Scars

Past the bullet park concrete Past the boy begging at your feet Past the red stains on the wall The scars of violence lie in the ruins of the mind Past the sharp nail hearts Past the forgotten have-nots Past the burned out lots The scars of violence lie in the ruins of the mind Brother said, "I hate them for what they did Hate them more because they refuse to see it" I said, "Hate is a heavy thing to carry" He said, "I can carry it" I said, "I overstand", he said, "What do you know?" I said, "I know Jim Crow" He said, "Did you live it though Like I lived Soweto?" Past the fist-shaped bruise Antsy got tattoos All abuses that missed the news The scars of violence lie in the ruins of the mind Past the hooded and chained Past the bones that remain Past the raped and maimed The scars of violence lie in the ruins of the mind Sister said, "Me too, brother I can't forget or forgive But this one life I intend to live Not a victim to the system, I thrive I was never meant to survive" Past the bullet park concrete Past the boy begging at your feet Past the red stains on the wall The scars of violence lie in the ruins of the mind Past the sharp nail hearts Past the forgotten have-nots Past the burned out lots The scars of violence lie in the ruins of the mind