Standouts - The Beat Within

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Page 15
Pieces of the week
Alone, Not Lonely
Yeah I’m alone: I’m on my own and no shoulders to lean on
Came in this world solo and I’m goin’ to die on my own
Since when do they make caskets that fit two
That’s why I’m alone, never rockin’ with a crew
Yeah friends is cool from time to time
But I never get attached ‘cause time is time
And time is money
The next man ain’t gon’ get me nun
Gotta get it on my own or I know I ain’t gettin’ none
I’m on my own best friend it took a while for me to learn that
I’m my own best friend ‘cause I know I got my own back
I choose to think alone and stand on my own too
‘Cause that’s what a real man is supposed to do
Yeah, I’m tryin’ to man up, can’t depend on the next man for a
come up
Gotta put my sneaks to the pavement and chase this come up
But it’s hard when you fallin’ without a come up
I listen to my family and keep my head up.
Little voice tellin’ me I’m alone and my time’s up
Yeah I’m alone, not lonely, I know I got me and me only.
-Kinsha, Alameda
From The Beat: Great writing, Kinsha, and what a powerful description
of that moment when you realize that you are your own bottom line.
It’s important to be independent, but also important to have positive
people in your life whom you can trust -- do you have that outside of
your family?
Life
Fitness cart I have no chances,
Armed robbery with a gun enhancement,
Got me heading to pen.
It’s kind of crazy because yo’ boy still a kid,
This the life that I live,
Not the one that I chose,
So I’m going to try my best to pave my own road,
And make it out the driveway,
Somewhere by the highway,
Leave it all behind and start living life my way,
Touring the world taken first-class flights,
New city every night,
Not worrying about cops everything’s all right,
Because I’ll earn it all,
Dream big and go hard never learned to fall
I’m going to make it on TV you heard me dawg.
-Ab, Santa Clara
From The Beat: You’re a good writer, Ab You got a good rhythm to your
words! Now tell us more about this life you didn’t choose. Now is the
time to choose a life you do want, right? How are you going to get all
this you’re dreaming of? And why do you want to be on TV? We’d love
to hear more…
My Soul
Growing up from the age of eleven I started to smoke weed and
drink, and as time started to pass I felt as if I was losing my soul.
It wasn’t so bad at first, but then I started doing other stuff. Before
I knew it my life was out of control, and I was in a place I could not
turn back.
By the time I turned sixteen, I was lost. I didn’t know if I was
coming or going and I didn’t care anymore. I walked the streets
knowing I didn’t care if I lived or died. I didn’t care who I hurt or if I
hurt myself. I was at a point in my life I lost my soul.
Now I am working on getting my soul back, but I don’t’ know if
I’ll do enough good to make up for all the bad I’ve done.
-Alone, Bernalillo, NM
From The Beat: One question, do you feel better now that you are
doing good acts or did you feel better doing the bad acts you did? That
is what makes the soul feel better, and only you will know.
Pieces of the Week
Volume 17.01/02
Miracle Man
I remember at twelve when I really started bangin’, I grab my
strap, my gat and started claimin’
I left my house and headed straight to my block, met up wit
the homeboys that were smokin’ on chop
Then my OG was teachin’ me how to use a glock, he told me
“you gotta take it off the safety lock”
It was ten pm and we were night stalkin’, across the street
was a random dude walkin’
My older homie told me “to ask him where he’s from, and if he
acts stupid then use the gun.”
I walk up to him and asked him “where you from fool?” Then
he told me: “lil ninja go to school”
Then he asked me “isn’t it past your bed time?” Then under
my shirt I pulled out my glock,
I was twelve goin’ up to a ninja in his twenties, when he said
them things, he laughed like something’s funny,
I pulled out my gun to put him in his place, I can tell I did
from the expression on his face.
Then he replied “why? What’s the reason why you want me to
die?”
He sighed, “I don’t want no beef! I’m not doin’ anything but
walkin’ down the street.”
He looked at my heat and said, “no matter what you do, just
remember that I’ll forgive you.”
I told him to “shut up” and “don’t even move.” Then he stated
to me “what are you tryin’ to prove?
“You’re young, you got a lot to lose.” Then he looked at my
homeboy and said, “you’re just being used.
“They’re about my age why didn’t they come up to me? But
instead, they had you confront me.”
The things he was saying, it got me thinkin’, the words he was
saying, started to sink in.
He told me: “what now? Come on lil ninja just put the gun
down!
“If you do it, I promise I won’t say anything, and if you don’t,
give my girl this wedding ring.”
I put the gun down and put it in my waist line, he said “God
bless and don’t waste time.”
A cop rolled by just about the same time, ten seconds later… I
thought: oh my!
If I made that bad decision and didn’t listen, I’d probably be
dead or wasting time up in prison.
I’m seventeen and I can never forget that night,
I call him “Miracle Man” cause that man saved my life.
Thanks for listenin’ to a homeboy, Beat. (Based on a true
story but some parts embellished)
-Grizzly, Santa Clara
From The Beat: Wow, Grizzly, this is a pretty awesome piece of writing,
thanks so much! Very strong and well written. That man saved your
life and, thank God, you let him live too. What would you say to young
kids who are in a situation similar to the one you were in when you
approached this guy on the street?
This the life that I live,
Not the one that I chose,
So I’m going to try my
best to pave my own road,
And make it out
the driveway,
Somewhere by the highway