ROSES
Give People Their Flowers Before The Funeral
ROSE’S was written from me thinking at my age and place I stand in as a man. Surely there is a lot of introspection that happens daily where I am looking inside of myself and evaluating the pro’s and con’s of how I exist—the common disposition exhibited by Matthew.
Obviously the things that I deem to be detrimental that I notice, then I try to repudiate them. While the characteristics of strength and those that are beneficial, I want to maintain at the very least, or feed and make grow even greater.
I consider what and who I am impacting. Even myself. With the growth I am or am not making under duress and the resistance of a system, the obstacles, hate, and ignorance by some similarly situated created and often imposes.
ROSE’S was written knowing how cautious we have to be in the selection of our fraternities, the people we cherish. And also, simply put, the fallibility of us all which should be viewed.
ROSE’S was composed thinking about: why do we cry so much over death when we weren’t celebrating the everyday breaths of the people important to our hearts and the love they generated?
Give people their flowers before the ceremony of a funeral.
ROSES
I sometimes wonder
if I hurt more people than I benefitted.
it’s hard trying to evolve when you’re limited.
adoption and the peril of the hood
stole my innocence.
violence and drugs in the villages
ruined the parents
which ultimately poisoned the kids.
I network building bridges.
fighting my heart out
and friends and foes witness
my commitment in trying to be the difference.
still combating hate,
the crabs in the barrel are wicked.
yet change is happening,
the pendulum is shifting,
but this isn’t American Idol—
there is no golden ticket.
I used to fake it a lot just to kick it.
thinking my perseverance
would persuade folks to get it.
I was just wasting time
like I could spare minutes.
how does that make sense
when you’re living with a life sentence?
thought I found love a time or two.
you could crumble
when you find out your day one
was lining you.
confused with clues
cause you know better.
yeah you broke some hearts before
so you’re no better.
still I can’t stand those serpents.
I seen some of my heroes
get killed by their closest.
for me my moments are urgent.
I want to be on the other side
before opportunity’s door closes.
before I die
give me my roses.
I want them now
not when I’m in the ground
like my fallen soldiers.
please bring me soup when I’m needing.
don’t come around when this battle is beaten.
knowing I’m depleted
and you’re eating.
I’m outgunned
and they’re still cheating.
I guess when the outcome is victory
they will start believing.
— Matthew Garcia
"When was the last time you gave someone their flowers while they could still receive them?"