I hate to see a brotha waste his life

You’re leaving the darkness
You’re coming in the light
You’re ridding the doubt
That was crowding up your mind
You would not listen to me
And I would not listen to you
I hate to see a brotha waste his life

With looks that bruise
You cut a few
And let the vultures eat them up alive
They pleaded you
I dared them to
And watched their shaken bodies turn to dust!

I saw it in the water
I saw in the sun
You held your indecisions
But when you woke up, they were gone
I would not listen to you
And I would not listen to me
I hate to see a brotha waste his life

You’re a handsome fool and the gods love you
Though you find yourself in hands that bite
So I’m writing your anthem
Because you’ve given me life
I’m breaking the silence
That was blinding your eyes
You would not listen to me
I would not listen to you
Man, I hate to see a brotha waste his life

I saw in the water
I saw it pass the sun
You claimed your inheritance
But you did not learn your name
The nerve of you
The best of you
You think you kill your demons on your own
I fought for you and cradled you
Each time you spoke a word against yourself

So I’m rising before you
To show you your powers
I’m taking your burdens
To bring you back to life
You would not listen to me
And you would not listen to you
I hate to see a brotha waste his life.


*From my first book of poems, The Dredlocks Tree