Never self-identified
With the places I was raised
I used to ask them all the time
How long I’d have to wait
Said, «Don't worry, child
You’ll be free of all of this one day
Just to return for most religious holidays.»
They fed me ancient artifacts
As I sat inside the schools
Filled me up with anecdotes
That offered little proof
Killed my future confidence
By poisoning the truth
Left me tired
And totally confused
Took me straight from public school
And put me on a bus
Said I could find freedom
If I could cough the money out
So I studied people’s history
And the poetry I loved
But mainly I just got good
At getting drunk
I met you in the city
When I was twenty-one
Used to stay out all night
Just to watch the sun come up
Could’ve stayed like this forever
But I didn’t
Way too many drugs
Like the privileged little shithead
That I was
Peered into the future
Through our exponential death
But reduced to a window
We stood, tapping on the glass
So much so we didn’t really notice
The collapse
We looked up one day
And everything was black
Now I’m out of prison
I got me a friend at last
She don’t steal, or cheat, or drink, or lie
Never really thought that I
Would reach the other side
Thought I did my whole life
Think I’ll stay here for a while…