Alumni

  
It was sometime after his death  
That I learned we had attended the same school  
( some fifty plus years apart of course)  
And though I was just beginning my journey    
He had already paved so many roads    
   
I drove the same streets  
Went to the same places to eat  
I grew up loving the city just like he had    
I worked different jobs to pay the bills  
While writing remained a passion in the back of my mind  
   
I went back to school  
Got me a business degree    
And though I felt accomplished I also felt there was something missing    
I should have studied literature  
I should have studied
I should’ve    
I should  
I...  
   
I got older and realized the monotony of it all  
Working long hours    
Less time with the family  
Time passing by  
With only wishes and dreams on the back of my mind    
   
So I delved deeper into poetry    
Asking and answering my own questions    
What the hell do I want?  
   
In reading, writing and learning  
I began to question my own skill  
Am I good enough to be published?  
Am I good enough to make money?  
Am I good enough to be recognized?  
   
I don’t want to be a pretentious shit    
When I’m still learning to grasp the English language  
Or pretend I understand everything at an intellectual level  
I’m not that smart, maybe average  
But I’d like to keep it real, maybe a little savage  
And I thank Charles for that  
   
The city got bigger  
Expensive  
You can’t raise a family on an average wage  
So I packed up and left  
Now my passion is in plain view    
Everyday becoming more of a reality    
...with many endless possibilities