Welcome to the Dream
Good morning, dear worker, the sun’s shining bright!
Your shift starts at dawn—what a wonderful life!
The coffee is brewing, the world’s on its way,
Now log in, start smiling, and earn your whole day.
You’ll have time for yourself, don’t you fear,
Just after five decades of labor, my dear.
Soft, happy “oohs” drift in like a cloud… something feels too nice.
Welcome to the dream! Everything is fine!
Work until you’re free! Happiness takes time!
You belong, you’re loved! The system knows what’s best!
Keep your eyes ahead! You’ll rest when you are dead!
They give you the tools to build your success!
Just pay off your loans and you’ll have so much less!
A house and a car and a yard with some trees—
If you work hard enough, you might keep the keys.
Take weekends to rest, it’s allowed—
but please check your email, we need you right now.
A harp twinkles. So dreamy. So nice. So very not okay.
Welcome to the dream! Everything is fine!
Work until you’re free! Happiness takes time!
You belong, you’re loved! The system knows what’s best!
Keep your eyes ahead! You’ll rest when you are dead!
Are you happy? Do you feel whole?
Do you remember what you wanted to be?
Or did they build a life for you
and call it a dream?
Welcome to the dream! Everything is fine!
Work until you’re free! Happiness takes time!
You belong, you’re loved! The system knows what’s best!
Keep your eyes ahead! You’ll rest when you are dead!
Lil' Tyrant
I run the schoolyard, run the street,
Take yo’ lunch, make you leave.
Kick yo’ ball, cut the line,
Bet you cry, that’s a crime.
Ain't nobody testin’ me,
I throw hands like 1-2-3.
Cross my name? You gon’ see,
I put marks on history.
Kids scatter when they see him—his rep is real, but why is he like this?
Lil’ tyrant, runnin’ wild…
Big bad wolf, just a child…
Actin’ tough, actin’ mean…
Ain’t no love where he sleep…
Mama workin', daddy gone,
TV loud, I'm home alone.
Ain’t no dinner, ain't no lights,
I make my own peace with the night.
Got no love, got no hug,
So I take it out on punks.
Ain't nobody saved me first,
So I make sure they feel worse.
He stares at his reflection in a puddle. What’s he really looking for?
Lil’ tyrant, runnin’ wild…
Big bad wolf, just a child…
Actin’ tough, actin’ mean…
Ain’t no love where he sleep…
The Man Who Knew
They say if you work, you’ll earn your keep,
That mercy waits for those who bleed.
But when sickness knocks, it don’t ask the price,
And gold turns cold when it weighs your life.
A man gets old, a man breaks down,
The hands that built now scrape the ground.
He reached for care, they showed him a bill,
And left him to die on the windowsill.
Oh, the doors stay locked, but the rich walk through.
The sick cry out, but the cure stays blue.
Ain’t right, ain’t fair, but it’s how things move—
And some men break when they know that truth.
One cold, gray morning in the city’s heart,
He waited still where the sidewalks start.
A man stepped out with a diamond tie,
And the bitter wind let out a sigh.
They say he spoke, but his words were low,
Just a whisper lost in the rush of the road.
But the sound that followed, sharp and loud,
Sent the mighty man down to the ground.
Oh, the doors stay locked, but the rich walk through.
The sick cry out, but the cure stays blue.
Ain’t right, ain’t fair, but it’s how things move—
And some men break when they know that truth.
They found him later in a roadside stall,
Hands still steady, head held tall.
He made no plea, he made no sound,
Just sat and waited for the chains to come down.
The system’s cruel, it twists, it grinds,
It steals the breath from the laboring kind.
What he did was wrong, no doubt it’s true—
But tell me now, what would you do?
Simple Life
Sun’s high, breeze is low,
Ain’t got nowhere I gotta go.
Grass is sweet, sky’s so wide,
Think I’ll just stand here and vibe.
Ain’t no rush, ain't no race,
Just lettin’ time move at my pace.
Feet in the dirt, head in the sky,
Breathin’ deep, feelin’ fine.
Mooove with it, feel that breeze,
Grass so good, got all I need.
Ain’t no rush, ain’t no strife,
Just a cow, livin’ the simple life.
People pass, they honk and wave,
Always runnin’, always late.
