I write because I want to write

When it's the only thing that keeps me sane when money isn't right

To keep me out of sight when I'm feeling lonely at times

When I get anxious and nostalgic 

When I feel the viciousness - The urge to sin

But I'm only human and I know this is only "Shower Pollution"

I know the worst times are behind me

So I often tell peace to come and find me

I write because other people write 

and for the times I have been motivated to choose right

For the times I've read other people's stories with passion

And listening to their words while feeling compassion

I write for equality

Fuck skin color, where is the quality?

I write for racism that cannot be evaded

And for those who have been violently segregated

I write for Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King Jr.

Who have inspired movements and gave kids a brighter future

I write for those who cannot write

The uneducated, the victims of despair

Children who grew up with parents who were never even there

I write for those who never had their chance to write

Who's lives were taken by surprise 

Like my cousin Lauren, God had a better plan for them

But nowadays the media televises death as a cartoon game

It's not just disrespectful but also puts many names to shame

I write for Buddy Holly, Michael Larsen, and Jimi Hendrix 

Who's writing enabled people to rise and ascend

I write for Mother, I write for Father

Who have sacrificed everything for me and their daughter

But at the end of the day their love just isn't enough 

because betters days without necessary income won't come

I write for my nana who had to take money out of her retirement fund to pay a portion of my tuition

Could never thank her enough, even with a million kisses

And I would never think of a revision for those last two sentences

I write for the 99

Seeking employment in nine to fives

Their dreams and aspirations shot out of the sky

They were all made to rise and shine 

But now cannot even find the time to keep their mind occupied

Now their image has been corrupted and they can't even rise above the govenerment streaks

Who are ignoring the cries at occupy wall street

I write to share a connection 

We have all been taught, we've heard the lessons 

We've sat through bullshit detention because of late attendance

We've all studied

We've all cheated

We did what we could to get through years of trying to put together the pieces

Our souls have been emptied and depleted

We've all been victims of bullying and have been physically and emotionally beaten

We've all heard "get your 4.0's" as if it were easy to grab like someone giving out free donuts at a concession stand 

But what's the difference between a 4.0 and a 2.0 if both still end up jobless?

But out of all this bad shit, I write for the one thing that should not matter

I am writing this for currency

Because I am so close to getting this college degree but there is no certainty

Tuition and board

Meals and athletic sports

Textbooks that are required

Even though some teachers are a bunch of liars

I'm not trying to get you to sympathize 

I just need you to realize that in many people's eyes

I don't possess the skill to win this scholarship

But I have faith in what I write

So maybe my story is just another that'll never be heard again

I guess I'll just be another poem crumbled and thrown into the wind

One that'll never be read or used

But that's okay

Sometimes it's hard to stomach the truth.