"A Plan," A Poetry Post

All of us need a plan.

If you wanna be a rapper,
it's gone take more than a few lines on
loose leaf, wide-ruled
dollar store paper.

It's gone take more than a posse of
underprivileged friends.

It's gone take more than
walking a beat and running drugs for
the neighborhood "businessman."

You gone have to learn music and
music software and
music production and
legal requirements
just like everybody else,
because all of us need a plan.

If you wanna be a dancer,
it's gone take more than you
waiting in a line all day in
California
to get picked for a
60-second spot sliding down a
pole.

You need more than a stolen credit card
and a one-way ticket to a
city of dreams.

You gone have to learn dance and
how far to go and how far you
shouldn't go just like everybody else.

It ain't gone be enough to
copy gals that done been to dance school
and dress half naked cause we
all need a plan.

If you wanna be rich,
it's gone take more than waking up
everyday in your momma's house and
waiting for her to fix you breakfast while you
check your Facebook account.

You gone have to think original thoughts and
produce original products and
learn about patent laws just like
the rest of us cause everybody gotta have a plan.

And if your plan is to marry somebody rich and
live your life in the lap of luxury,
you'll soon find out that
ain't no plan
at all.

-T. D. James-Moss