The Old Shoeshine Man

When life was young
I too had dreams
Of being someone
Black and well known

But of all my dreams
None I have seen
All fell homicides  
By the parasites of the streets 

Old age came along
And over stayed its visit
No goin’ back to school for dis old jig
So I became what the titled revealed of me

My dreams got replaced
By polish and a piece of white cloth
Which throughout the years
Began looking like me.