Rent Due, Heart Bruised

Late fees on my mind

Group chat full of bad news

Scrollin’ through the headlines

Feelin’ like we all lose

Boss text, "We a fam"

Then he cut my hours

Landlord want that cash

By the evening, not tomorrow

Mama callin', say the meds

Ain't covered like they promised

Politician on the screen

Smilin', never keepin' honest

Corner store food

Cheaper than the fresh things

Wonder why our bodies ache

Dreams do the same thing

We just tryin’ keep the lights on

Phone on, pride strong

Still they say "grind harder"

Like the system ain't lifelong

Rent due, heart bruised

Still I move, still I move

World on fire, I refuse

To let it take all my hope too

I bend, but I don’t break

Pray my soul don’t lose its shape

Rent due, heart bruised

But I’m still here, still I choose

Lil cousin in a cap and gown

Loan letters in the mailbox

Graduate, then gravitate

Straight into the padlocked

Jobs want ten years

For an entry-level payday

Wonder why he feel numb

Poppin’ pills on a weekday

News feed full of names

Say 'em, then they fade out

Another "thoughts and prayers"

Then the cameras all change routes

We scroll, we cope

We laugh so we don’t choke

Turn pain into memes

‘Cause we scared to stay woke

Who listen when we cry inside the quiet?

Who profit every time we start a riot?

I talk to God like, "You see this? You see us?"

He say, "Stand up, love each other, y’all the real trust" [crescendo]

Rent due, heart bruised

Still I move, still I move

World on fire, I refuse

To let it take all my hope too

I bend, but I don’t break

Pray my soul don’t lose its shape

Rent due, heart bruised

But I’m still here, still I choose