Saturday, April 23, 2016

Shoulder Pad

I'm playing my cards, in need of a deal. Couldn't formulate what I was thinking, now I speak what I feel. As I look back upon a time where I needed to heal, cause I wasn't hearing the things that I needed to hear, in a time where I would write, but no beats would appear. The time I didn't feel like anybody needed me there. Where only my fear of suicide was keeping me here. Normally avoid this time in my mind but lately creeping in here. Yeah lately I've been visiting pretty frequently here. Every time I open this closet there's more demons in here. Cause every time I come back, there's more secrets in here. So I get em off my chest, now they're secrets to hear, they once clouded my head, now they're seeping through ears. And I swear every time you hear me speaking this clear, another demon disappeared. "Kept my talent locked away in my closet with all those skeletons and demons but they won't stop it. A genius that had to sell his clothes at Plato's Closet."

I'm spilling way too much of my heart, it's like my nose bleeding. I was just treading water but then the flow deepened.

Paused here to write a part of the next verse, yeah I'm gambling,  I'm on a tangent and rambling, dam my thoughts are too loud. Let me get back to the first thing I was talking about. Where only my fear of suicide was keeping me here. Where I just wasn't as happy as the tweets would appear, and my parents weren't around me so my peeps weren't aware. The only love that I could feel would have to be from my peers. See the year before that it was Tyaire, Darien, Brendon and Shaun. But this semester Tyaire, Darien and Brendon were gone. And I didn't know I needed love so I wasn't looking for it, when the kid ain't have a home and there was no home cooking for him. And even when he locked himself away in his room for 4 days and there was no one looking for him, until Darren, Dre and Devontaye burst into the door, saw them demons and took him from em. In case you're wondering about the gamble I took earlier I paused here. That's why I'll always love those guys, yeah that's my squad there. Because I know without them, I am probably not here. I swear they'll always be my brothers, even though I'm not theirs. Had a talk with my mom about the bonds a frat tears and I just couldn't help but cry and think "it's really not fair". And now it's starting to seem like they really do not care. They may never even see this, ain't reading my blogs, dam. Feeling stumped as the Greek family tree leaves me in a logjam. I slipped back on the tangent, aww man. I just did a thank you in 3D, oh I can't believe I missed her. Became more than my best friend, forever Francesca is my big sister. Cause there was a point where the only time I'd ever feel love was with her. Currently drowning in tears, it's really deep for me. Cause when I couldn't find a home in my heart, hers would beat for me. I love her forever, we ain't blood but I know she'd bleed for me. One of few people who didn't birth me who would do whatever I need for me. When I didn't have a ride to get food, she was feeding me. And that's why she deserves the world, she's a queen to me. While I'm talking about this time, the people and what they mean to me, I'll scratch the surface of a friendship that's way deeper than it seems to be. Dam, I'm crying again. I'll get back to where I left, becoming right with the pen, through the things I write with the pen with no strike of the pen. Sitting behind this canvas and painting my life's image. I'm forever with the pen, every bar is a life sentence. Off track, did it just cause I, now where was I? I'll scratch the surface of a friendship that's way deeper than it seems to be. I'll love him far beyond the days we have kids of our own. I'll never forget the nights I cried to Chris on the phone. And told him about how I felt like I was missing a home. When everything I was doing seemed like I was doing it wrong, he was one of very few people that would listen to Shaun. When I was writing about my pain, he would listen to songs. If I tweeted something dark my fingers could count how long it took him to call. That's love, love I didn't know I was looking for. That's the love I was granted but didn't know I took it for. And when it comes to granted I'll always feel like I took her for it. Sheli was one of 3 people at home who knew that something was wrong and she's up next. Back then I ignorantly reduced her love to "she's obsessed" but when I locked myself in my room, stopped tweeting, ignored calls and my inbox she felt my stress. Didn't even follow him at the time but she needed someone to check on me so she hit up Chris. And as I think about that time I get so upset because she had a big heart, it was double X. She was kind and I was stupid. I tear up as I remember that she cried when I reduced her. But I think now she finally understands that at that time, I would've ruined her. And if you didn't you just read the words Sheli, it's set in stone. She's the second description, I said there with three at home. Now at this point we had fallen off a little, communication wasn't too strong. But she only had to talk to me once cause at this time she really knew Shaun. Ended up telling her I felt like my parents couldn't love me, and she replied "they do Shaun. They would never stop loving you because you don't do well in school Shaun. No matter how down you are they'll never give up on you Shaun." But that was around the time I thought they wish they had a new Shaun. They built me up perfectly and I didn't pan out, they can't redo Shaun. I guess I have something in common with that other chick