PBS - Senior Year

Jerry Quickley

I saw a picture of my pops when he was like 18
he lookedid just like me
I was like Yo how could that be
the space between us could fill the seas
the ways he sent us is straight corny
he don't know what I'm about and he bore me
snores me and ignores me
when he ain't checkin' for me
his specialties is like nostalgia and whiskies
pops is tryin' but he's still fallin' down
he broke out but I still want him around
pops is tryin' but he's still fallin' down
I got beef with him but I still want him around

my pops ain't nothin' but a hologram
there's a clean spot in the dust where his picture used to stand
he was about the powder, the pipe, and the old grand dad
now he's in a shelter still talkin' bout who's the man
sportin' my report card cause my grades was up
he was in the kitchen cookin' up another re-up
he first family on the block got the cable up
still tryin' to get off the auction block but f it up
cousins over for the holidays tried to dress the crib up
pops out on the couch covered with piss when he got up
I was like, it's alright pops, we'll get you cleaned up
crashed on my pardna's floor cause he was messin up
What happened to the bike rides in Central Park, yo
I love him and I hate him cause he got my heart, yo
got his demons inside me he be a future shot of me
Sittin' on a park bench talkin' 'bout Hennessey

You better put up or shut up get off the set, huh
It don't matter if you ain't ready yet, yo
cause boys gotta make moves like men, yo
cause boys gotta make moves like men, come again
Life be coming at me in steady sets
It don't matter if you ain't ready yet, check it
cause boys gotta make moves like men, yo
cause boys gotta make moves like men, come again
pops be tryin' to sleep just lyin' awake in bed
he say too much music be fillin' his head
the music gets too loud and pops flips out
he on some county meds but they ain't working right now
the virgin mary is kinda scary
when she be creepin' up on you in the early early
these are the dreams that he be feeling, yo
these are the waking scenes that he be reeling, yo
he talkin' bout the angels be whisperin' in my ear
stop crying punk I'm the victim here
it's 4am and pops is by himself in the kitchen
there's a empty spot on the wall where the butcher knife is missing
at the hospital they talkin' bout the number a stitches
askin' stupid s- like how long has he been like this
how long has he been off his medication
does he know he's violated the terms of his probation
this s- be weighing on me like mad heavy dog
it's more than the last straw it's like the last log
got to get out from under cause I can't think on it no more
hit the party with my girl and get our drink on
I'm going be on max blaze until the sun come
Cause the more I get nice the more s- I can run from
say who rocks the party rock the party
who rocks the party rock the party
say who rocks the party rock the party
who rocks the party rock the party

Jerry Quickley has performed at venues and festivals across the United States and abroad. He is a three time Los Angeles Poetry Grand Slam winner, and a two time National Poetry Slam finalist. He has been featured and published in several anthologies, magazines, and newspapers including Time Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, SP Mag, Beyond the VCP, LA Weekly and The Village Voice. His work is published in the book "Soul of the Game" (Melcher Media:1997), Slam (Penguin-Putnam:2000) and he is the editor of the anthology "Juke Joint Magic" (Juke Joint Still Press: 1998). Jerry also runs a Poetry in the Prisons workshop at Central Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles. Twice a month he visits Juvenile Hall in East Los Angeles to work with the incarcerated youth and teach them poetry and writing skills and to help them craft their stories into art. Both "Pops" and "D's Question" were inspired by teens in the series, "Senior Year" and written specifically for the program.

Pops
Written and Performed by Jerry Quickley
©2001 Jerry Quickley

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