I just blink and chew my cud,
I think they all could use a hug.
Ain’t no rush, ain't no race,
Just lettin’ time move at my pace.
Feet in the dirt, head in the sky,
Breathin’ deep, feelin’ fine.
Mooove with it, feel that breeze,
Grass so good, got all I need.
Ain’t no rush, ain’t no strife,
Just a cow, livin’ the simple life.
The Little Red Rooster's Big Change
Little Red Rooster worked all day,
Picked the corn, stacked the hay.
Big Fat Cat just sat up high,
Took the grain and winked his eye.
Cluck, cluck, time to crow!
The farm is ours, it’s time to grow!
No more scraps, no more tricks,
We work together—that’s the fix!
Goose laid eggs, Pig dug deep,
Dog stood guard while others sleep.
Everyone worked, did their part,
But Cat kept all. That wasn’t smart!
Cluck, cluck, time to crow!
The farm is ours, it’s time to grow!
No more scraps, no more tricks,
We work together—that’s the fix!
One for you, one for me—
That’s how fair a farm should be.
We plant, we share, we all get fed,
Not just Cat on his feather bed!
Cluck, cluck, time to crow!
The farm is ours, it’s time to grow!
We worked hard, we stood tall—
Now there’s enough for one and all!
Cluck!
My Father's House
I walked through the gates, dust on my feet
The house of my Father, but all I could see
Were silver and gold where the prayers should be
The cries of the poor drowned out by greed
I tipped the scales, I broke the lines
Spilled the coins, tore through the signs
No price on love, no fee for grace
My Father’s house is a holy place
This is a house of prayer, not a house of thieves
No chains of gold, no trading grief
No sacrifice but a willing heart
No walls too high to keep them apart
They ran like smoke, they cursed my name
But truth still burns like a roaring flame
You sell the blood, you sell the wheat
But God gives freely to those in need
They plot, they whisper, they call me mad
Say I’ve no right to take a stand
But what is wealth when souls are lost?
I’ll tear it down, I’ll bear the cost
This is a house of prayer, not a house of thieves
No chains of gold, no trading grief
No sacrifice but a willing heart
No walls too high to keep them apart
Kong Ain't Wrong
They call me the villain? Nah, lemme talk to ya...
They call me Kong, big boss of the jungle,
Movin’ through the trees, never trip, never stumble.
Chillin’ on my island, just doin’ my thing,
Till some plumber came steppin’ like he runnin’ my ring.
Yo, they took my stash, yeah, they jacked my stack,
Bananas go missin’? Man, I need ‘em back!
So I stomp through the city, no time to play,
Got barrels in my hands, got dues to pay.
Boom boom, step aside—DK comin’, jungle pride!
Climb up, climb up—barrels flyin’, rollin’ tough!
Boom boom, step aside—don’t blame Kong, man, blame the guy!
Yo, who’s this dude in the red and blue?
Swingin’ on ladders like he know my moves?
Jumpin’ my barrels, actin’ all slick,
Bruh, I’m the OG, I taught you this trick!
I see you savin’ Pauline, real heroic,
But lemme tell you somethin’, you ain’t stoic.
You came to my crib, stole my gold,
Now I gotta teach you why the jungle stay cold.
Boom boom, step aside—DK comin’, jungle pride!
Climb up, climb up—barrels flyin’, rollin’ tough!
Boom boom, step aside—don’t blame Kong, man, blame the guy!
You ain’t never seen strength like this,
Ape so big, city shake with a fist.
Jungle King, I don't bow to none,
If you wanna throw hands, better know how to run.
Alright, you got me, I fell, I dropped,
Tied up, locked up, but I still won’t stop.
Cuz kings don’t die, we just lay real low,
And when I get loose? Man, you already know.
So I’m back in the jungle, back in my throne,
Bananas in stacks, yeah, the jungle my home.
But if you step up, act all wrong,
You might just meet the wrath of Kong!
Boom boom, step aside—DK comin’, jungle pride!
Climb up, climb up—barrels flyin’, rollin’ tough!
Boom boom, step aside—don’t blame Kong, man, blame the guy!
Hoo hoo ha! You know what it is... Kong ain’t wrong.
