He Been Wishin'

This boy, this boy—

He been wishin,

he been wishin—

For a high school diploma

instead of an obituary.

He been wishin,

he been wishin—

For a graduation cap

Instead of a bool rag.

This boy, this boy—

He been wishin,

he been wishin

For a spot on the basketball team at school

instead of a headstone inside the cemetery.

This boy, this boy—

He been wishin,

he been wishing

For a textbook to grace his hands

Instead of the steel from a Mac-10.

This boy—

My heart commiserates for him.

I pray that this boy will find

a method to rise above evils

which are aiming to keep him grounded.

This boy—

He been prayin,

he been prayin

That he makes it home to his momma tonight.

He ain’t ready to get stopped by no cop

Or stuck up by some gangbangers.

This boy—

He been prayin,

he been prayin

That he doesn’t wind up being

plastered onto the news at eight—

Or any of the morning newspapers.

This boy—

He been prayin,

he been prayin

For a martyr that ain’t retuning—

to come and rescue him from danger.