Black hoodie

Burned bridges in the rearview

Look

Court letters on the counter

Phone buzzing like it knows what I took

Mama praying in the kitchen

Ashtray drowning in the sink

Siren in my memory

Every time I blink

I’m a criminal

At least that’s what they write on the page

But they don’t see the chain on my name

Just the metal

Just the cage

I’m a criminal

Tattooed in a file and a frame

But you don’t know the story I gave

Just the number

Not the name

First job

Felt the weight of that empty fridge

Boss man shorted every check

Said “boy

That’s how it is”

Late rent

Cold floor

Little sister crying in the hall

I crossed one line at the corner store

Then watched it turn to a wall