I’m Still Here
by Chezborn Jessop

I am fourteen
with a couple of choices
Grow up now or worry later
Thoughts that never faded
Money worries
I’m not even working
Family worries
I’m not the one providing
Where would I be in a few years?
Who would I be around?
But right now
I shouldn’t fear
Because one thing that I know
is
I’m still here

I should  be thankful right?
Is that how you put it?
You don’t know what I’m going through
You don’t know what I’m facing
Silence
Keep it quiet
If you’ve never been through my problems
Because I had to learn myself
It was never an option
Struggles
I had to put my mind in gear
Young black boy
Stained clothes and nappy hair
But hey
I grew up
I faced my fears
Because one thing that I know
is
I’m still here.