As I Look Into the Mirror

As I look into the mirror.

My reflection stares back at me.

A light-skinned Black man.

Full of hopes and dreams.

Ambitions and a hidden motivation.

To be heard and understood.

But I'm afraid.

Fears held me back a lot for too many years.

It's kept me chained down.

It's sad the more I think of it.

But it was blatantly in my face.

I trusted wrong.

I was raised within a melting pot of love of hate.

Just like everyone.

But mine was different, at least I think.

Because of the outcome of it truly, honestly, stinks.

My grandfather abandoned me, just like my father.

Thank god for my mother.

As I look into the mirror.

My eyes will show my thoughts,

My aspirations, my dreams.

I don't wanna be good.

I wanna be great I've put my full weight in this.

I know my value for my passion.

I believe in me. I trust in me.

I suffer from depression and anxiety.

So there is always something slowly eating away at me.

Honestly, see I'm surprised I'm alive.

I never expected to make it to 26.

So I never really thought of the future.

But now that’s all I see to see.

A life of never worrying about a bill.

A life in which I can pay other people's bills.

A life in which I give back to the ones

Who've lived like me

Constantly consumed by the struggle.

As I look into the mirror.

This is what I see.