Spider
The itsy bitsy spider crept up the water spout,
Tryna make it to the top—ain’t no turning out.
Then came the rain, straight knockin’ him low,
Took his whole hustle, washed out his flow.
Bounce back, climb again—ain’t no quittin’, ain’t no end!
Fall down, rise up—itsy bitsy don’t give up!
Laid out in the gutter, drippin’, soakin’ wet,
But the sun came up, said “Nah, not yet.”
Dried off the struggle, shook off the pain,
That lil’ spider hit the spout again.
Bounce back, climb again—ain’t no quittin’, ain’t no end!
Fall down, rise up—itsy bitsy don’t give up!
They thought he was done, they thought he was through,
But he knew the game—hard times ain't new.
One climb at a time, one step, one grind,
Itsy bitsy spider got that stay-on-the-line.
Back on the spout, movin’ smooth, movin’ slick,
Rain came again—but this time? Ain’t quit.
Hung on tight, held strong through the storm,
Now that lil’ spider sittin’ high, transformed.
Climb up, climb up—itsy don’t stop!
Hold tight, hold tight—rain won’t drop!
Climb up, climb up—itsy don’t stop!
Stay strong, stay strong—rain won’t drop!
For the Good (A Song for Legal Aid Advocates)
I see the weight in their eyes, the silence that speaks
The hands gripping papers, the voices too weak
No home, no light, no door left to knock
And I stand between them and the lock
Some come angry, some come numb
Some break down before they’ve begun
They don’t need perfect, just someone to stand
To speak when they can’t, to hold out a hand
And I try—oh, I try
To be more than just one, to be more than just tired
Some days I break, some days I fall
But for the good, I give it all
I fight with words, I fight with time
Against the ones who take what's mine
Not for myself, but for the lost
For those the world just writes off
But I can’t hold every case
I can’t shelter every face
I turn some away, and that weight stays
It stays, it stays...
And I try—oh, I try
To be more than just one, to be more than just tired
Some days I break, some days I fall
But for the good, I give it all
For the good, for the good...
I give it all...
5th of September (Just Be Ready)
If you're coming, pack real light,
Wear dark clothes, keep laces tight.
Mask your face, don't bring your phone,
Best to travel not alone.
5th of September, just be ready,
Keep it moving, keep it steady.
No surprises, no mistakes,
Meet where the city's heart still breaks.
Gloves for prints, water too,
Milk or Maalox if they come for you.
No loose talk, no loose plans,
Watch for marks, watch their hands.
5th of September, just be ready,
Keep it moving, keep it steady.
No surprises, no mistakes,
Meet where the city's heart still breaks.
Don’t bring signs, don’t stand out,
Don’t give them what they dream about.
No heroes, no lone fights,
Just be ready when it’s right.
It’s just a gathering, just a date,
Nothing special...
but don’t be late.
5 September
The night is heavy, the air is tight,
The countdown’s set, the stage is right.
No more waiting, no more doubt,
5 September calls us out.
The clock is turning, the tide is near,
Stand your ground, don’t show your fear.
They won’t know, they won’t see,
What’s been set in history.
5 September—time to rise,
Look ahead, no compromise.
No retreat, no second guess,
What comes next—you won’t forget.
The lines are drawn, the signals clear,
A moment held for all these years.
Eyes are watching, hands stay strong,
5 September won’t be long.
The clock is turning, the tide is near,
Stand your ground, don’t show your fear.
They won’t know, they won’t see,
What’s been set in history.
5 September—time to rise,
Look ahead, no compromise.
No retreat, no second guess,
What comes next—you won’t forget.
One by one, the steps align,
A day foretold, beyond design.
When they ask, don’t say a word—
Just let them wait, just let them learn.
The dawn will break, the sun will shine,
And everything will fall in time.
5 September—watch and see,
What was written had to be.
States of Decay
Yeah...
Dust in the Capitol air
Red, white, and bruised.
Let me talk to you.
Old men in cold suits, sleepwalkin' through the chamber,
Laws passed in whispers, wrapped in corporate favor.
Half-alive kings with no crown, just connections—
Bloodlines bred for stock price protection.
Ghosts of the ghettos tread quiet through the rain,
Dreams pawned off for rent checks and pain.
