This is Minnesota inmate number 210006: Izell Robinson, an innocent man confined within the quadrilaterals of systemic injustice, fighting to be heard. And in order to do that, I need you the listeners, to hear me and act.
Part of my process is, you know, doing things to help me be able to alleviate the stress and pressure that comes with being confined, and usually I do that through artistic means, far as either poetry or rap music lyrics, and today, I have a piece for you all that I wrote that, you know, hope you all like it. It’s called Leave Faith In Our Eyes.
Still trying to build, flexing the weight of the world,
crisis and tragedy so heavy, I hurl.
Talking through Red Bull and vodka soaked tears,
hoping in the end, my conscious clears.
Cause at times I feel I ain’t did enough,
but I let ’em slide when they played tough.
Came to terms I ain’t have nothing to prove,
so I valued their life, because it’s something to lose,
plus the next man’s destiny not for me to choose.
Mama said, “show them love and the hater move.”
Now ideas of peace got me trying something new.
Empathy, brother to brother, been something due.
When the last time you been in that man’s shoes,
know the facts of life can leave a mental bruise.
Colored and hurt within silent memories,
praying our futures to last beyond cemeteries.
We gotta have a future. See the sunlight rise.
Drop these tears, leave faith in our eyes.
We gotta have a future. See the sunlight rise.
Drop these tears, leave faith in our eyes.
We gotta have a future. See the sunlight rise.
Drop these tears, leave the faith in our eyes.
Leave the faith in our eyes, leave the faith in our eyes, leave the faith in our eyes.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.