spanish harlem hold a special place in my heart

why wouldn't it

i perform at east harlem cafe known as mvp

most valuable poet

i went to manhattan center

in el barrio, east 116th st on pleasant ave

sandwich in between jerfferson and wagner projects

fond memeories,both good and bad

that part of my life lead me to be the man i am today

reason why i call this poem spanish harlem junkies

i was strolling along lexington ave from 116th to 125th

why? as always the mta gives reason for more headaches

for commuters like myself-track work this weekend

anyhow

as i was walking towards 125th st

alone

all i saw was lifeless souls

there may be alive physically

but their motionless bodies were dead

laying on the corner next to beauty salons

older woman rocking back and forth as if she was on a rocking chair

but there wasn't; she was all cracked up

dudes laying there injecting lethal poison that sends messages faster than text message

saying i die before my time

people arguing over cravings for more drugs in their eyes was sweeter than

sweet potato pie

i watch the horror 

of people dying slowly each day each time each hour each second

sickens my stomach and i ate breakfast 9 o'clock this morning

their reflections of defeat inspires me to be greater

never to become a person with no home

wandering aimlessly

speaking inappropriate dialects recklessly

destroying themselves hopelessly

bringing back memories when i saw pathmark

when i was 8, recycle plastic bottles and cans with homeless people

making sure i have enough change to buy pizza so i didn't starve

that same starvation gave me the hunger to exceed

and not panic

although i'm going through rough times financially

that was a lifetime reminder that there are people

going through much more worse

i thank you mta for the walk

i know things will get better

despite setbacks

the love, the strength, the faith, the believe

i have ignites my will to never become a spanish harlem junkie