“I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will”
He wasn’t born in a tent,
he was born gutter high,
running from the life on the street,
watching as the dope man passes by.
“It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will”
Can’t sit still gotta make that move,
the heat is off, and the light don’t shine,
Can’t die on these streets
only use them, to reach the sky.
“I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will”
They tell him this at the movies,
you sell a bag here and more there,
but in the end there is not hero’s service.
In this life you are just other expendable commodity.
“Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees “
To late to run when they jumped him,
and stole all he earned.
His “friends” left him down, bleeding,
another brother on the curb.
“There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will”
Doctors say that he may not last,
but he has to fight,
no more easy way up,
after watching his mother cry,
he made up his mind, it was a long time coming,
but in the end…..
Change gonna come
Author notes
A friend of mine, his little brother got beat selling dope, they left him bleeding on the street and took everything he had earned, this was a poem i wrote from him. I added Sam Cooke to it, cause this song was playing the day before, His brother was smart, they people who said they would look out for him where the ones who jumped him. That and the fact that his own mother was turning her back on him, tired of just everything. He was losing his family to something he didn't even wanna do, but felt like he had to. He is now out of the hospital and looking better, he doesn't talk to those "Friends" of his, i like endings like that, so i just had to write this poem for him. His life now ain't going to be easy so if you wanna pray for him, i had to listen to Sam Cooke again. Not everyone can go through all that and come back, but this little brother here, he had his Sister and his Brothers who were with him the whole time, pulling him off street corners, and when he was beat they were the first ones there. That is all everyone needs, someone to tell them Change gonna come. All they need is someone there, to see them back away from the dark, me i have my friends, Family, and fellow poets on Ap. I thank you all, keep it flowing, thank you for you time
i don't know how long i will have this sliver membership so enjoy the video
A contest entry
- New Beginnings by Inside and out.
750 points, ended November 17, 2008, 3 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
enjoy
Comments
1 - 37 of 37
-
wow. just wow.
-
a real tribute. I wish that boy is alright
you have guts to write such prolific work
all the good wishes for you
by
the poet of hearts and beautiful words
-
Very cleverly crafted into the song ..it is beautiful tribute to your friend ...i too have been down low and believe me it is a hard climb out but now i have a beautiful wife and a son going through his time of life and hopefully a sunnier horizon ..but it sounds like he has a good friend in you ..and that is rare stand by your fiend ..he sounds like he needs help ...an excellent write poet
-
this is the best thing ive read in ages thanks and love and prayers to your friend
-
such a sad story but with a good ending. sam cooke's song was a perfect companion to the sentiments expressed here. congrats on the gold.
-
This is something , people either learn to love and take care of each other or to hate and go under.
-
with work written in a genre of capability, to that others can only drool over, I think I am wondering why you read my works with peices like this, you are a supurb artiste' and a gradual laureate I would indulge my offer to, exquisite use of language and excellence to the awe inspiring. Lovely work indeed, in spite of the sad elegy!, Best wishes, Sir William, keep it flowing.
-
Congratulations on the Golden Chalice!!
This heart-and-soul-felt poem is an absolute masterpiece!! 
Thank you for sharing your brilliant muse with all of us mortals!! 
As you always say, keep it flowing!! 
Peace, love & hugs always, xx Cyn xx 
-
No wonder this obtained a gold trophy, and there you are praising my work, well, this is a wow, you have no problems with communicating with the public, and you should be very proud of this work. But hey, how does one add a video to a poem, that would be new to me, well done, tony
-
Tears running down my face I read this.
Gosh you are awesome!
So much of what you said decribes my husband... in a different way but still the same ( makes no sense I know)
“It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will”
This is one of most hard hitting lyrics.
-
Pretty damned cool. I love Sam Cooke and this is actually a song I know how to play. Good tribute to a great musician and a great song.
-
i too grew up in simler situations like this and it is hard to wach others go threw it so i found that the mood of this was right on great job
-
strong poem. the repetition of the lines about change works well to reinforce the theme of redintegration and renewal from within. -silverfish
-
very nice
being a child of the hood, i can easily relate to this back in upstate n.y. my bros. and I could've been this kid, thankfully we were helped along primarily by our love for our mom(we hated to disappoint her) and a few activities that kept us pretty busy there by making the time needed to run drugs a little tricky for us..good stuff my friend and a great show of support for your young friend!
-
this was very powerful and intense. this is to me one of the most importanst aspects of poetry-change and hope. i can relate to so much here. life on the streets is rough and sometimes it's hard to remember the true value of family and real friends in this world that is so consumed by poverty and plenty. i pray for this person and for all of us.
"In this life you are just other expendable commodity."
"other" should be "another"
"To late to run when they jumped him,"
"to" should be "too"
i only quoted the slight errors, i'd quote the whole thing if i was showing my "favorite" part.
-
Hmm.
This piece made me very glad that i clicked on it. It by far the best piece of poetry that I have read this year. You have a winner here at least in my opinion.
