she takes her place as your
GHETTO ANGEL
the seemingly divine union of Beauty and The Thug
though she knows that you're so much more than that
so much more than
The hustle
The drugs
The guns
much more than hoes & gold-diggers
so much more than crooked cops 
more than material things 
more than that corner 
more than the premature eyes of the city coroner 
Honey you’re more than that 
much more than a broken home 
more than “fittin’ the description”
more than the threat of your scorned lovers' knife from the kitchen 
more than beggin’ a judge for leniency on your life (and never gettin’ it, whether you deserve it or not) 
you are much more than hopelessness 
more than a mere decade or 2 on this earth 
you’re more than your mistakes and misjudgments  
more than the mean mug 
more than the grudge that you hold onto 
more than being called a gangsta, a pimp or a baller 
more than acting like you actually prefer these titles over something more respectable 
you are a rose growing from the concrete that has yet to fully bloom 
those who do not truly understand nor love you 
attempt to cut your lifeline way too soon 
but she understands you... 
your ghetto angel
with a broken wing of her own 
still tryna fly, despite herself, despite circumstance 
despite her own mistakes and misjudgments 
despite the burden she bears 
lovin’ you
​