Ignoring warnings
On we played
On owner-less
Spray-painted bikes
All black in colour
Just alike
We played until
The lights came on
Then off, once we
Grew big and strong
And chose to go
To rival schools
Make new friends
And break the rules
We grew in stature
Over time
But not so much
In strength of mind
Our childhood dreams
'Came tired and old
Faced with teachers
Icy cold
While obstacles
To street success
Scared us black kids
Less and less
And one by one
The guys would go
To spend some time
In Mimico
To learn the tricks
Of their new trade
Well-trained thugs
The system made
Some like me
Escaped the trap
Went off to school
And still came back
To get a job
A girl and kids
That would do better
Than we did
And walk the streets
And paths like us
And ride the 25
Don Mills bus
With steps like they've
Been there before
'Cause their dads gave
Them so much more
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About Me
I write about Toronto
I write for Toronto
I write about being black
I write about being me
I love being me, being
From Toronto and being
Black. I write about how
Toronto doesn't love me
Back
I was born at Scarborough Centenary Hospital in 1982 and raised in between the Don Mills 25 and Victoria Park 24 bus routes. I’m a proud graduate of historically-Black Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. I live and work in Scarborough's inner city neighbourhoods.
Other Books By Jeff Roulston
Second Chances And Other Short Stories. Coming February 2014
Teammates: A Long Story. Coming March 2014
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Connect With Jeff
…On the web: https://www.jeffroulston.com/
…by e-mail: [email protected]
…on Twitter: @JeffRoulston
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Toronto The Good Page 2