the sacrifice

this poem was written with no interruption
phone off the hook
computer off line
living room blinds closed
front door locked

this poem was written with no interruption
television unplugged
playstation non existent
puppy walking himself
risking life and health

but sacrifice is necessary
if one is to carry words with the
power to cause buildings to fall
screaming kids running down
dirty school halls hands rubbing against walls

classroom restless with stresses
about krebs cycles and fetal pig livers
dissecting kittens but no woolen mittens
but what will their hands feel when facing
the will of Winter's furious chill
sacrifice

light bill interrupted cause mama's struggling
cause daddy couldn't interrupt that bulge in his pants
wanting to dance and romance with someone new
something borrowed something blue til death do
us part will no longer do

kids pulled from home with picket gate to section 8
staying out late no china just paper plates
fitting in making friends with other interrupted children
times are hard on these grassless yards
wasn't no lawn in front of my house

cold mornings smelling of kerosene
and vaseline for ashy faces and dry lips and scalps
no cereals and pop tarts thank god they serve breakfast
at school gold meal card guarded with my young life
sacrifice

brand names ain't matter i was clean
no holes in my jeans we were on a different team
rich kids pulling up in volvos with book bags and lunch boxes
polos and swatch watches duck head and white bread
deli sandwiches like on them louis rich commercials

my bologna has a first name it's not oscar but
frosty; last name myers but i never grew tired
of those sandwiches just wished that variety was
more prevalent in places where the candy man and
freeze lady reside full of pride blue crabs on picnic tables outside

my childhood wasn't sad it was just necessary
i still cringe when i hear someone say faggot or word nigger
both carry the power of a pulled trigger but not as much
a lot of the shyt i used to worry about don't bother me at all
cause there's not a person walking this earth without flaws

i won't write anymore poems interrupted by laments of my childhood
and imagined family dysfunction because sacrifices aren't imagined
like passing ufo's in the sky but real and necessary if character is
to be birthed into those who must someday testify of the goodness
and worthiness of living and life; this is why poets must share what they write
and why life ain't life without sacrifice.