God Bless the Bodega

When money came around, enough worth to spend,

My brother, my mother, we'd walk round the bend

To the corner store, get a sandwich or two

And walk down to the park by the beach, for the view

And every so often, I'd walk there alone

Heroin needles, and junkies galore

Step over bodies, see blood leaking, bones

Poking out of their arms, pointing right to the store

I'd watch as the sub man would cut up the loaf

Sometimes just for me, and sometimes for us both

Spreading mayo and mustard, applying the cheese,

Mom would tell me, "add all to the sub that you please"

But I knew better then, as I know much more now

That the money came slowly on our side of town

So some cold cuts, some lettuce, tomato, then stop

Then we'd go to the cashier, her bank account drops

Then we'd go to the park, and watch the dying light

And if I hadn't eaten, I'd savor each bite

When the times weren't too rough, I'd sip some iced tea

And acknowledge that some weren't as lucky as me

Now the more I've grown older, I see nothing's changed

The location is different, the process the same

I go to a different shop, tell them the same things

An Italian sub, leave and hear the door ring

I'd grimace when I pay, do the math in my head

Maybe save the sandwich, and then head off to bed

Can't afford to just down it, save some for tomorrow

And if I hear rumbles, I'll choke down my sorrow

You don't always have cash for a grocery store

So a lot of my life's dinners? Sandwich, galore

But even with money, some things can't be beat

Despite sour jalapeños, the sub tastes so sweet

I'd see some people pull up in Lexus's, park

Walk right into the store, and try to cut the line

When they waited, they'd buy steak and cheeses, then stalk

And eye all the poor kids there, sneer at them like swine

But you just laugh it off, take a bite of the sub

Walk home with your pockets full and stomach empty

You'd hear chuckles and sports talk pour out from the pub

And despite all the troubles, the sandwich filled plenty

You'd thrive off the music that poured through the hood

You'd smile, and wave at the neighbors who talked

You'd step up to the house with the decaying wood

Hit a light switch, then see electricity's off

But you didn't mind too much, at least there was heat

Take a shower, let water run from head to feet

You'd sit down in the dark, or hit the candlelight

But you'd still be content, due to sandwich delight