Evolving

There was a time when disrespect meant reaction.

When a stare, a shove, a word all of it was a call to war.

I learned that language young.

Where I came from, you didn’t back down.

You stood tall or you got walked on.

That’s what manhood meant, or at least what we thought it meant.

But now I see it different.

Now I’ve built something; peace, purpose, a name that means more than pride.

And that part of me is still there,

the part that still twitches when someone tries me,

he doesn’t need to swing anymore.

He just needs to breathe.

When that man threatened my life,

the old me wanted to step forward.

The new me stayed still; not out of fear,

but out of control.

Because I know what happens when pride wins and peace loses.

I’ve seen the inside of that story. I’m not interested anymore.

People might call that soft —

but softness doesn’t take that kind of strength.

It’s easy to throw a punch.

It’s harder to walk away and still hold your head high.

The boy from the block would’ve fought to prove something.

The man I am now fights to protect everything.

So no, I’m not soft.

I’m doing what is right for me.