My Road to Happiness
By DM
My road to happiness don’t look like Southeast Good Hope*
Where you see friends noddin’ off good dope
My road look like a spot where it couldn’t snow
I’m talkin’ Caribbean, Bahamas
No killings, no drama
No stress, no sorrow
All answers, no problems
Don’t think you not gonna encounter a roadblock
Yeah, them low-life friends hangin’ on your old block
They wanna hang with you, drink with you
Smoke wit’cha, joke wit’cha
Why? Because they don’t have no hope in ya
So you stay away from them
Stay astray from them
They gon’be the reason you gon’ get a flat tire
You spoke the truth, now you seen as a fat liar
So if you wanna keep riding on the road to happiness
Keep straight
But don’t take the shortcut
Because you could be headin’ towards death.
*Good Hope Road is in a Southeast section of DC-a poor and violent neighborhood of the city
3 Comments
Leave a Comment
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.
There’s so much hope in this poem– you’ve really painted a beautiful picture. I can absolutely see you looking forward and walking down that road to happiness while pushing away the distractions on either side. I know you’ll get there! Can’t wait to read more of your writing.
Such a great poem, DM. You show really clearly both what it is you’re working for and what the obstacles are that make it hard for so many people to reach. You absolutely have the right attitude, so keep it up and keep writing!
DM, I enjoy your poem because I could closely relate to what you are saying since I live on Good Hope Road. You have to rise above the negativity and continue to grow and shape the life you would love to live.