Let It Bern

Hey, Kid, been watching you and how you move,

Heeding the lessons from elders, to see the good in others, no discriminating,

Treat ‘em how you wanna be treated, surely you’ll remunerated,

And so you complied, walked around on campus all smiles,

Greetings and ‘how you doin’s?’ Congeniality seems to be second nature,

Paid off for a while, had ‘em all flocking over,

Got along and got to know one another, but the honeymoon couldn’t last forever,

Masks fell off eventually, now you see ‘em in their glory.

Only takes one before the rest come out the hive,

Seeking to knock the cart, harbingers of chaos and strife,

Not all will reciprocate, rather, they respond with the polar opposite,

Take advantage and manipulate, easy targets are the kind-hearted,

Two ways here, Kid, neither very appealing,

Turn the other cheek or retaliate, schoolyard rules frown upon snitching,

Who’d have thought that this setting could so resemble prison?

The metaphor fits, call it the kids’ comparison.

Pay ‘em no mind, keep the weapons drawn, show no reaction, fuck your emotions,

Gets the job done in some scenarios, but for how long?

Sooner or later gotta speak up, no one respects a sponge,

Or you can give in to fight than flight, sock it to ‘em right,

Risk suspension or expulsion, even if they’re the ones that started,

Either way you’re fucked, that’s just scratching the surface,

What do you do if your soldiers come for you too?

Anyone can turn, no matter your shared history,

If it’s to their benefit they’re going for it, don’t expect to hear ‘I’m sorry’,

Playing nice has limits, oftentimes they’ll do ya dirty,

‘til your stares turn to glares, shades of blue to red, rage taking over, your humanity hanging by a thread,

The world turns, the clock keeps ticking, wounds still festering, time ain’t healing,

How to trust another after you’d been done rough? How to commit or open up?

How to back yourself after the way you’d been dealt? Voices whispering that maybe you deserved it,

Gotta have faith they say, easier said than done,

Chewed up then spat, bruised, battered and disillusioned, expected to start at one.

If there’s something to be learned, let it be this gem,

Just ‘cuz you’re spreading love don’t mean you’ll get it back again,

A great man learned it hard, of service he was to others,

Nothing but backlash for his efforts, so he’d recounted to his beloved mother,

Not saying you gotta hide away, leave that shit to cowards,

But you’d be wise to be on guard ‘lest you get smacked hard,

Stay in your lane, do what you can, fuck what they say or do, stick to your plan,

You don’t owe ‘em nothing, they never gave you nothing,

One day at a time, you’re still onto something,

So go on, Kid, be bold and heed these words,

Even Nikola got shit done, to hell with those fucking turds.

So this is it, the full circle moment,

Life’s brutal truth again made apparent,

For so long getting by on my lonesome, learned early on the follies of keeping doors open,

Once was trusting, never wavering, let ‘em in, no discrimination,

Knifed one too many times while the rest laughed and pointed,

Built up walls like Nehemiah, to hell with the population,

Open invitations only bring scorn, betrayal and derision,

Back in the shell, don’t know for how long, to hell with ‘em all, cut ‘em all off,

But over time took some chances, descended from the hill to meet the villagers,

Lived it up, mingled with the masses, this must be what they call ‘acceptance’,

The next phase, perhaps, after a prolonged spell in the wilderness,

Then it was gone, done and dusted, Thanos snapped his fingers,

Right back to where I started like Edward, fuckin’ should have known better,

Should have left the gates closed, maybe, would have avoided this bitter sting, probably,

Everyone goes away, Trent and Johnny knew all about it,

They say ride or die but ain’t no stopping plans from up high,

Maybe this is destiny, scripted as planned,

Fuck it, get on with it, might as well run with it.

Homie I hear you, feel you, don’t feel invalidated,

If that’s your take on it then you are more than entitled to it,

Bear with me, Friend, just a few questions,

Might cut deep but you probably need to hear ‘em,

If you ain’t where you want to be then why not take action?

Real ones fight for it and earn it rather than moping ‘round crying about it,

Why stay running in place when you can step out your zone?

You’d done it before, dust those boots for new adventures, meet you some new folks, why settle for being alone?

Never know who’s right ‘round the corner, what if someone out there’s waiting?

Could make a life with ‘em, live happily and grow old, you just never know,

Gotta take chances and get those feet wet, even risk pain and embarrassment,

That’s a part of living, might hurt plenty but you’ll get more out of it,

It’s your life and you’re free to do what you want with it,

But you only get one shot and that clock is ticking, what you gon’ do about it?

