The Difference Between Dr. King And Me

By SH

I don’t believe this is the dream Dr. King had for me
Somewhere along the timeline, my decisions rewrote history
My choices had voices
Those senseless noises shoulda been avoided

But here’s the difference…
When King was taking a stand and marchin’ for a cause
I was taking a fall and wasn’t marchin’ at all
Couldn’t cover the distance of 3 days and 54 miles, in search of a vision
That the march on Selma, for those who didn’t get it

King stood for peace
While I stood for the streets, which lead me to a place I no longer wanna be
His life brought us Civil Rights
And I sold my freedom to time
Those decades are now deceased and laid to rest in my mind

King will forever be a legend
While my reputation seems like it’s not worth remembering
When my baby momma showed a picture to my child and asked
“Do you remember him?”
I was a strange face to them

King sold a belief that lifted more lives than I put down on concrete
He moved a nation
I moved to any cell that was vacant
King was an activist, a philanthropist
I was on the active list of warrants that only a felon can get

We both had mug shot faces with a rap sheet
King’s rap sheet bled through with integrity
When he was assassinated on a balcony
My rap sheet bleeds ink, when you read about the worst in me
That a character suicide cause I made up my mind
That I was gonna do or die and that frame of mind
Will never lead me to a Nobel Peace Prize

King’s leadership paved a way with the potential to be great
My leadership dug graves, where I laid my potential to waste
He prayed for better days
I prayed for a better way when it all seemed grey

While King was trying to reconstruct a nation and bring an end to segregation
I’m in the pen politickin’, ready to ride on other races and bring an end to segregation
Situation into a permanent placement
He tried to educate us
I wasn’t trying to be educated enough

King was dream chasin’ and I was chasin’ a buck
That’s penniless sense that no longer adds up

Now here’s the big difference between King and me
I’m living this nightmare and King died for the dream

I think it’s time to wake up and make the change and redirect the course of things

7 Comments

  1. Judy on September 17, 2016 at 4:14 AM

    Dear SH,
    Beautiful writing.
    Please keep at it. Don’t let your past determine your future. Your best days are still ahead of you.
    You are my prayers.
    Most sincerely yours,
    Judy

  2. Rachel on September 19, 2016 at 1:34 PM

    You are an amazing writer and the power of your words shines through. Keep on writing, keep on working, keep on changing and inspiring.

  3. Sarah on September 19, 2016 at 1:36 PM

    Wow you are so gifted with your words. This is empowering!

  4. Adrea Benedetti on September 21, 2016 at 8:08 PM

    This is simply amazing. Your words and flow are inspirational. You have a gift, keep delivering it to the world.

  5. Ricky on September 23, 2016 at 4:49 PM

    This is a powerful message hope many people catch it. Ricky

    • Ricky on September 23, 2016 at 4:51 PM

      Thanks. Ricky

  6. EE on September 27, 2016 at 11:18 PM

    SH,
    I was truly struck by this poem. This is more than a poem. It is a testament to the power of words and the power of will to make a change. You have a true talent and it is evident in your powerful words. I feel like I got a glimpse of your past, your present, and what you will make of your future. Please keep writing. I wish you the best.
    EE

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