth, I've sung the poverty song
It's about a unilateral fight against poverty
I know the road to the summit is long
I'll rest at nothing until I dwell in prosperity.

There's a verse in the book about perseverance
It's the main reason for which I wrote the song
In there I thanked God for His grace and Providence
For it's within his grace where we all belong.

In my poverty songbook, I left out a lot of things.
There ain't a single verse about laziness and self-pity.
I instead included a request for a Timberland and wings
These two I'll need to get about and do my hustle duty.

IvanBrooksPoetry©️

I watched
as a small bird chirped in determination
and tried to fly.
It flew with hope and strength,
but smashed into
the copper bars
of the cage that trapped it.
I frowned to myself.
Why would anyone keep such a beautiful thing
locked up, unable to do what it wants?
Then, an idea burst into my mind.
Quickly, I opened an old, rusty window
and walked over to the cage.
"You need this.
I...
need this."
The bird was trembling in excitement.
I undid the clasp, and swung open the door,
My wings taking flight in the open air.
Freedom, at last.

Tell me now are you ready to start?
It's time to evolve yourself,
Figure out everything to do right.
When everyone says stop, are you gonna go?
Only the ones that follow there own,
Only the ones that will stand out,
Only the ones not giving up,
Make it better from the start.
Will you go further than most?
Those that won't try hard enough,
Those get left behind,
Those that won't care enough,
Those will fall apart.
Tell me so you think your living life?
Do you do what you please to decide,
Does nobody deprive you of that,
Don't you, don't you fall back.
So now are you leaning on?
Can't rely on what's behind to catch.
Are you the fish in the sea?
Figure out how to cast the hook instead,
Far enough that people can't see,
Don't fear just reel it back in.
Now everyone is telling you your changing?
That's the time you advance as an individual,
When your seeking out what you believe,
Start sailing the 7 seas.
When your discovering your mind,
People will try polluting it in time.
Is this all ideas inside?
Than don't reroute the course for par,
Do all this for yourself,
Shoot for eagles like a star.
Have you achieved this belief?
Give yourself a pad on the back,
Than say thank you, thank you,
Simply for the power to succeed.

Adolescent, child - he was raised in the wild.
The urban hoods of the north - yet he loved reading books.
Quite more than the average , was he overlooked.
All from the way he looks .
A deep pain in his eyes , from a life he'd not yet experienced - yet will forever despise.
Being judged from the outside , in - was something he could never understand.
Twisting and twirling his thoughts - way before , he got trapped in the dark.
Long before life , could trace him in chalk.
His life is a spark , that could easily embark - his new life of crime.
Fast forward through some time - he isn't a child - so now , on the streets , he relies.
Although , he hasn't realized - the tests , he has to try.
He isn't ready , yet deep in his eyes - a scorching fire begins.
Something everyone sees , except for him .
He's too used to hurt , false words, broken promises , plus more.
Not eating too many days out the week , plus he sleeps on a floor.
Often gazing in the reflecting glass , as if , it is a door .
To a different realm , his mind starts to unwind.
He sees that he's gifted - he doesn't make the right picks.
Using his talents , to fill an empty stomach .
Using his eyes and words of persuasion, to intimately- punish.
Multiple females insides, often looking older than what he is.
They loved him - chocolate , and charming , with a tongue that caused the ultimate pleasure.
All the while , he's nowhere near , showing feelings for them .
Caught up in his own troubles , of gangbanging and life.
Scheming how to get back up , after he tripped - from his ultimate stride.
At night , he gasp and he cries - only on the inside.
He knows this life , preys on the weak.
He's done a lot of bad doings , perhaps that's why cold sweats- interrupt most of his sleep.
Maybe from drug dealing, cheating , and robbing .
You know - causing other people misery .
He couldn't possibly have ever seen - the smack that came hard .
The big steel door , or the enclosed yard .
Detained.
He was only 16 , facing 3 to 5 years .
For a fight that was in school , 4 felonies.
At first he felt , now he knew - this isn't  cool.
What the hell would you do .?
Pray every day?
Stay awake every night ?
The judge cancelled 3 court hearings , two months in a row.
He considered suicide - this pen on his cot , started to glow.
He prayed to god , as he dropped to his knees.
The first time he actually took a higher being seriously.
He got out Friday the 13th , with not a single felony .
Record clean , and this isn't a dream.
Skip the follow ups , since now he barely gives a ****.
******* in the middle of his face, causing people to say "what a disgrace".
Not even knowing the basics, that's what this poem is .
The basics of his life - since y'all won't ever get the details.
Living a life he can't tell , he smiles everyday - like nothing bad has ever happened.
This guy is me , our mind is the ultimate weapon.