*
Imagine
Picture a child
filled full of feelings
unable to fathom
Being treated like a social leper
and as invisible as a phantom
Let me start the years 1995
when my freedom was supposed to be written
But being invisible
on the roads
in my home my freedom weren’t given
So had nothing handed
Took nothing for granted
Took nothing from no man
At the age of ten
I had to be my own man
So when freedom weren’t given
I had to take it
Moms favourite vase
because I starved for attention
I had to brake it
But my life relating something like a playground
A load of round and rounds
A lot of messing around
Craving for the foundation
to keep my feet firmly on the ground
And smiles
seen as expensive luxuries
so it’s cheaper to wear a frown
From curried chicken
and homemade macaroni
and cheese cooking in moms kitchen
Always being told not to be no one’s slave
the times are over for cotton picking
A life without god
so bibles weren’t anywhere to be found
Always getting the belt,
shoe anything she could get her hand around
Just for play fighting
with my siblings and
one of us was loud
I got shouting instead
of a kiss and a cuddle
I simply feared saying something wrong
so I just stared and mumbled
But that was just the methods
of a heartbroken mother
All because of my cheating father
We thought we were bad but
it was simply because being faithful
why couldn't he be bothered
So after him getting kicked out by mama
Instead of him getting all the consequences
we got the drama
The saying goes what goes around comes around
so why did It seem like I always got the karma
Maybe she wanted to see me go mad but why me
Could it be I behaved just like my daddy
The life of a single mother
bringing up three boys
must have been cold
Lonely because
none of the hopeless dads got involved
Just left her with three boys and
expected her to cope all on her own
When I saw how strong mom was
I had no reason to moan
She had a well paid job
raised three guys on her own
But at the age of 14
I changed
I yearned for articulation
Truly believing I was designed for sophistication
Suit to suit long winded conversation
Not to be used as a mere tool
to get money from my dad
“moms way of manipulation”
The madness was surreal
and often lead to frustration
Simple stuff like playing basketball
felt like a vacation
It was only then when I felt some sort of relation
That’s why I’m undefeated
and to beat someone effortless regulation
No matter what situation
This was my freedom
this was my emancipation
Just like when America signed the independence proclamation
Benefits of being invisible
no one sees you
so there’s no conversation
because no one’s looking
My dad weren't one of my hero’s
But he was cooler than seven sub zeros
He showed me the art of cooking
But it was my mother
when my grades slipped
that gave me the ass whooping
But I knew It was her way of saying
i was loved
wether from my mum,
my Nana,
or my grandpa joyfully watching from above
When it came to the age of seventeen
there were girlfriends
My poor heart was never on the mend
How many times I thought it was meant to be
Thinking that I could once be L.O.V.E.D
Well at least be in L.O.V.E
But sooner turned like an unripe apple
being taken to early off a tree
Just like my childhood
which brought along more misery
Now tell me a person’s
childhood is as happy as can be
And I’ll show you no matter sibling
or in a relationship
LOVE weren’t meant for me
But never the less
After being made homeless
And had suffered so much stress
I found the YMCA
Although my first perception of it was gay
But then realising they were
helping to change these
Generation of babies
who ended up in there
because of abuse,
drugs,
or even
because their parents were lazy
Always being told they love me loads
I’m so glad now I got involved
So now I can truly say behold
A once invisible child stands before you
both brave and bold
They gave me the ball
and showed me the goal
Slam dunk!
Thanks YMCA
for taking me out of that alluded zone
For a love
you have shown
I would never have known
And within Christ
I would never have grown
So tell the world YMCA
makes adults out of lost children
Thanks YMCA,
Leon, Evan, Jim, all of you for listening and especially
Pip Wilson.
Thank you
Matthew
*
Picture a child
filled full of feelings
unable to fathom
Being treated like a social leper
and as invisible as a phantom
Let me start the years 1995
when my freedom was supposed to be written
But being invisible
on the roads
in my home my freedom weren’t given
So had nothing handed
Took nothing for granted
Took nothing from no man
At the age of ten
I had to be my own man
So when freedom weren’t given
I had to take it
Moms favourite vase
because I starved for attention
I had to brake it
But my life relating something like a playground
A load of round and rounds
A lot of messing around
Craving for the foundation
to keep my feet firmly on the ground
And smiles
seen as expensive luxuries
so it’s cheaper to wear a frown
From curried chicken
and homemade macaroni
and cheese cooking in moms kitchen
Always being told not to be no one’s slave
the times are over for cotton picking
A life without god
so bibles weren’t anywhere to be found
Always getting the belt,
shoe anything she could get her hand around
Just for play fighting
with my siblings and
one of us was loud
I got shouting instead
of a kiss and a cuddle
I simply feared saying something wrong
so I just stared and mumbled
But that was just the methods
of a heartbroken mother
All because of my cheating father
We thought we were bad but
it was simply because being faithful
why couldn't he be bothered
So after him getting kicked out by mama
Instead of him getting all the consequences
we got the drama
The saying goes what goes around comes around
so why did It seem like I always got the karma
Maybe she wanted to see me go mad but why me
Could it be I behaved just like my daddy
The life of a single mother
bringing up three boys
must have been cold
Lonely because
none of the hopeless dads got involved
Just left her with three boys and
expected her to cope all on her own
When I saw how strong mom was
I had no reason to moan
She had a well paid job
raised three guys on her own
But at the age of 14
I changed
I yearned for articulation
Truly believing I was designed for sophistication
Suit to suit long winded conversation
Not to be used as a mere tool
to get money from my dad
“moms way of manipulation”
The madness was surreal
and often lead to frustration
Simple stuff like playing basketball
felt like a vacation
It was only then when I felt some sort of relation
That’s why I’m undefeated
and to beat someone effortless regulation
No matter what situation
This was my freedom
this was my emancipation
Just like when America signed the independence proclamation
Benefits of being invisible
no one sees you
so there’s no conversation
because no one’s looking
My dad weren't one of my hero’s
But he was cooler than seven sub zeros
He showed me the art of cooking
But it was my mother
when my grades slipped
that gave me the ass whooping
But I knew It was her way of saying
i was loved
wether from my mum,
my Nana,
or my grandpa joyfully watching from above
When it came to the age of seventeen
there were girlfriends
My poor heart was never on the mend
How many times I thought it was meant to be
Thinking that I could once be L.O.V.E.D
Well at least be in L.O.V.E
But sooner turned like an unripe apple
being taken to early off a tree
Just like my childhood
which brought along more misery
Now tell me a person’s
childhood is as happy as can be
And I’ll show you no matter sibling
or in a relationship
LOVE weren’t meant for me
But never the less
After being made homeless
And had suffered so much stress
I found the YMCA
Although my first perception of it was gay
But then realising they were
helping to change these
Generation of babies
who ended up in there
because of abuse,
drugs,
or even
because their parents were lazy
Always being told they love me loads
I’m so glad now I got involved
So now I can truly say behold
A once invisible child stands before you
both brave and bold
They gave me the ball
and showed me the goal
Slam dunk!
Thanks YMCA
for taking me out of that alluded zone
For a love
you have shown
I would never have known
And within Christ
I would never have grown
So tell the world YMCA
makes adults out of lost children
Thanks YMCA,
Leon, Evan, Jim, all of you for listening and especially
Pip Wilson.
Thank you
Matthew
*