Police like priests, preachin' fear with a taser,
Sayin' prayers in courtrooms built like erasers.
Erased names, erased homes, erased hope—
Every block got a story, but they choke.
And we still here, bare teeth through the rot,
Makin' poems from the mold, from the parts they forgot.
Media spins like the preacher’s old flask,
Truth in a straitjacket, behind plexiglass.
Preach freedom, but the schools look like prisons—
A pipeline greased with misplaced religion.
Flags wave while the water runs brown,
Whole towns gaslit, sayin' "don’t make a sound."
But we heard it—the hum of the drones,
Liberty sold for a home loan and phones.
Can you feel it? The tremble in the streets?
The silence before a thousand heartbeats?
It ain’t death, it’s the birth cry of rage—
Scratchin' poems in the margin of the page.
Judges in robes like the popes of decline,
Handin' out futures in assembly line time.
No healthcare, but here's a new war—
Tell the poor to enlist, then lock the backdoor.
We ain’t blind, we been bruised and awake,
Sippin' lead from the pipes while they profit off the quake.
Still spit truth like it cuts through steel—
This pen ain’t a weapon, it’s a will to feel.
So let the empire crack, let the myth unmask,
We'll be dancin' in the ashes, buildin' truth from the scraps.
Shelley said a phantom would rise from the grime—
This is that echo, but it's dressed in our time.
I Am the Flood
I called you forth from dust and breath,
Gave you the land, the sky, the depth.
Yet you built your towers high,
Carved your names in stolen light.
You feast on gold, drink oil like wine,
Drape your tongues in rot and lies.
I am the flood, I am the flame,
I am the storm that speaks your shame.
I turn the seas, I break the stone,
I drown the kings upon their thrones.
Cry for mercy, call my name—
Your prayers are smoke, your gods are vain.
You mock the widow, cheat the child,
Wage your wars in holy guile.
You crown the cruel, you feed the beast,
You call it faith, you call it peace.
You poison fields, you burn the air,
You twist my gifts and call it fair.
I am the flood, I am the flame,
I am the storm that speaks your shame.
I turn the seas, I break the stone,
I drown the kings upon their thrones.
Cry for mercy, call my name—
Your prayers are smoke, your gods are vain.
The rivers rise, the mountains crack,
The earth itself will vomit back
The filth you poured into its veins,
The blood you spilled, the rust, the chains.
The heavens weep, the sun turns black—
And still you ask when I’ll come back?
I am the flood, I am the flame,
I am the storm that speaks your shame.
The wind, the quake, the starving breath,
I walk among you bearing death.
Cry for mercy, call my name—
I never left. You cast me away.
Real Ones Listen
Listen up, youngin’, let me tell you how to move,
Ain’t about flexin’—it’s about what you prove.
Not by the trophies, the cash, or the shine,
But how you make folks feel when you step in the line.
See, people remember the vibe, not the stats—
You could be the illest but still fall flat.
If your words don’t build, if your heart ain’t true,
Ain’t nobody really gonna rock with you.
So slow down, feel the room, take a breath.
Ain't no need to talk just to talk—what’s left?
Look 'em in the eyes, ask 'em what they been through.
Real kings lift, they don’t just walk through.
Yeah, check the energy, check the tone.
Make ‘em feel seen, don’t leave ‘em alone.
Reinforce the value, not just what they do—
It’s about who they are, not a trophy or two.
Mutual reflection—man, that’s real wealth.
Ain’t about outshining, it’s about real self.
When they tell you a story, don’t just flip it.
Hold that space, let ‘em talk, don’t skip it.
Everybody got battles that they don’t show.
Ain’t about who’s harder—it’s about who grows.
If they stuntin’, might be tryna hide they doubt,
So throw ‘em some light, help ‘em figure it out.
Offer validation, but not for the flex—
Not just the wins, but the heart in they chest.
Make space for the silence, for truth to get free.
You never know how much that moment could be.
Yeah, check the energy, check the tone.
Make ‘em feel seen, don’t leave ‘em alone.
Reinforce the value, not just what they do—
It’s about who they are, not a trophy or two.
So move with intention, move with grace.
A real one leaves the world a better place.
Ain’t about who’s loudest, who runs the game—
It’s about who listens. Remember the name.
