Corner Store Bravery

One block radius never seemed so far.

Its crazy, on this block

they all familiar faces, but dayum

them the ones I know who signaldanger.

Let me find a stranger,

pale face-mother approved.

Let me stop trippin’, round here

them be them child jackin’ fools.

Bread, milk, seeds, and I cant forgetthe pop.

I should be able to run wit all that.

I already know who go act a fool.

Twan go try n steal.

Nino go ask to borrow

then try n steal.

Man, I was just enjoying my meal.

As I enter the store, I feel

the eyez piercing my back.

Im just a kidd, Im not tryin to jack.

Im n school, skraight A’s and a jock.

She watching me

while Sam stuffin his pockets!

Shaking my head.

If these people only knew;

we may act like we dumb

but when it come to hustlin’-

trust me, we smarter than u.

Paying with stamps so I gotta wait

till all pretty ladies vacate

and hustlas rotate to the aisle ofthe 40’s.

Aint tryn to do no deals for cash.

No 60-40s.

Finally as I leave out

and look towards my house.

One block radius never seemed solong.

Before I know it-

Running.

Getting chased by dogs.

They all got 2 legs

I dont call’em mans best friends.

But that was the Wood.

Where I was bred.

Familiar faces didn’t always equalsafe havens.

But if you lived there

you were known. No rules,

just our own codes.

But still-

one block radius

at any given moment

you could be on your own.

Corner store bravery made me.

Values learned there stick and theyhold.

Lord knows-They HOLD.