What I've Needed to Say

I walk down the halls
With a smile on my face.
I laugh with my friends
Though I'm hating this place.

I try to be cheerful
To show Jesus' love
And that of you guys
Who are sent from above.

Down the too-narrow ways,
I see ones I used to know.
Ones as big as barrels
With no warm place to go.

I see eyes as red as hatred
And glazed as they can get.
They don't know I'm there.
On that I'd wage Max Bet.

In those people, I see failure
And a falling-to of the knees.
Ones I've been with from the start
Are dropping out in threes.

I know tons of ladies and gentleman
That are missing and hiding from Mom.
They run from Dad when he's done nothing
But try to keep them warm.

I look you in the eyes today
And say, "Guys, I could do that."
I could smoke weed till my eyes were red
And disobey till my belly was fat.

I could run so far away
And never even look back.
I could think of you no more.
Consider my heart black.

I could pick up habits
Like with "friends" I could drink.
I could cuss like a sailor
And forget about what you think.

I just thought I'd let you know,
That as a kid, I'm not so bad
And that if I decided to go,
You'd definitely miss what you had.