Shadow on the Board
Silent squares, the battle wakes
White begins, the center shakes
Pieces move through shadowed halls
Every choice, a kingdom falls
Eyes open wide, every step is fate
No turning back, when you touch this game
Shadow on the board, quiet fight unseen
Every pawn and queen dancing in between
We move in mystery, holding breath and sword
Life and chess aligned—shadows on the board
Sacrifice the knight, rook stands tall
Queen emerges swift, watches pieces fall
A hidden trap, a secret plan
Whispered moves by trembling hands
Pulse beating fast, moves can't rewind
Checkmate in the air, shadows intertwined
Shadow on the board, quiet fight unseen
Every pawn and queen dancing in between
We move in mystery, holding breath and sword
Life and chess aligned—shadows on the board
Silent kings, fate unknown
One last move, secrets shown
The board still waits, it always will
The game undone, forever still
Shadow on the board, quiet fight unseen
Every pawn and queen dancing in between
We move in mystery, holding breath and sword
Life and chess aligned—shadows on the board
Pieces rest, eyes unsure
The game ends, yet endures...
Headed to Bremen
Donkey got old, they put him out back
Said he’s too slow, can’t carry no stack
So he hit the road, dust on his feet
Tryna find peace, not end in defeat
Met a dog on the way, tail hangin' low
Said “they don’t feed me, I got to go”
So they walked together, two in the sun
Talkin’ 'bout Bremen and beatin’ a drum
Then a cat showed up, claws worn thin
Used to chase mice, now can’t win
Then a rooster, kicked off the roof
Crowin’ to no one, missin’ his youth
We ain’t done, we got some song
Even if the road feels way too long
Four old voices, one new plan
Playin' for freedom, not for the man
Saw a house lit up through the trees
Robbers eatin' like kings with ease
Stacked ourselves, made a mean sound
Scared 'em off, never came back ‘round
Now we rest where the forest bends
Not rich, not young, but we got friends
Never made it to Bremen town
But we found what we needed, settlin' down
We ain’t done, we got some song
Even if the road feels way too long
Four old voices, one new plan
Playin' for freedom, not for the man
Red, White, And You Can Keep It
You taught me to smile while I starved
Pledge to a flag while they took my yard
Told me to vote like it changes a thing
Then gave me two faces wearing the same ring
Called it “great,” called it “brave”
But it’s blood in the soil and cops at the gate
You act like history started last week
But I know the names buried under your feet
Red, white, and you can keep it
I don’t need it, I don’t bleed it
Land of lies, home of theft
Take your pride and choke on what's left
I pay my rent while they buy bombs
You fly the flag while they raid moms
Call it defense, call it peace
But it’s murder with a PR piece
You say “move on,” I say “nah”
You still back coups and call it law
I see the schools, I see the jails
I see a country built to fail
Red, white, and you can keep it
I don’t need it, I don’t bleed it
Land of lies, home of theft
Take your pride and choke on what’s left
You never loved me
You just used me
Now I see you clearly
And I hope it burns cleanly
Heal
Not a fix overnight, not a fairytale rise,
But we start with the truth, no more disguise.
Lay down the armor, unlearn the game,
Step out the script that keeps us in shame.
We were taught strength means standin’ alone,
But real power’s in the voice on the end of the phone.
It’s the hand on your back, the nod when you speak,
The courage to break so the heart can leak.
Heal—when we name what we feel,
When we hold what was hidden, the wound starts to seal.
No shame in the cracks, that’s where light reveals—
We ain’t born to be perfect, we’re born to heal.
Heal—for the ones that came through,
For the dreams they buried and the pain they knew.
This is more than survival, it’s breaking the wheel—
We don’t rise by escaping, we rise when we heal.
Don’t need permission to soften the edge,
To step from the ledge and plant roots instead.
Build homes in the moment, not castles of fear,
Let go of control so we can draw near.
This ain’t weakness, it’s choosing to care,
To breathe through the silence, to meet what's there.
Systems can change, but only if we do—
When the “I” meets the “we,” we make something new.
Look in the mirror, not for the flaw,
But for proof you survived, for the peace you saw.
Pain don’t define you, but what you decide—
To wall it away, or let it be your guide.
