Prophetic Past by John Reeves (books for 8th graders .txt) 📖

The Mill

Baltimore Hill, behind the mill,
where dealers make the money,
and fiends steal, to make a deal.

It's their way of life,
moving through the night,
with one headlight, no end in sight.

It's probably not right,
fighting over who makes the sale tonight,
it's really not black and white,
everyday is a constant fight,
just to make through the night.

The kids out in the streets pushing rock,
I know it will never stop, headed for the top,
but you're not, ending up in jail holding the mop,
'cause it really wasn't easy evading the cop.

Still back on bail, looking to make a sale,
looking hard for the cash that fell,
when you were locked in the jail cell,
who's been moving it? They know but, won't tell.

Lord, will they ever quit?
go straight and, get legit,
face the problems, that were part of it.
Does it have to end, in a casket?

Another broken home,
all alone thinking 'bout,
how it's all gone, and went wrong.

What will they write on your headstone?

When your gone, children left with out,
to carry on, all alone, without a parent,
I hate it, and you know it's wrong.

The authorities really can't stop it,
so they ignore the shit,
just hoping someday, they'll decide to quit,
step away losing all the profit,
never going to happen, just drop it.

Just admit you can't stop it.

Making the Change

They said we would change, some way,
the day a black man became president, of the USA.

The only thing that's changed,
really tells me we'll always be the same,
Presidential fame, predicted change,
that never came, Big Brother you can't tame.

Home to freedom, like paradise,
only if I realized, that the total price,
is sacrifice of human life, cut from your gut,
with a survival knife.

The hope of a brighter day,
pushed along and, cast away,
most won't say, how they feel,
this way. In fear of what others say.

Nostradamus predicted the anti-Christ,
made some think twice, how convincing and,
nice, another form of sacrifice,
of human life, and genocide.
Isn't that nice? That's the price.

Will we ever change the way we feed,
those in need, of something from you and me?
It's not just someone looking for something free,
it's people from the community,
don't act as if you never see.

There isn't always that ace in the hole,
believe me I'm the one to know.
It's a one man show, they just never let you know.
Cold, busted and, broke they watch you go.

In a society, where we live to be free,
there's someone watching over me,
waiting to see, if I stay free,
or get locked away for my insanity.
Remember the way it used to be?

In the beginning they talk about how it ends,
tired of living without family and, friends,
that's when the pain begins, and ends,
as God sends, for your soul to transcend.

Past the gates, and into heaven.

Deviant Intentions

At first I wanted to stay with the plan,
that's just the kind of man I am,
help anyone when I can, make a stand.

Then I see,
they turn on me,
looking for a ride for free,
I always said that isn't the way to be.

I know I say we'd be friends till the end,
but, the end has come my friend, it's not my fault,
you're banging heroin, crack is back,
all alone again.

Should have folded that hand,
showing them trying to be the man,
Vegas dreams, died in the sand.
Not quite like we planned.

I could have deviated a little bit,
to be honest though,
I was tired of hearing that shit,
cracked out, wishing you were done with it.
Telling yourself, I swear to quit but,
you can't stop, failing to admit,
digging in the carpet, looking for another hit.

Your cousin strung you out,
sad without a doubt but,
you knew what he was all about.

This time they won,
the boy you call your son,
he and his mother were having fun,
laughing at you now, with no place to run.

Five different places to stay,
until the rent never got paid,
they moved you out, in a brutal way.

It's all true, and you know it too,
not sure what will happen with you.

It doesn't matter, because I'm through.

"My God"
With my hands folded tonight,
I'm asking you to make it alright.

Do I deserve it? of course not,
left here with all I got,
internal soul left to rot.

I'm not worthy of the time you could spend on me,
believing is dreaming,
somehow I just never could see.

I ask you for the same things every time,
don't help me, help the kids, give'em a sign.

I know I ask you to help those I don't even know,
It's not me believing but, dreaming of the way it might go.

The next generation is in danger, I see it too,
help us out in a trying time, but it's up to you.

There not living right,
not ever taught the direction,
moving dangerously through the night.

It pains me to admit,
that somehow,
I became part of it.

Second coming, judgment day,
Wait, it's too late,
things have got out of hand,
the people found another way.

Broken families, and kids gone wrong,
I asked you to change it but,
you waited to long.

Seven shots fired from the gun,
the boy was someone's son,
prison, death, it's not for fun.

Seventh grade killers,
moving weight,
for the big drug dealers.

Left alone in the end,
with shoes that were too big,
asking God to forgive their sin.

Another kid has a headstone,
a family left feeling alone,
missing piece of their home,
wondering where they went wrong.

Teacher's future isn't clear,
another set of murders happened here,
campus left in fear,
"Nobody got killed" she was so sincere.

My hands are folded, until we speak again,

Amen

Behind the Walls

They move around so smooth,
really not to make a move,
not the one to bother you.

I know I'm not living right,
everyday is a constant fight,
not knowing what will happen tonight.

I could have made a move,
for some reason, I never seemed to,
God knows what I've been through.

When it comes to judgment day,
you can bet, I won't shy away,
if he gives me the chance to say,

My lord you made me this way,
to make people pay,
the toll to live day to day.

I ask God if he loves me,
the way I am, not to change me,
but, to let me be, the man he made me.

I wish not to relive this life again,
I was in it to win,
never seemed to happen, so why go where I've been?

From day one, we are set up to lose,
intoxicated by life, every road we choose,
God said, "Take the lid off and, drink some booze."

What could have been, what's yet to be,
in twenty years time will proceed me,
my wife won't be alone, will she?

Do you really want her to re-marry?
I just want her to be happy.

"Momma don't Cry"

Momma don't cry,
it wasn't a suicide,
and execution, so terrified.

I never meant to let you down,
never intended to break your heart,
looking back,
It seemed to be doomed from the start.

Broken heart,
perfect dreams torn apart,
you made the choice, to make a new start.

I future, is so much like the past,
it's full of pain, but moving kinda fast,
you realize somewhere, you don't wanna be the last.

9 to 5 we live life to try,
not really understanding why,
it's never quite good enough, but you lied,
about the time you cried, there was a tear in your eye.

My kids being born was the best day of my life,
I was there to share the moment with my wife.

So I know,
I can't live in sorrow,
about tomorrow,
Life's just a pill, that's hard to swallow.

Could it be me,
failure, to be free,
a broken branch off the family tree.

Remember the day you thought I died?
You saw that car, thinking he can't be alive,
he was hit on the highway on his side.

I escaped death to stay here for you,
it was too early for my life to be through,
we had more things in life to see.

I never thought I would see,
the age of thirty,
I guess I'm lucky, to still be,
here today, you can't see me.

I just want to live freely.

"Ripped off by the Law"

I never thought it would go that way,
stepping inside my family walls, to make us pay,
rights of innocents tossed away,
don't really care what I had to say.

It was only the truth when I spoke,
not sugar coating it, or blowing smoke,
what was taken wasn't a big joke.

Somehow I found myself defending what was already mine,
I will tell you Norman to kiss, where the sun don't shine,
Somewhere in the truth I hoped to find, peace of mind,
Somewhere in the process it fell apart, with no chance to unwind.

So I reload, here we go,
I'll never quit, just so you know,
what you did was pretty low, blow,
so now I know, it's the way you go.

I'm not here to change you,
when I'm though,
you'll know that much is true,
what I intend to do, is to show you,
It's Connie and Carol too.
I just might kill all three of you.