(Written for the Juvenile Justice Symposium 5/18/01)
 

Opportunity (To Live or die)

Run, Runnin, Running from me

The closer I get to capturing it

The further away it seems

 

Couldn't spell Opportunity (To fail or not to try)

If you spotted me the "O" and the "P"

OPP is Other People's... Nana prayed for me

Brother Rahim referred me to Allah

Thought God ain't had no blessings for me

 

Only Opportunity I knew (Not to or to get high)

Thug Life, clockin dollars... Demons chasin after me

Sittin here between cracks in jail bars

Nothin on my books/Baby Momma don't take my calls/ 

Family don't even come see about me

 

Opportunity equates to negativity (To change or not to change my life)

Now I lay me down to sleep

Last time I got shot... Six times

Tried to die by 21 but... Bullet escaped killin me

 

Around my way Opportunity's seldom seen (To dream or not to dream)

Just too fews... But now I got my GED

Dead Homiez and Up State... "BIG you're Dead and Gone"

With all I've seen at 22... Like spare change, Spared was me

 

Now I'm looking for Opportunity when it ain't looking for me 

(To live life and be stress free)

Imagine I've missed a lot since elementary

With God and support from my community I can...

Speak Life, Raise my son, Demonstrate who I am/What I can be

 

Take advantage of Opportunity

Tired of it takin advantage of me

So today I ask that we begin anew

And You grant me this Opportunity