Heal—when we name what we feel,
When we hold what was hidden, the wound starts to seal.
No shame in the cracks, that’s where light reveals—
We ain’t born to be perfect, we’re born to heal.
Heal—for the ones that came through,
For the dreams they buried and the pain they knew.
This is more than survival, it’s breaking the wheel—
We don’t rise by escaping, we rise when we heal.
So breathe deep, let the silence be still,
Let the old ache echo and the new one fill.
We carry each other—stone, flame, and steel—
No more chasing a dream, it’s time to heal.
Triple Deke
He had the shot... and he missed...
Back in the day, just a kid on the line,
Finals game, tied up, overtime.
Triple deke—it’s what coach taught,
Three fakes, one shot—then he lost that shot.
Crowd went cold, coach turned his back,
Said “winners score,” like it’s just a fact.
That moment cracked what was almost gold,
And the ice never felt so damn cold.
Grew up fast, slick suit and tie,
Downtown shark with the courtroom eye.
Thirty straight wins, no love in the grind,
But you can’t out-run what you leave behind.
One night, lost in the neon haze,
Whiskey thoughts in a legal maze.
Flashing lights, now the gavel speaks—
Community service. Rink in the East.
Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack.
Sound of the outcast fighting back.
Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack.
We ain’t got much, but we got the pack.
Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack.
Feet hit ice, fists hit chest.
Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack.
We don’t need crowns, just give us the net.
District 5—no pads, no pride,
Just duct tape dreams and skates half-tied.
Goldberg in net, scared of the puck,
But stood his ground when it all got rough.
Tammy spins like a dancer on blades,
Fulton drops bombs like a hand grenade.
Charlie’s got heart, but he’s lost in the mess—
Parents split, kid’s carrying stress.
Picked up Banks from the enemy’s zone,
Hawk by blood, now a Duck by home.
Every practice, something new to believe,
Bonded by bruises, scarred on the sleeve.
Bombay watching like “I know this pain,”
Teaching ‘em moves while he breaks his chains.
No more fear, no more shame—
The Ducks took flight, started changing the game.
Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack.
Call out the ghosts, run it back.
Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack.
Hands in the huddle, time to attack.
Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack.
They said we’d fold—look where we at.
Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack.
Misfits, warriors, black and gold hats.
Finals night, Hawks on the line,
Same old coach, same crooked spine.
Charlie gets the puck, game in reach,
Bombay whispers, “Triple deke.”
Flashback hits, that boy who failed—
But this time, different. The team inhaled.
Move one left, move two right,
Third one cuts like a blade through night.
Goal light hits like a flare in the dark,
Bombay smiles, you can hear his heart.
It ain’t about trophies, wins, or stats—
It’s about standing up, not looking back.
You fall, you get up.
You miss, you learn.
Sometimes the shot ain’t for the net—
It’s for the burn.
Blow Me Down!
Land ho... rough-lookin’ harbor… smells like trouble... just hows I likes it...
Dropped anchor in a port with a growl in the wind,
Barrel o’ fists and a toothy grin
Got me pipe lit, got me boots full o’ brine
Lookin’ for a dame, or a reason to rhyme
Found Olive dancin’, hips swingin’ wide
Sang her a ditty ‘bout takin’ a ride
She was blushin’, swayin’, fallin’ fer me tune
Till Bluto burst in, howlin’ like a loon
Big brute stomped in, beard fulla rage
Growlin’ like a dog what’s chewin’ its cage
Tried to grab Olive, said she’s his prize
I told ‘im calm-like, “Ya better revise.”
He swung first—wrong move, my mate
I ducked, I dipped, then retaliates
He tossed a crate, I cracked a beam
Brawlin’ through the market like a fever dream
He had me dazed, tied me up with rope
But I slipped out slick like a bar o’ soap
Chomped me spinach—glorious can!
Turned one punch inta a freight train’s slam
Bluto flew sideways, crashed through the docks
I tipped me hat, Olive gave me shocks
She swooned in me arms like a fresh sea breeze
And I mumbled, “That’s courtin’, with expertise…”
Every port’s got a Bluto... but there’s only one Popeye...
