Terror-Artists (written Sept. 2003)

America is getting scared
It's all over the television
9/11 or nine-one-one
So call the police divisions
Anthrax being fed-ex'd with care
Anonymously, over-ominously
We hear the fear and stare
Into the T.V.
Because there's terrorists out there!
Yeah!
The biggest threat to America
Is a country 3000 miles away
Quick! Bin Laden and Saddam
Must go today
They're terrorists!
Terror-Artists
I've experienced a terrorist act before
So I understand the severity
Of punishing these individuals
To the fullest extent of legalities
You see,
Mine started with living in poverty
And having roaches in the house
My mom working twelve hours a day
Just to keep food in our mouths
Then trying to survive
In a family of five
On welfare and disability funds
Plus what food stamps provide
Shit, that was terror.
Growing up sometimes wondering
Where food was coming from
Why mama cry so much
And why my brother needs a gun
Terror.
Going to a school
Where teachers could care less
About my writing skills
Being on free lunch
With a closet of clothes from Goodwill
As a child that worries
On the money problems
But tries to balance it
With selling dope "options"
Terror-ble
If you are confused
Ask a South Dallas child
Who's mother the night before
Told him,
"Don't worry, God is sending help through the door"
What he feels
It may be close to terror
Maybe terror-ble
Terror-Artists
That design carnage
To masterfully unfold
And also pull "kick doors" on countries
For some damn oil
Well hey, I can't be too mad
For the committing a crime
I need to chill, right?
Cause gas is down to $1.89
And shit,
It only cost a lot lives...
Am I capitalist, Marxist, anarchist?
Naw, I'm a Terror-Artist
You see
It's frightening
How many people I inspire with this pen
When I'm writing
It seems that I bend
All traditional methodical movements on paper
So I may transform
This sheet into a gun
This pen as a clip that stays warm
With the alphabetical bullets
That consistently spray in syncopated rhythm
Into the bodies of the victims
That begin twitching
As they collapse on the ground, decease,
And melt
Only to be revived and rejuvenated
As Terror-Artists themselves!
But we need more
God bless America
Shit, I'm trippin'
I'll be on the news one day
"Black male shot by police
Thinking he had a gun"
So why should I play
With the power
Of terror
Though it's real power comes from the weaknesses present
Inside the person you see in the mirror
That's real terror.