Growing up | by Awonke Zoya

Growing up in the outskirts 
I never thought life would hit a curve 

Growing up in a neighborhood so calm like the waters at Pacific 
I never dreamt I would one day reside in a township surrounded by upheaval

Growing up with so much fortitude in health 
I never knew that stepping outside my comfort invited death 
Where my umbilical cord was buried was where I had to be laid to rest 
Although along the years nothing screamed foreign like my place of birth 
As the walls kept caving in the air almost non-existent withdrawing my breath 

Growing up in a home motivated by construction
I could never fathom how I ended up in a pent of destruction
Going from being safe to always alert 
Had to stay clear of the pervs 
No security had to fend for myself yet they wonder why I was forever insecure
Wouldn't you be? Feeling like a disease that had to be cured 
With being damaged goods and all
So called Gentlemen constantly kicking down your doors 
Never asking just taking 
Protection and promises never met just breaking 

Growing up being fed the holy scriptures 
To one day being collateral damage almost meeting my maker
Words turned into screams 
Robbed of my innocence before I could even decide. I was barely thirteen 
Wondering where was God with all his meaningless words 
Gunshots coursing through my eardrums  like lightening as it burns 

Growing up with  people dying before me when this should have been a display of toys 
Growing up thinking education was compulsory only for it to be something else boys

Growing up in the outskirts 
I never thought I would hit a curve 

Growing up in a neighborhood so calm like the waters at Pacific 
I never dreamt I would one day reside in a township surrounded by upheaval

#AMAKACulture 
#AfroFuture23

Growing up in the outskirts I never thought life would hit a curve Growing up in a neighborhood so calm like the waters at Pacific I never dreamt I would one day reside in a township surrounded by upheaval Growing up with so much fortitude in health I never knew that stepping outside my comfort invited death Where my umbilical cord was buried was where I had to be laid to rest Although along the years nothing screamed foreign like my place of birth As the walls kept caving in the air almost non-existent withdrawing my breath Growing up in a home motivated by construction I could never fathom how I ended up in a pent of destruction Going from being safe to always alert Had to stay clear of the pervs No security had to fend for myself yet they wonder why I was forever insecure Wouldn't you be? Feeling like a disease that had to be cured With being damaged goods and all So called Gentlemen constantly kicking down your doors Never asking just taking Protection and promises never met just breaking Growing up being fed the holy scriptures To one day being collateral damage almost meeting my maker Words turned into screams Robbed of my innocence before I could even decide. I was barely thirteen Wondering where was God with all his meaningless words Gunshots coursing through my eardrums like lightening as it burns Growing up with people dying before me when this should have been a display of toys Growing up thinking education was compulsory only for it to be something else boys Growing up in the outskirts I never thought I would hit a curve Growing up in a neighborhood so calm like the waters at Pacific I never dreamt I would one day reside in a township surrounded by upheaval #AMAKACulture #AfroFuture23