dear black boy

Protect myself from men like him Be a woman, you know Be a woman that's strong, be a woman that's smart Be a woman that's like Be everything that you are And understand that the man you get involved with has to be special because you are And I think he taught me All of these things you know to be my best and to never settle It was his way of making sure that I was good So you a smooth talker Moon walker men's locker lock it up Cock blocker 'til you tied up as a loose father To a new daughter Why you crying, got caught lying again Say you love me again You keep on leaning farther away Preaching like "You got to move smarter, think sharper, stay softer than the people they only get harder See deeper Tiresius future keep your hands clean of Dirty secret seeker queen status never meager You never did wrong, you never did wrong Instead of sorry, this how you tell me you did wrong "Protect yourself from brothers like me, protect yourself from brothers like me Posted up in front of my driveway, with a bouquet buckled up in the passenger Send a messenger to the wrong place, two sided on the wrong face You trying to see my in my black lace, grab a tag for the rat race You fall in love and you lost your pace, fall in love and you catch a case Everybody want a taste so why should I give you a space Everyone I let in before ran in just to lead a chase I learned forgiveness without lessons in discernment This time you got to earn it 'Cause bridges ain't strong without boundaries You only feel strong when she's on her knees Beg just to please you, don't leave just to tease you Stay 'cause it ease you, but you got to free you Tell you I love you then turn back around One of us got to stay up so both of us don't drown Protect myself from brothers like you Protect myself from brothers like you Promise Your mothers, sisters, daughters To embody the best of our fathers To be the redemption, not the regret To be the forgiveness that never forgets Because the reason for remembrance is To empower choice in the now While the creases of your hands Unfold the past you emerged from Those lines are also a projection of Everyone who stretched for the future They are a reminder that the craft, the choice, now, is in your hands Promise yourself-to be who you are To choose who you will be Feel free and safe and strong enough to make that promise because you are loved At your weakest and most afraid you are wanted, you are needed Because you are love As you feel your fervent fingers curl along commemorative creases Keeping these promises in tender fists Raise awakened and softened eyes to the reflection of you that is us And feel free Feel safe and strong enough to become who you have the chance to be The best of what's been and thus a beginning