Your rebuttal is as predictable as the proverbial sunrise,

Not dissing, don’t get it twisted, such sage advice can only come from the wise,

Ain’t nothing that I’d been thinking, I remain self-aware,

Repeated false promises are more than I can bear,

Took that shot, time and time again, felt the sweet taste of victory,

Then it’s lost in the haze of bad luck or betrayal, admittedly also from mismanagement,

Back to the start, battered, bruised and further along the road to ruin,

What if sunshine and rainbows were just a taste of the other side before reality came knocking?

That of eternal solitude, just me against the elements,

Cut off from the rest, forever isolated,

Not playing victim here, just thinking out loud,

It is a possibility, that’s what I’m on about.

Problem is, unconsciously, you’re only making it worse,

Making excuses rather than confronting failures,

Reality check, Friend, can’t have sunshine without rain,

Only two constants are suffering and change,

They go hand in hand, but be defiant anyway,

Fuck being compliant, stay hungry and keep hacking away,

Plan didn’t pan? Get back up and try again, take a different route if you’d lost motivation,

They went away for good? Make space for new ones, they’d played their role then moved on, that’s just life, it happens,

They’d done you wrong? Let ‘em go, to hell with ‘em, they never deserved your time and attention, why waste oxygen?

Maybe you’re being prepped for the next step, first gotta clear the deck,

Begin again and make it better, give it a shot or live with regrets,

So look on the bright side, get out into the world outside, the music’s still going, join the dance,

Never know what you might get, where it might take you, here’s your chance.

That IG feed sure is something to behold,

Prized jewel among your socials, vids, pics and reels worth their weight in gold,

Triumphs, trips and milestones captured, neatly packed, highlighted,

Some of ‘em edited, their very presence all the evidence needed for bragging rights, proof of living the life,

A personal gallery for all to see, minus the museum, to awe and inspire, hopefully,

To rub it in their faces, the haters, the ones green with rage and envy.

Grinding hard, daily, to climb that proverbial ladder,

More responsibilities, longer hours, prices to be paid while chasing bigger dollars,

Fruits of your labor, all your gizmos, gadgets and toys,

Big-ass crib, a hot ride or five, every little doo-dad coveted by kids and tech-heads alike, the spoils of that hard grind,

Your name ubiquitous with success, worshipped daily by fans, friends and admirers,

Soak it all up, you’d earned it, but you’d best not get too high off of it.

Because you ain’t taking any of it to the grave, no room for it in the afterlife,

Ain’t nobody talking ‘bout possessions in that eulogy, how you’d spent your time alive, more likely,

You’ll be stripped bare, down to the very basics, hope you’d spread those eggs across different baskets,

You can conquer many worlds but what of your impact on others?

Was your very presence that of a blessing rather than a curse?

Or more the latter than the former? A vile and horrid motherfucker?

All adds to the legacy, Homie, the good, bad and ugly,

Could echo through eternity, best that you don’t take it lightly,

Better ask yourself now, would you have a beer with your present self? Or would you walk the opposite direction? Flip both birds at them in the process?

By all means, live as you please, savour the victories, learn from defeats,

But make room, too, for some truly selfless deeds,

Treat that inner circle kindly, no one likes a toxic friend,

Be a good child, sibling and parent, be good to your significant other, their reviews will be first-hand and unfiltered, no ducking and diving away from them,

World’s full of posers and performers, anyway, and no one likes a scoundrel,

Dare to be great, go get yours, but make time, too, for what’s important,

It ain’t rocket science, anyone can do it,

Be what you want said and written ‘bout you, heed the words of Warren.

Filled to the brim and ready to burst,

Enough to quench a state’s worth of thirst,

Keeping the gates closed, got other matters to attend,

The least of which what’s on display on this screen on the desk,

Silence broken only by the clattering of fingertips on keys,

Not counting what’s in these buds pumping out hip hop beats,

Every day, same shit, been this way for a couple of months,

Standing solid but yearning for relief, just this once.

Yesterday seems a lifetime, been a rocky road since,

Triumphs and tragedies before the latter overtook indefinitely,

In the beginning came in threes, breathed a sigh of relief,

Minor tremors but no quake, we back on Easy Street,

Spoke too soon, the ground rumbling once more, an avalanche on its way, little did we know.

Clock keeps ticking, closing time looming,

Going through the motions, poised and ready for dismissal,

Unsure about this job, might land on the chopping block,

Such is the life of temping, gotta find new ways of hustling to keep the dough rolling, bills and that degree require payment,

Tempted to let it flow but gates remain closed,

Clock strikes six, time to head for home.

