Came Up From Nothing

Cold night. Cold night. Uh. Cold nights,

same hoodie, same block. Empty pockets, but my head full of plots.

I remember splitting one plate, three kids. Mama said, "Eat," but I

know she never did. Floor for a bed, heard the mice

in the wall. Learned real young how to answer when it call. Rain through the

roof, pied in the hall. Landlord tripping, said he'd take

it all. Outside, sirens singing like a lullaby. Homie hit the

corner then his mama had to cry. Hand me down shoes,