From Father to Son

I was five when I heard those gunshots

echo across town

It was a hot night, July of ‘96

I was cuddled up with Mom

The bedroom window was open

She was singing me to sleep

It was such a peaceful song

I remember how she flinched

In an instant

I knew

She knew

That a part of both 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 a memory 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 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

Sometimes even begin to cry

Sometimes I cry without even knowing why

It took me awhile to see

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