Another long commute, back to base at seven,

Dinner with folks, with what’s left of them,

Lively once upon a time, been a shell of it since,

Awkward silence in the air, lap the meal quick before heading outta there,

Wash away the day, bit of studying before bed,

Lights out but still awake, can’t switch off that head.

Their cries ringing out, try to shut it out,

Mission impossible, the dam finally giving out,

Best to let rip in darkness, away from prying eyes,

Blubbering ain’t in the description for this unwanted promotion,

Twenty years but gotta grow up quick, first-born gotta step up,

Man of the house now, Junior, don’t you fuck this up.

Party in the hood, all your homies gon’ show,

Ain’t no two ways about it, all signs point to ‘go’,

It was poppin’ when you crossed paths with her,

Exchanged some words, shared some laughs, nothing further, left at that,

Found her on the socials, hit request, few days later she accepted,

Pulses racing, birds singing, choirs rejoice at every heart that you be getting,

Seems she’d gained a friend, your brain thought so otherwise,

Looking in that mirror, staring back at you, here’s her ideal guy.

But she ain’t on the same page, y’all are reading different books,

Got some real talk for ya, Bro, sorry to leave you shook,

She was raised right, of course she’ll be polite,

All smiles and positive vibes, while you misinterpreted by miles and miles,

Ego or ignorance, it’s hard to tell, gotta spell it out for ya, yeah we might as well,

She ain’t trying to lead you on just because she wants to get along,

She ain’t giving you permission for some action through friendly interaction,

Shooting your shot could ricochet, the fatal wound would be for nought,

Not all are falling over others for ya, sounds harsh but it’s just a thought.

And it’s no wonder many are on guard, wary of the slightest advance,

Fools like you keep ‘em that way, whatever it takes to keep you at bay,

No, she ain’t daring you to try harder, if she was keen she wouldn’t play,

Games are for they who trick and manipulate,

So pack it in, will ya? Get on your horse, live to fight another day,

Go elsewhere if you’re expecting more, keep out of her way.

Seemed like you were untouchable, a demigod of sorts,

Worshipped by the majority, certainly by those you keep close,

Feared by a few, out of envy to be sure, but also by those meant to play the blues,

And you were no exception, the quiet, weedy and non-athletic, you walked all over ‘em,

How ironic that you’re iconic, yet in this regard you’re no different from the general population,

As the de-facto ruler among your peers, could have ruled a kingdom more harmonious,

Can’t fight the laws of nature so your approach mirrors something more despotic,

Seems your profile hinges on equal doses of love and hatred,

High on life, drunk on perceived power, seemingly unaware that this can’t last forever.

And that was the peak, wasn’t it? Been how many years now, how’ve you been?

The cap and gown came and went, that rep ain’t made it past the gates, should’ve planned ahead, now it’s too late,

May have been royalty back then but out here just a commoner and a peasant,

Grinding like the rest, one step at a time, for that all-important check,

Still kicking it with your crew? Maybe not, here’s some news for you,

Some might have been loyal, others low-key indifferent, just using you for clout and nothing more, it’s a different story below your proverbial horse,

And now you’re wondering why it don’t come easy, they were different times,

They you dunked are probably doing better, still leveling up overtime while you’re old and past your prime, likely feeling bitter.

Once you were high and mighty, fixed on that bullshit hierarchy,

Looking up now, perhaps, at whom you once looked down,

Old tales been recycled many times over, they ain’t trying to hear it now, why haven’t you written something new, anyhow?

Maybe you’re doing fine, perhaps better off than most,

Kudos to you if that is so, some stay stuck and can’t let go,

But if not then that’s on you, all the eggs in the basket too soon,

Went all-in with no long-term, it’s different out in the great wide world,

Had it all then lost it, peaked too soon, now a has-been,

Back in the valley, chasing past glories, forevermore, it seems.

Another trip came to pass, two more before twenty,

What’s your next step? Roads lie ahead aplenty,

Go see the world, maybe? Study for that degree?

You’ve joined the club, young’un, can do as you please,

And so you take that beaten path, success all but guaranteed,

Gotta chase the bag, certainly, though at the cost of dignity,

Groomed for it, it seems, from the very start,

Broke free from Mom and Pops, here comes the fun part,

Oscar Foxtrot here you come, Bonnie, Lily and the others would be proud,

Million subs in less than an hour, got something to brag about.

