204800
Growing up in a household of 9
Made me wonder sometimes
Where does my voice go to?
If I speak up with anger and rage
I was sometimes met with the same,
But where’d my voice go to?
When I sang in the junior choir
At church I’d sing louder
Because it made my soul feel good.
I was never asked to solo
And too shy to speak up
So where’s my voice go to?
I was told I had a 12th grade
Reading level in the 6th grade
I was never pushed academically
To further my abilities so I’d have
A fair chance and not be held back
Like common stats stated,
So I did what I had to do
To get through school.
No need to be loud
Or in the crowd I just wanted
My voice to be heard and understood,
But where would it go to?
Who would hear me?
Would there be anyone willing
To listen to what I had to say?
Without encouragement or
Motivation I learned how
To use my voice
When I thought I should’ve
But where did it go to?
Aside from traveling down the road
And echoing through the trees,
Bouncing off walls and over
And under the leaves.
I knew it went somewhere,
But where?
Did it reach its intended destination
When used in moments
Of dire necessity or when I felt
Like singing along with the radio?
I hope so.
I’ve always known
I had a knack for music.
Always dreamed of being a singer
Songwriter and making money.
I knew I could do it and I was
Sure my voice would be heard then.
I had submitted some poems I’d
Written back in 1986 to
Hollywood Artists record company.
My voice made it to Hollywood.
It came back with a letter in the mail
With a signature required at the
Bottom and a request for $500
To make it a song.
Neither mom nor dad
Had money like that;
Well, probably pop but he wasn’t
Gettin’ up off no funds like that
For me or anybody.
That’s when I became the sole
Bearer of my dreams.
No one to share them with or
Speak into fruition on.
Not for a good while.
A good long while.
Once the sharing started
Comments and compliments
Began the shaping and honing
Of my works even to this day.
Humbly I rejoiced and thanked God
Finally my voice has been heard!
When the reality finally hit me,
I was so concerned with my voice’s
Final destination I’d stopped
Paying attention to the journey
It was taking me on.
Turns out it was here all along
As its days and years of travel
Continue on the way
It was intended to be.
Time frame and destinations unknown.
12/27 LP45
