Portland's Finest - Poem (Slam)

Portland’s Finest

Cuttin’ phone poles

Cuz I hate the noise they make

Environmental terrorist

Cuz I am not a fake

Cop cuffed me, cussed me, hit me and smiled,

“Lissen here, boy, you gonna be here a while

I wanna know your name,

Where you’re from

Your game

Tell me who you run with

What the fuck you are

Or its gonna be a long night

In the back of this police car.”

“I see, cop, you wanna know who I am?

I’m the impact between the four horns of two rams

I’m the dream that makes you awaken, panting

Lost in an ocean, alone and drowning

I’m the way that your wife looked with lust at that man

That could rip you in half with own bare hands

I’m the daughter you had that you couldn’t protect

From the boys with the drugs that you have to inject

I’m the gang that you fear that shot up your friend

Unlimited weapons and funds with no end

That slink around corners and fall through the cracks

That make you feel like you’re under attack

But that’s just the beginning my badgering friend

I’m the war that you started that has no end

I’m the kid that you hate just because he’s black

That might be a suspect so rat-a-tat-tat

By the fear in your eyes I know that your size

Is shrinking behind the false pride that you hide

So do what you want cuz it’s all coming back to you

The abuse that you levy, to me, is nothing new

I belong to an army of people that look like you

That mix with your crowd and drink with your crew

Make you nervous? It should, bitch, cuz we’re all around

Infiltrating your culture, waiting for the bell to sound

And when the bell sounds and it’s time to take action

I’ll be looking for you with a pissed-off faction.”

He looked around.

No one could see.

He un-cuffed me

And set me free.

--Eric Marley

September 2014