Probably should meditate on facts behind the figures,

A million subscribers within hours, on your eighteenth, let that sink for a minute,

You done been on their screens since you were itty bitty, brash and obnoxious but very much still a kid,

Now you’re grown and they hopped on…they’d been patiently waiting,

Goons are out in force and you seem bent to do their bidding,

All that time, cash and attention that they’re splashing, you don’t find their motives sickening?

Voyeurism creating stalkers, would never wish nothing on ya, the sick and the lonely coming for ya, touch wood they never find ya,

It’s a free world, by all means you do you, reap the rewards but there are consequences, too.

And what about the parents? Exploited lil’ one since forever,

Made her a star, they said, an entertainer with sass, brimming with attitude and swagger, her star can only shine brighter,

Put her on blast, that’s what y’all did, had her making you millions while you dangled her over sharks,

From trolls hating for no reason to the more venomous of the species, the pervs and spiders crawling out for her sweet eighteenth,

She’s grown now, their sickness can be justified in their cursed eyes,

While she’s blinded by the fame, otherwise she’d have realised,

Never had a chance, though, this life is all she knows,

Pushed into it by those who should’ve had her back the most, now they done created another lost soul.

Pride comes before the fall, penalties are grave, hope you’re spared from it all,

Mock the commoners as you please, how they ain’t rolling in millions such as these,

But you better understand that ain’t nobody turning green at your decisions,

Least of all anyone living a life somewhat decent,

They ain’t condescending, Kid, their concerns are genuine,

Protect yourself at all times like they say before fights, can’t get complacent in this business.

Stepped out on ‘em, in favor of another, your moral standing done changed forever,

Had you a good one waiting for your return, blissfully unaware that they just got burned,

They who made a promise with you at the altar to grow with you happily ever after, come hell or high water, until the call of the reaper,

But you threw away all that for some random that ain’t all that, met you at your urges but then drained you of your claret like some rabid vampire bat,

But sooner or later cracks the begin to show, here comes one of two options, maybe even both,

Maybe they leave you for another, you’re yesterday’s news, a used-up toy to be discarded,

Or they hold the dirt on you, intel that they’d gathered, you think you’re off the hook? Get ready to be busted.

You complain that your union’s stale, that the proverbial spark’s flickered away,

But rather than take on all comers together like before, you chose to find another with whom to score,

Must feel like a rush, sneaking behind familiar lines, get in and do your business, before they’re out of sight and out of mind,

But for every action there’s reaction, some get-back for your sins,

And so it is when you’re caught or exposed, or they simply leave you out in the cold.

And if it’s the former, the outcome is more or less expected,

The backlash and humiliation, your image tarnished over fornication,

Broke your other’s heart, those vows rendered irrelevant,

And think about your children, way to lead by example as a parent,

So your family unit never mattered? Betrayed over lusts and nether regions?

Sounds dirty, doesn’t it? Sit with that and reflect long and hard on it.

Good luck coming back from it, once the glass is broken you can’t fix it,

What you once had mere shards lying on the floor discarded.

And if it’s the latter, don’t go looking for shoulders to cry on,

Expect nothing but pile-ons, you better believe the schadenfreude will be strong on this one,

You were foolish to expect more than just soulless encounters, only immoral beings breaks up bonds founded on love, trust, respect and honor,

And now you’re sore because they left you dried and used up on the floor? Ain’t no violins in the air, Chump, cry us a fucking river,

Look in the mirror, should have taken one to know one, in a sense you deserve each other, birds of a feather flock together,

And now it’s too late, expect no mercy from your once-significant other, only spiteful words that confirm your disloyalty and cowardice before they take you straight to the cleaners.

That’s the ugly side of straying, rarely ever ends on your terms,

Get caught or get dumped, either way, the karma is well-earned.

Better get right before you get done right,

Lead with your head, not with what’s between your legs,

Trouble in paradise at home? Work through it like a team, just as you’d vowed before the preacher or whoever, things aren’t as hard as they seem,

Worse comes to worse be brave enough to confess and call it quits, sometimes it’s the only way,

It’s a hell of a lot better than sneaking and disrespecting, at least both sides can have a say,

Don’t even think you’ll get off scot, that is rarely the case,

Cheaters be sloppy, eventually get played, by their own hand or theirs, falling flat in disgrace,

Maybe you’ll be outed, unfounded texts and letters uncovered,

Maybe caught out in public, spied by the wrong eyes or on kiss cam at a concert,

The aftermath ain’t pretty, consider your name and image in the dirt,

Cheaters never win, honor can be only lost,

Think it over long and hard, your selfishness comes at a cost.