-
A lovely lyrical poem for your friend's brother, wonderful weaving of Sam Cooke's song within; I truly hope it inspires the boy who had no choice but to run with a bad crowd and got badly beat up by them. Sadly there are many boys in many Cities in this situation, I hope a change gonna come for them all. It isn't easy if they live in a run down area under such pressures but it is possible. This track is on Sam Cooke's greatest hits and I used to play it when I was in an abusive relationship; didn't even have to leave my home to get beat black and blue and I used to pray a change was gonna come, that my man would get help and stop. I finally realized the only way a change was gonna come was via myself and extracting myself from that situation. It wasn't easy but it was worth it, I am only sharing that hoping it may make sense to your friend's brother.
Love and Light
Yvette
-
Sweety, even without the video this is a glorious poem, a great tribute to the friend that had to learn the hard way. Be his friend now and help lead him back to the path he was meant to be on. Encourage him to stay here and if he will, bring him to this site. We will all guide and teach him that joy of life is found within ourselves and shared with others. Bless you both and know that my prayers and energies are with both of you. It takes a true man to admit mistakes and take charge of the change that is coming. Hugs and love to both of you.
-
Wonderful
Wonderful, wonderful piece. I'm happy I stopped to read this one. Good luk to you,
~Mary O
-
Great write...you really but a story in your poetry and it flows nicely...unlike lots who just write a story...I like how you added Sam Cooke in there... powerful piece
-
You know I love this my son as these words come from the heart of one of the most caring people that I know. Aaron, you know better than anyone what it's like to be down and its true "Change Gotta Come" and it does. Good luck in the contest this sure deserves a gold. Mom xx
-
My little brother is going through the same kinda thing just now.This poem has struck a huge cord with me. Nice write and the song goes great with your work.Thanks for sharing
-
wow
A wonderful story of change for the better, the way its written is perfect, I read it twice and there is nothing esle to say apart from this is a very heartfelt write and thoroughly enjoyable too suit, take care kathrin xx
-
Bravo!!!
I always loved this song by Sam Cook, and you've done a fine job in adding your personal narrative in between the lines!!! I'm wishing you the best of luck in the contest!!! Peace always, Cyn
-
Breath taking
I'm unsure how well I can truly view this poem. This poem speaks all its own in the story. It might be my experience but I had a feeling while reading it that it was drug related so though the words spoke the story thank you for explaining.
As for rating the poem...The lyrics mixed in to reflect the next stanza drew me in with every line, these parrales had me from the start. Not much else to say...
Change gonna come, yep -
I cry tears of joy...reading this poem...for the courage
and fearless-ness of your heart and soul!
WE have a system in place, that plain ole doesn't work...
and never did..the statistic's reveal it clearly...
and after what seems like a Bush/Cheney regime...
magnificiently we the people, of the people, and for
the people voted mightily.
we are not excluded anymore, and thus i cry tears of joy..
for your might of ink....to help us not look away,
and together...each one of us...not the federal states
of america, but the united states of america,
we DEMAND mighty changes!
It isn't just the Wallstreets that need a re-structure
plan!
Can you imagine....if we could
re-claim our lost brothers and sisters,
sons and daughters, mothers and fathers
what a glorious america that would be!
ears/Seattle
thankyou for the courage it took to write this
poem!
-
I think this is excellent, the flow, your voice, the repetition, all sooo good..I enjoyed this very much, a powerfully sad & moving story...but a happy ending, change for the better...
-
such a heartfelt story, well done
-
Wonderful
Such a well expressed creation. So very well done. Best of luck in the contest.
-
I'm glad that you sent me this link.. I listened to the song first, before reading your poem. that's how I do things.. if one really listens to the words of the song, there is a message there and a deep one at that.
your brother from what I've read here has been to hell & back. sometimes we feel that we have to do certain things,whether we want to or not. the streets are a hard place to be.. I've many memories of that.. though never sold anything there, I hid there to keep my abuser from killing me.. those where really hard years. life isn't always easy.. I had "friends" like that at one time... they didn't care what happened to me, though its not what they said.
with "friends" like that who needs enemies.
Change in this case was a great thing. but the only way for anyone to change is for them to make up their own mind that its time to do so.. can't change someone, only ourselves. my journey in life I'm sure wasn't easy for the people that cared about me. but that's a part of life that they need to accept. can't walk the road for us.. can walk beside us and support us, but ultimately its us that has to walk the walk..
I'm so happy that your brother chose to fight..all it takes sometimes is just show someone that they are loved..
good luck in the contest
kat
-
I am a huge fan of the late Sam Cooke. His lyrics and soulful voice hits me deep inside.
Your poem blends well with his words. I really enjoyed the effect of the music added. The inspiration for your words were rewarded with this wonderful poem. Thank you for entering this contest and sharing.
-
You did a wonderful job...
brilliant poetry...
best theme...
excellent treatment...
Gal
-
Absolutely Amazing
A
-
Such a powerful message. There are so few people left in the world who truly care for others, and your friend's brother is very blessed that he healed with the help of people who were there for him.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It's nice to know that there are still happy endings out there.
-
Heartbreaking and incredibly beautiful. I love the poem, and the video was a nice addition. Incredibly moving.
Write on.
~*~SP~*~
-
Moving, very deeply moving. Sending good vibes that way brother. May his wounds heal and lessons be learned. Peace,
Adrian.
-
wonderful dedication Aaron
Excellent Job
Roses to you sweet friend
Teresa
Adding your comment:
1 - 37 of 37
