CIRCUMSTANCES

• PLAY THIS WHILE READING!

  
  

  
  

  
  Beautiful 

  
  
  

  Without magazine covers 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  You saw my name in lights

  
  

  
  

  
  

  at first sight, 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  ...like my mother. 

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Closed our eyes
  
  Sidewalks to red carpets

  
  

  Awards and black ties.

  Biographies of lies.

  
  

  Sneaking on sets

  
  

  was as good as it would get

  
  

  From the student loan debt

  
  

  To resumes that got wet. 

  
  

  

  
  

  Bills never paid, 

  
  
  

  on time,
  
  In fake Gucci shades

  
  

  
  Holding up the drive thru 

  
  looking for a dime. 

  
  

  It was all good

  
  In that Toyota Corolla. 

  
  Dreams of Hollywood

  
  Jealous of Lola 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  Tracy the Liberian Diva

  
  

  Our imaginations, 

  Ran wild

  Nobody said our names

  No Destiny's Child. 

  Toyota made our Maybach 

  P. Diddy in the backseat

  Sippin' on Ciroc.

  
  

  You sang,

  better than Aretha

  I remember our routine

  We rocked it 

  better than Aaliyah.

  

  Ms. Shug, Ms. V.I.P.. Krystal B.

  
  

  Charming into V.I.P. of every club...

  Up until sunrise 

  Searching for that dub. 

  You were...

  Quite special to me

  Courtrooms & cemetaries,

  You helped me carry 

  Everything 

  I wanted to bury.

  
  

  Towed 

  In front of the bar

  We were still stars

  Just in an overheated car.

  Circumstances

  Not up to par

  but we laughed through it all

  While tossing nickles in the jar.

  

  
  

  
  
  

  Wherever auditions take us

  The best of us 

  Was Church's Chicken 

  and a shuttle bus.

  First year at Clark Atlanta, 

  Couldn't wait for break

  Good food and Santa.

  But I didn't make it home,

  Tried to end my life

  While mama screamed on the phone.

  
  

  She was my ammunition

  To fight the doubt

  I had in my mission.

  And you, 

  Miss go-getter,

  You'll always be my co-star

  My four page letter.

  

  
  

  Before I take this stage

  I reflect on those

  Who burned sage 

  to my rage.

  Camcorder videos

  Dinners of Cheerios

  You kept me laughing

  Even through the blows.

  
  

  You were my real days

  My summer cookouts,

  My let me count the ways.

  My they'd go

  and you'd stay.

  
  

  My 

  can't stand the east coast

  My

  Thank you 

  when I make that toast

  

  
  

  I miss it all

  Getting crunk 

  From windows to walls

  
  

  ALL...

  
  

  Hospital band and your hand

  Marching bands 

  Delaware sand

  Stuffed animals 

  Serving as the fans.

  
  

  It all did us good.

  Welcome to Hollywood

  Ms. Shug 

  You and I 

  Hailing 745's in the hood

  You and I

  Gone Hollywood. 

  
  

  
  

  

  I dreamed big, EARLY