after all, I blew Shaun. But stick to your guns bro, don't become a new Shaun. You're getting off track. Remind me, what were you on? Ahh yes, Ashley. She hates me, loathes me and gets mad at me. But way back when, she had it bad for me. Since then, love she's always had for me. Sometimes I feel like she's bad for me, my mom says we act so dramatically. But still have that bond where if she's at the crib I don't tell her to leave so my dad won't see. I know that I try not to brag on these but I'm feeling like this is a masterpiece. But I can't stop here, haven't covered enough, let me add a piece. See the year before that it was Tyaire, Darien, Brendon and Shaun. But this semester Tyaire, Darien and Brendon were gone. But Dre was my guy from the jump, that was my homie. Our bond is realer than rap, never phony, so anything that I ever give him, he doesn't owe me. See housing was full, and I was mortified. He told me not to sweat it and told me his dorm was mine. The 5th roommate in a room where there were only 4 provided. They treated me like family so we were all excited. But I knew I was a burden even though they all denied it. Though they never really showed it, I knew they all would hide it. It was the elephant in the room when they all were quiet. They treated me like a roommate, it was such an honor yo. At the time where the one thing I was looking for was home, as I was stuck on that waiting list. On those late nights when I didn't have keys, Dre gave me his. At the time where the one thing I was looking for was home, when I needed people around me to feel I was not alone. Dre, Dani and Josh taught me that handshake no matter how far it goes. Getting things off my chest, now my heart is exposed, but I've gotta open up to put my heart in these flows. On a tangent once again, it's like I start then I go. Let me take you to a time where I was locking a door. See I went up there with nothing and no ride to the store because my parents kept my whip, I couldn't drive anymore. Didn't have keys to anything, a dorm, a room or a house. Then Dre and Q12 let me spend two months on their couch. And I've gotta write about shorty, I really can't forget her. She was popping and kept me on my toes like a blister. That bond we shared is spoken by way more than words can show in that picture. I realize things got way worse after I dissed her. Because she was my left hand, I cut her off then my wrist hurt. But to this day no matter how far we fall out I'll always tell Marissa I miss her. Okay so now I'm locking doors, I've got the key to an apartment. I thought the storm was over, this is when it started. I felt so dependent and so isolated. You hear that combination and you could see why I'd hate it. See back then Darren and I grew close quickly but now I'd seen he was legit. Cause he'd find a way to my crib even though neither of us whipped. Because he wanted to, it was by any means for him. But looking back I think it was because he knew I really needed it. But he never knew the extent. Nobody ever did. Ben and Andy did the same thing, I remember it. But if you don't tell em they'll never know how much it meant. That time without them, man it wouldn't have been too safe, countless hours sitting on the couch, playing 2k. On those long nights, they helped me make it to a new day. You'll never know how much you helped me, yeah I'm talking to you Taye. You went from a kid I hooped with with the funny accent, to exactly the friend I needed. It's like it was magic. Realized what was going on and started giving me rides daily so I wouldn't be alone and perpetually isolated. But nah it wasn't magic, I know it was God's placement. I locked myself in my room, but you didn't allow me. Started bringing everyone over because I needed people around me. I was drowning in the deep when you found me. And that's why the love for my team is so real, because they showed me love when that was all I needed to feel. Even though it seems they're fading, I'm just keeping it real. They were the bandage of brothers at the time I needed to heal. It's not even their fault, I just happened to leave. So the things that happened to them never happened to me. And in addition I can't forget Jarrett and Steve. They all helped me escape a time I couldn't imagine or dream. When I locked myself in my room and I was trapped with my screams. I didn't know I was looking but I had the love, the more demons I subtract, the more everything is adding up. But too many tears are falling so I think it's time to wrap this up. I finally found a shoulder to cry on, I wish the pad could hug. I was at my weakest when I was acting tough, but now I'm strong enough to realize that I don't have to bluff. I said there were three at home, what a neglectful mistake, just realized about that time I first connected to Wave. And I know that it's real cause she hasn't left to this day. And that goes for every name I dropped, they're why that pain had stopped. They're all still around, even if they're not around. My spirits seem to be lifted up every time my guard is down. Still in my heart, even though they're not in town. I think some of em are aware that they changed my life, but they didn't understand that they saved my life. 
3 am in the Benz, tears leaking, my eyes closed. Looking back on those dark times at Florida Gulf Coast. Been sitting in this car for hours, where did the time go? I'd say this isn't a rap, but look what do I know? The rhymes became more organic once I wrote them as blog posts.

                                                                                   -Swaggy T

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