Poem Title: Prison Song

Artist: The M.A.D. Poet

Theme: Created In Honour of LYRICIST LINKUP 6: Poetik Justice (2.24.06)

With the way things are going today,

it’s time to get down on our knees, let’s pray.

Surrounded by my enemies, I got to live.

Will I make it to Heaven? I wonder if...

Do you know how much pain a child must feel

to have to hold on to their mother or father through barred walls?

It scars them all, like prison guards, they act hard.

And when you fall like dominoes, they can’t stand,

'cause after that they often follow your footsteps –

for, after all, everyone needs a helping hand

and UNITY keeps the peace like the nation of Islam...

So, please, DADDY, please don’t go! He never listened;

another trip straight to Jamaica – he's on a mission.

Momma' cries 'Don’t touch the phone!' But Ma, it’s ringing –

accepted – getting incoming calls from federal prison.

And that’s when I realized that I had just become a statistic –

another fatherless child; he ain't dead, but still he missin'.

The war's still going on, slavery has just been modernized.

Don’t believe the hype... don’t believe the devil's lies.

Instead of picking cotton, 'locked up on petty charges...

behind bars, solitary confinement, alienated bondage,

like in a brig behind enemy lines, doing some dirty time

for having too much pigmentation in your skin – did you commit the crime?

Enslaved, shackles and chains, incarceration;

the only thing keeping you sane are visitations...

though, on the outside, life ain't that much better than in your cell,

'cause without you, man, we falling apart – our lives are hell.

But it ain’t your fault/ so don’t beat self up/ cards have been dealt.

We’ll get through this/ I promise you, Momma', with God’s help!

Your daughter’s doing fine, but your son – he miss you bad.

Damn, I wish you were home, but listen here –

Imma' need you to stay strong and have no fear.

In that letter that you sent, you wrote you’ve been reading the Good Book;

Ooooh, child, when you get out, life's going to be so good for you.

It may be true that your spouse is going to be waiting for you with loving arms.

And your children are going to be getting straight A’s from where they’re taught. But, if not

at least you got God on your side, 'cause through repentance He will hear your humble cries. And a life sentence does not mean you’re dead inside –

this world is not our home, so where you going when you die?

‘Cause look, you're going to have another shot at parole in, like, a year.

So, until then, set your mind free and please take care...

'Cause with the way things are going today,

it’s time to get down on our knees, let’s pray.

Surrounded by my enemies, I got to live.

Will I make it to Heaven? I wonder if...

Well, a year later, good behaviour led them to set you free.

Shout outs to the Lord and Saviour for what he did on Calvary .

So here’s another chance – another chance to start again,

‘cause you were locked up but they let you out, my friend.

But now you’re on your own and false friends are never home.

'In a halfway house ‘cause your spouse just left, they’re gone.

'Can’t get a job...well, you can, but it is hard.

When you hit rock bottom, the problem's your bottom's up.

But whether it is or (or) whether it’s not,

just never give in fight (fight) with all you’ve got.

And in that time frame, just take the time to pray

'cause Christ never denied a soul, He was with you all the way.

So don’t you let them steal your joy, don’t you let them break you down.

See, they may have been able to strip you naked

but they can’t confiscate your rightful crown.

Copyright 2006 The M.A.D Poet

(Published With Permission From The Artist)

Published