Independence day
by
Tajiri Hodari


I CELEBRATE INDEPENDANCE DAY EVERY YEAR ON MY BIRTHDAY.
I WAS BORN A MAN AND MY CHILDHOOD WAS SPENT INSIDE MY MOTHERS WOMB.
I WENT FORM NINE MONTHS TO THIRTY'SOM YEARS OLD WITHT FULL UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GAME SHOULD BE SOLD.
SO YOU SEE I CAN NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS.
BECASUE A MAN THAT IS HIS OWN GOD HAS TRULY BLESSED AND MAN THAT’S PRICELESS.
MY LIFE, IT’S JUST A SERIES OF TESTS, SEARCHING FOR THE BEST OF WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER.
AND IF I COMPROMISE I LOSE I KNOW THE RULES MOMMA AIN’T RAISE NO FOOL.
YEAH I WENT TO SCHOOL.
THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS ON THEM STREETS WITH THEM HARD BLOCKS, WONDERING, WHEN WILL THE INJUSTICE STOP?
BUT I KNOW IT WON’T UNTIL THE PEOPLE SAY, DON’T.
AND WHEN THEY DO, I’LL ALREADY BE DOING THE DO.
ON THE FRONT LINE WITH MY MIND FIGHTING FOR TRUTH.
SEE, I’M LOOKING FOR THOSE THAT RECOGNIZE THAT REAL-DEAL SPIRITUAL ESSENCE.
EVEN MY PHYSICAL PRESENCE SENDS A MESSAGE.
THAT IF YOU WANT TO CHALLENGE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN.
YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT I AM AMONG THEM AND LOVE WILL WIN EVEN IF I SIN, I KNOW I’LL BE FORGIVEN BECAUSE I WONT PRETEND FROM WHAT’S IN MY HEART, AMEN.
I MEAN MY WORD IS MY BOND AND THIS IS MY SONG.
AS LONG AS YOU CAN SEE ME FOR WHO I AM, THEN I HAVEN’T GONE WRONG.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET, A BLACK MAN WHO STANDS ERECT AND DEMANDS RESPECT.
BUT I’LL NEVER COMMAND IT.
AND WHEN THE BULL-ISH COME MY WAY, YOU CAN BEST BELIEVE I’LL HANDLE IT.
SO I’LL KEEP A CANDLE LIT AND LET THE FLAME REPRESENT.
I’M HEAVEN SENT.