A tattoo of five red stars cover both his forearms,
with the word blood 4 life filling them in.
This fifteen year old boy holds his braids back,
while repping the red flag,
which he holds so dear to his heart.
School means nothing to him,
for it shows him no outs.
The streets are where he lays his life.
And the G that initiated him, is his hero.
The three things he was missing;
Love, honor, and respect,
he has found here.
His brothers, they take care of him.
For he always has the newest kicks and the hotest styles to rock.
Which makes him the envy of all who lay eyes on him.
A feeling so good,
and one his drug addicted mother could never provide.
And for those brothers,
he is willing to die,
or do his stint on the inside,
all the while knowing they have his back on the streets.
Still, he walks down the streets,
always minding his surroundings,
knowing that somewhere in the shadows awaits a bullet,
with his name on it.
Yet he stands on the street corners hustling his day away.
Just trying to put food on the table for his younger siblings,
trying to avoid the boys at all costs,
for fear that his whole charade would be exposed.
Knowing that no matter what happens,
the only code he sticks to is that of silence.
And he goes through life day by day,
putting in work, and getting the street credit he so desperately wants.
Never dreaming of all the things he could achieve,
if only he had the chance.
But for him that chance doesn't exist,
the only opportunity he has in his life,
comes from those five red stars,
and the flag he so proudly reps.
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Submission Name: The tragic loss of a generation
