Name Recognition

There may be few, if any...
Given authorized permission.
To be disciplined.
Motivated.
Or told it is okay,
If they displayed incentive.
And with that had ambition.

There are few, if any...
Who would automatically receive,
Name recognition.
Without it to acknowledge and believe,
Themselves free of challenges.
And unconscious of obstacles to face.
That makes it easy to replace,
A chasing away opposition that way.
Done.
To never be reminded,
Of where they came from.
Or...
Who they 'think' they are.
Before the beginning of this move to start.
And...
Having the audacity to choose,
Another direction...
That promises failure to come.

A growing up as a rebellious black boy.
Living in the projects.
Where people enjoy,
Laughing at the appearances of others.
How they look, walk and talk.
And being different with this to fault.
Can and could be discouraging.
To a child made to believe,
Writing on walls is also a sign...
Of having something wrong mentally.
But a child like this,
Attracted to this kind of creative expression.
Continues to do it.
Regardless who administers the punishment.

Then as time passes on.
And this child grows.
As if addicted and drugged.
With a needing a fix just to write.
Not to know born to do it.
Would someday from nowhere,
Receive attention and it to get.
Without seeking to be known.
But sought to write to do alone.
Living to perceive,
Doing this inconspicuously.
And loving to live in a community,
Being ignored.
Left to adventure and quietly explore,
Other creative interests.
As others did to declare themselves talented.
You know...
The singers who sang.
The dancers who dance.
And those who imitated comedians.
Done wherever they got the chance.

Then one day someone says,
'Excuse me?
But...
Are you who I think you are?'

'Who me?
No.
I am not.
However...
Do you know what is more important?'

'No.
What is that?'

'Knowing who YOU are.
And not having to 'think' about that at all.
Stay focused.
With that to do the best you can.'

'Oh.
Okay.
I didn't expect you to say that.'

'What did you expect?
Me to give you my autograph?'

'LOL...
Everybody around here wants to be famous.
Or think they are.
But...
As I think about it.
If you were who I thought you were.
You wouldn't be living around here.
Would you?'

'Why not?
I can sing.
I can dance.
And...
Believe it or not,
I also live to love to write.'

'LOL...
Now...
That's funny.
You should write jokes,
For all these comedians around here!'

'No.
That's why I live here.
I can laugh and laugh.
And nobody would know why!'

'THAT'S WHERE I KNOW YOU FROM.
YOU'RE THE ONE,
I HAVE SEEN LAUGHING.
FOR NO REASON AT ALL!'

'That's me.
Today?
At my age?
Everything I find to see is hysterical!'