See ‘em acting up, tearing it up like a cyclone through a village,

Even in a public space, their parents trying to save face,

Reprimand is in order, maybe time spent in the corner,

Take away from ‘em their latest obsession, whatever it takes so they learn their lesson,

It ain’t no fun to be the villain but it’s part of being a parent,

Can’t always be their hero, you’d be foolish to enable ‘em, better re-check that job description.

Love ‘em, play with ‘em, open ‘em to countless possibilities,

A positive childhood lays the groundwork, basically,

Then you can be sure they’ll grow up good and proper, ready to spread those wings and soar higher and higher,

But good old-fashioned discipline is in order, they’ll thank you for it when they’re older,

Kids get outta line, sometimes, push boundaries like only young’uns can,

That’s your cue to step up to the plate, put ‘em in their place before it’s too late,

Youthful innocence and ignorance are limited excuses, you’d be remiss to let ‘em slide,

Be a parent, Mom and Dad, it’s your duty to guide ‘em through this life,

Some days might get ugly, they may hate you for it at times,

They shout “I hate you” or “I’m running away” when you teach ‘em right from wrong? Don’t take it serious, ain’t nothing but sticks and stones.

Peep at those that treat their own like lil’ buddies,

Won’t ever be the ‘bad cop’, tell ‘em ‘no’, ‘can’t do that’ or even when to stop,

Any semblance of order is stifling, they say, to sort them out tantamount to abuse,

Then their wee ones turn into monsters while they smile and gush about their cuteness,

No laughing matter when monsters grow to be menaces to society, lacking empathy, accountability and personal responsibility,

That’s the price paid for being too afraid to step up when it’s needed, congrats, Mom and Pops, y’all had a job and ya blew it,

Now comes ‘life’ to fix ‘em the way you never could,

It takes no prisoners, won’t let ‘em get away with murder, you left ‘em high and dry, now they’ll face the consequences.

Teachers ain’t paid to mind ‘em, and why leave that to strangers?

It always starts at home, do your damn job and raise ‘em,

Know when to be their pal but also when to exercise authority,

Pull them in before they fall, that is your responsibility,

Sooner or later they’ll understand that there was method to the strictness,

Maybe when they’re raising the next generation, using the very methods you’d all but patented,

It’s the greatest job in the world, parenting, the best you’ll ever have,

Not for the faint-hearted, every step there’s a test, in the end you can only do your best.

So you chose to swerve the path, beaten to death, trod by many,

Rewards guaranteed, mostly, at the very least greater security,

Ran in the proverbial race for years, a better life the promise powered by the dollar,

Before life’s true calling was encountered in the midst of a personal war,

Set off on a mission the mind’s eye can only see, to the majority it goes unseen, a hiding to nothing is what they feel,

More risks, to be sure, fueled only by dreams,

Heavy lies the heads of they whose destinations remain shrouded in uncertainty,

Hard work and dedication pays dividends but in the end the luck of the draw says all,

Better plan that next step, pronto, never know what could happen tomorrow.

Work on it day by day, at your own pace, you’ll be ok,

But for every step taken a price must be paid,

They’ll have plenty to say, it all comes in waves,

Assuming the worst like you ain’t ok, your dance in the dark conjuring up whispers for days,

They mean well, you can tell, concerns wrapped in more backhands than Federer,

But the choice is yours, always, whether to be better or bitter,

Then there’s the voices within your mind, from them there’s nowhere to hide,

Harder to dodge than those throwing stones from out the house, locked doors are futile when the tormentors are inside,

Can only block the noise and keep at it, persevere through the whippings,

Small wins in the process are your best rebuttals to the judge, jury and executioner.

Then when you’re ready, go put it out there, time to do your talking,

Let ‘em see what’s been cookin’ from the do-nothing,

Where will you go from here? Only you know the answer,

Will you find gold at the end of the rainbow? Only time will tell, but rest assured, win or lose, you ought to be chuffed,

By giving it a go you’d already proven enough, only the mad and the brave take their shot,

Fewer are willing to step into the void, to leave it all behind without giving a second thought,

Come up roses, it’s a hell of a legacy, come up short there’s no regrets, you’ll still rest easy,

Eyes forward and march on, follow that dream, life’s too short,

Time is a thief, as you already know, why waste it where you ain’t thriving?

Let ‘em say whatever, everyone has an opinion, they’re entitled to it,

You’ll have the last laugh, in the end, you better believe it.