"Walk a Life in Mine"

When these babies of mine scream and cry
Walk a life in mine
For a single parent I am
Struggling and grinding scratching and surviving.
Raising my legacy alone for reasons that are to you unknown.

You judge by what you see,
But did you see me being raped?

So when these babies of mine
Scream and cry, throw a fit
Before you label me a
'Slut' 'whore' 'incapable' or 'unfit'
Walk a life in mine

Not a minute
Not a day
Not a month
Not a single year
But seventeen.

You judge me by an angry thought
But did you see my lover being shot?

I know they're cries are loud and unpleasant
And though I am utterly spent
I'm trying to make them quiet
For I know they are my responsibility
But please let me be
For you do not know my story.

So when these babies of mine scream and cry
Say not a damn thing
Before ye hath walked a life in mine.
For I am a single parent
Struggling and grinding scratching and surviving
Raising my legacy alone
For reasons that to you are unknown.

You judge me by what you think
But do you think this easy
With no support in a crack house home?
You say you've been there and done that
But that was a different time
You know not of my life nor my story
And I not of yours
Yet
You judge by what you see,
But do you see these babies of mine
Are the only reason I'm sober and clean?

So walk a life in mine
I bet you wouldn't
But until you do
Please just kindly leave me to it!
I made a choice or maybe I didn't
But I am trying my best
At something I was never taught how to do
Some days I wanna quit
Some days I wanna forget
But never will I live with regret.

So when these babies of mine scream and cry
Just stay silent
Because money is more than a little tight
Time is never enough
Sleep is something I do not know.
So when these babies of mine scream and cry
Admire my strength
Appreciate my courage
Applaud my commitment
And praise my efforts
Because a single parent I am
And a damn good one at that!