Plaedo - Rites of Pa**age lyrics

I remember as a young child I used to get paid my allowance money To water our crops of marijuana I remember lots of ganja I remember we used to live way out in the woods And I used to play with a pack of wolves I remember singing John Lennon songs in our kitchen Like we were living an outlaw fairytale Well, our story didn't end happily ever after First it needed more chapters I come home one day And I see red My dad dead on the floor, he was k**ed Than my mom became mentally ill I was adopted than unwanted by my stepdad I was kidnapped, taken back than abandoned at The trailer shack of my grandmamma who was addicted to drama We was dirt poor, perpetually searching for Hope a home and happiness Who disappointment became anger pointed at me y'all I've been called it all from dumb to ugly Still I love my family and I know they love me A survived my childhood I must be lucky But I am not alone Many of you who hear my poem And many many more who Have lived lives, harder than mine We are the the lost children I'm just one of millions Yeah we've walked down those Unknown roads, with bumps, dead ends and potholes So their are scares on our souls And if we allow ourselves to heal they can glow Like rainbows after a storm Please listen to me We must dance with our demons If we want to start dreaming a future Because I remember screaming from seeing My mom beaten her blood bleeding Splashed a graffiti mask on my face I remember how my mom's blood taste I was 8 I love my fate So I ask you to remember When you were teased in the 8th grade Remember when you lived where it wasn't safe to play Remember the sound of escape When you'd scrape your plate Hungry since all you ate Was a can of chili split 3 ways Remember all that liquer your dad would drink His face of rage, his fist of hate Remember those beatings you'd take Remember when your parents seperated Remember when your mom died of aids Remember when you were raped We are the children whose memories paint Pictures of pain I refrain, cuz we are the children Who will brake those chains And learn from our parents mistakes And love our parents And love each other But most importantly we will love ourselves Since the heart is a muscle that loves to struggle The wisdom we've earned The lessons we've learned We graduated from the school of hard knocks And in turn We talk teach play preach to each Child that we can reach Because only when it's dark Do we get to see the stars And only when it's dark Does a new day start So when your life seems dark Just put some light and love In your heart