This morning there was a very interesting story on NPR about a poetry project put together by the San Francisco Public Library. One of the new poets featured was Eric Foster, a student at Ida B.Wells High School. He read his first poem entitled Who will Break the Chain? I was impressed.
“Since yo mom was on drugs
yo father left her
since he left her
he didn’t know she was pregnant
since he didn’t know she was pregnant
she had you by herself
since she had you by herself
you grew up without a father
since you grew up without a father
you was raised by the streets
since you was raised by the streets
you only knew fast money, sex and drugs
since you only knew fast money, sex and drugs
you never did time on a job just time in jail
since you did time in jail you hated the police
since you hated the police you didn’t follow the law
since you hated the law you chilled with the lawbreakers
since you chilled with the lawbreakers
there was never positive vibes
yo mind stayed in the gutta
since yo mind stayed in the gutta
you had weak conversation
since you had weak conversation
you met weak girls
since you met weak girls
they mind was just like yours
since they mind was just like yours
ya’ll had nothing to offer your young
since you had nothing to offer your young
they grow up to be just like you
since they grow up just like you
who will break the chain?”