Man Man Man
He got muscles on muscles, truck on chrome
Beard trimmed sharp like he’s cut from stone
Says “Don’t cry” with a sniff and a cough
Punched drywall once and scared it off
He don’t read books, but he owns four knives
Got “Don’t Tread on Me” on both ex-wives
He lifts, he spits, he growls, he flexes
He fears emotions and solar plexus
He’s a man man man
With a plan plan plan
To repress and impress
With a tan tan tan
He’s a king of the gym
And a child inside
If you say “You okay?”
He just hollers “I’m fine!”
He thinks therapy’s for girls and spies
Says “I’m self-made” while his mama cries
He drinks six beers just to feel one thing
Then screams at the moon like it owes him a ring
He can’t say “sorry,” but he knows “mine”
He once hugged his son—and called it “a sign”
He breaks, he blames, he barks, he runs
He thinks soft hearts weigh half a ton
He’s a man man man
With a brand brand brand
Got a flag on his sleeve
And a lifted sedan
He’s a storm in a hat
With a fragile roar
Can’t find his keys
But he’s winnin’ the war
Buddy, you’re tired
And scared of the rain
Your daddy was mean
But that don’t explain
Why you shout at the wind
And call it your pride
You can open your heart
Without dying inside
Be a man man man
With a brain brain brain
Let go of the weight
That ain’t part of your name
Be tough when it counts
But be kind when you can
‘Cause the strongest thing ever
Is a man who’s a man
Women Think They're So Great
Women think they’re so great—
with their calendars full and their keys in their fists,
reading every room like they wrote the script,
making trauma look like talent.
They cry in the bathroom, rinse their face,
and walk out looking like the meeting's about to start.
Must be nice.
Oh, they’ve got plans,
they’ve got pain tolerance and backup shoes,
bleeding once a month like it’s no excuse.
They multitask through the meltdown—
still find time to text you back.
But sure, tell me again how they’re the weaker sex.
They raise kids, raise hell, raise their voices,
and get told to smile more.
They get 80 cents on the dollar
and carry the difference in their purse without complaining.
She says she’s tired,
but she still shows up—
to the office, the protest, the appointment she made for you.
Yeah, they’ve got rules
written on their bodies,
laws drawn in places they’ve never been.
They get judged for wanting love,
for not wanting love,
for taking up too much space
or not enough.
They think they’re so great.
And maybe they are.
They walk through fire
and still send thank-you notes.
They bury their mothers
and somehow become them—
stronger, softer, louder, still.
Women think they’re so great.
Guess I just can’t argue.
Not without losing.
Part of the Show
I was made with a smile and a sticker on my chest
Came wrapped in a window, like all of the rest
They gave me a name and a reason to glow
And I lit up proud, 'cause they told me so
They played me loud, they played me wrong
They changed my name, I played along
I didn’t pick the role, but I still said yes
There’s meaning in the mess
They dropped me once behind the bed
I watched the world go on instead
And even there, I felt the beat
A little toy, with dancing feet
If I can't choose the story’s pace
I still can smile in any place
If I’m pretend, then so are you
So let’s pretend something true
They played me soft, they played me bold
They said I broke—but I still hold
A spark, a laugh, a line I know
I'm part of the show
I’m part of the show
Still Here
Early thaw, the dirt gives way
I dig where something used to stay
Don’t remember what I buried
Just the shape my claws still carry
Every noise could be the end—
A hawk, a dog, a burst of wind
I freeze, I twitch, I look around
Then press my body to the ground
I don’t mean to be brave
It’s just what the morning gave
No one’s watching, no one cheers
But I’m still here
High above the traffic hum
A wire shakes beneath my run
I don’t know why I cross at all
But something calls, and so I crawl
You built a fence, I found a gap
A gap became a kind of map
A garden gate, a leaning chair
I get in places unaware
I don’t mean to be bold
Just chasing what I can hold
You threw it out, I called it clear—
I’m still here
Half a chip left on the seat
I took it fast and didn’t eat
Just held it like a kind of crown
And ran before I looked around
Spring returns, the lawn comes back
Your kids lay chalk across the cracks
I watch the clouds like shifting nets
And dig in places I forget
I don’t know what’s mine
I just know I’m part of time
And I forget, but reappear—
I’m still here
...wait—was that a peanut?