From Father to Son

I was five when I heard those gunshots echo across town
It was a hot night

July of ‘96

The bedroom window was open

I was cuddled up with Mom

She was singing me to sleep

Such a peaceful song

I remember how she flinched

In an instant, we both knew

That a part of our lives was gone

* * * * * * *

Let me tell you a tale

About a guy who died too damn young

I’ve heard he could’ve been a standup comedian

Man, how I’ve lived with his demons…

The man I remember is someone I want to forget

That thunderous knock on the door

“Let me in! I just want to see my son!”

The welling tears in her eyes, my mom

Telling me to hide

He was only twenty-five

I don’t remember much

I meet him through their stories

Apparently, he was everyone’s friend

People gravitated toward him

Ironic that he was the only one

Who brought himself down

Ironic that he brought others up

But practically put himself in the ground

My dad met his end because of $200 worth of meth

I know the name of the man who shot him

& I know that they still haven’t caught him

* * * * * * *

I’ve met a lot of the people he was close with

It’s the same thing, every time

They gasp when I walk in the room

Begin to cry

Sometimes I cry without even knowing why

I have a hard time missing him

It took me a while to see, though...

I have such a hard time missing him

Because he still walks with me

He still talks to me

My angel tells me to confront my demons

Tells me to be different

This time I'm listening