Who knew (with all the difficulties you had to face)
That you would still stand tall with grace and embrace life's harsh blues
And turn them into songs
Making hardships appear feather light, even with no sight of dawn
Turning barriers into hurdles and treading sorrows underfoot
In spite of past infractions and being penalized for your actions
You learned lessons from your transgressions and never let them take root
Scorched earth and barren ground were made fertile by your imagination
In order to wear your crown you had to pass life's rigorous examinations
When you had to step up you did it - you didn't quit - you took your cue
You overcame obstacle after obstacle - because that's what real men do!
You've survived setbacks from devious acts
Had the cards stacked just because you were black
In fact you faced many delays during rainy cloudy gray days
And still managed to collect enough rays of hope
To manufacture radiant sunshine to help you cope!
The scope of the weapons formed against you from outside and within
Is enough to make one buckle from the overtures of sin
Yet real men don't fold; they just grab hold and let God be their guide
Passing life's tests, even beset with traps and snares therein
God molds overcomers and that's how he makes men
No matter the obstacles that were placed within your view
You still gained the victory because that's what real men do!
Copyright 2002 Geoffrey Watts