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Blind with Perfect Vision
By Leon Sykes
Youth Radio's Leon Sykes reflects on growing up in the streets, dealing with peer pressure, and falling into a life of crime. This poem, delivered with a social and political twist, contemplates the adult decisions young children make everyday.
Views of my life are slightly cataract
Had dreams of bein lawyers and movie stars
One problem...couldn't act
Decided I'd make it swimmin, breast and freestyle strokes
But, I wouldn't win
On to the next choice, being a writer in a life of many stories
Lives could be made into new worlds, adventures
Like back-to-back episodes of Jerry Springer, Jenny Jones, and Maury
Gangstas wanted me to join their army
Peddling chewables the Flintstones envied
Damn near got me out there till I realized this ain't in me
Too young to try and live my life by the gun
Too young to live a life locked away from the sun
Got me drinkin, smokin at ages before underarms grew hair
Had me tryin things that woulda destroyed D.A.R.E.
Moms wondered why my school work wasn't gettin done
Why did her youngest look like he was havin too much fun?
Man, them Dead Presidents were dictating my life, don't need a real woman
The streets and this powder was my wife
By age 14 I was broke, homeless, blessed, stressed
On the corner hit by the police, back at the precinct they makin me undressed
Put me in the place I tried to avoid
They looked at me with disdain, I'm yellin out Imma an innocent boy
They know the truth lays in the eyes before them
Looked through my pupils into my soul
Saw how my childhood was sold
Peddled for riches and fame I'd never obtain
That day my eyes were repaired and I vowed never again live a life dictated by 'Caine
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