[Verse 1] When I die I'll probably go out like Charlie Bird Parker Cigarette dangling from my lips, liver swimmin' in Vodka Walk the path with have nots, where pain's snapshot Is an old ma**ive flock, some sick with bad coughs Tryna sell me god inside a 5 train's cramped box Invoking folks hope sayin' "Praise the black cross." I wave 'em off, no talk, too stressed from my day job They still citing scriptures urging me to thank god I tune 'em out thinkin' bout the brand of scotch I cop from that middle eastern man who runs his shop Across the storefront church, beside an abandoned lot On a half built block, landlocked by despair Decemeber brisk air wouldn't risk to drift here Where hope floats from yellow crack pipes, spliffs and squares A riff blares in the distance and I'm forced to shift gears Intended this writing I'm rhyming to help me think clear But that song I hear in the distance makes me drink beer A lost love is remembered, Brooklyn rooftop: Watchin the sun dip west and soon due pregnant moon shot After hours pillow talk then s** till her legs hurt Waiting to see who said that four letter word first In retrospect I should have said before she had to blast off Promised myself I'd chalk her as my last loss Its years later, she's back home in some next cat's spot I'm sitting on the sidewalk, staring at the asphalt Talking to Ray, he said, "Chee, just take your mask off Seems your future starts only when the past stops
And, she ain't the one who would fall for that fast talk She probably won't see you again, let that Jazz Walk And hope she takes this verse as your breathing snapshot." [Verse 2] In a sentimental mood, sifting through pictures accrued Through the past few years, stumbled on this wrinkled snapshot A brownstone on a Brooklyn block provides the backdrop She's sittin' on a sun-splashed stoop, her hands: crossed Hints of lip gloss trace a nearby beer can's top Halter top got me wondering where that tan stops Almond skin tone, make a mute man wanna sing songs Curves inspiration, for carvings on a King's throne She's half smilin', the flag of the island She managed to dance away from, stands at half mast Upon her bedroom's window sill, eyes indo filled Heavy and red reflect the strife of her civil war riddled Motherland, where brother's hand, widows wills And they barely flinch when it still drips with blood I take a step back and, stare above Thinking bout all the things I've lost including love History, hope, all of it captured by a flashbulb She asked once, if there's anything deeper than love I ain't know what to say, no matter how deeper I dug I know the answer know, but the chance to answer it's gone I've come apart baby, I've come of heart lately Trouble man no more, I'll patch myself back with this song baby One more glance at your face then the past stops As I stand up, (stand up) and crumple up your snapshot