If Only…
If only I was born with a silver spoon
If only life was easy
If only I stayed in school instead of being the class fool
If only we had money and I was a popular kid
Would I have dropped out?
Probably not.
I wouldn’t have to hustle
I probably would never have been shot
Maybe not even stabbed
But a life like that is rare on the South Side
If only I was a different color
Would the judge have showed a lil bit more compassion?
If only I had a chance to be a kid instead of a thug
If only I could go on all day
If only I wasn’t in this cell
And I didn’t have to worry about lights out
If only…
10 Comments
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The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
I don’t know you, but your words have stabbed me in the heart! Life has dealt you a raw deal! You are taking a step in the right direction by putting down in words what you feel. Keep doing that – let your words spill out all of your hurt and pain. I am a praying person – don’t know if you are – but I will pray that one day your “if onlys” turn into “I ams” – and the first one should be “I am brave.” thanks so much for sharing!
keep hope alive and i hope you get out soon
I Dont Know You But Your Words Have Touched My Heart, Keep Your Head Up And I Hope You Get Out Soon.
im a freshman in high school . i really aprieciate your poem . happy birthday
left is only easy if you make it that way
my favorite part of dis peom was “If only I stayed in school instead of being the class fool ” which showed that u learned from ur mistake.
You’ve done a lot of reflection in your poem. I like the way you ended your piece with the words “if only..” I think it makes the reader stop to think, as well.
If only life was easy but it’s not
the only thing you can do is make it easier for yourslef
(no more crime no more time)
It sounds as if you’ve learnt from your mistakes.
And there is a lot to be said for that; too many people walk this earth with out a care for the wrong they’ve done. You should feel proud of yourself.
I hope you keep it that way
I enjoyed reading your poem, its hard to think of what could have been. I think the what if’s in life could drive someone crazy. My nana always said, “you have to play the hand you were dealt.” I think that your words in this poem are very much in line with this idea. We can work as hard as we can with what was given to us and still end up with nothing. When we have no control over what happens in the world it is hard not to feel angry. I think your words do a great job of describing this idea.
This poem made me think of the misfortunes that life tends to give, and often unfair when we see others with so much more that they will never understand how lucky they are. How are people supposed to catch up if society and situations left you behind. I really understood the depth of that with “Would the judge have showed a lil bit more compassion?”. As unequal and unjust as that is, it is a reality in our justice system that some are given a smack on the hand for doing the same thing as someone else, the only difference may be there race but it will affect their whole life.