What If?

Well I feel like addressing myself, you and anyone I missed, so I have a few questions for you...

What if you reached the pinnacle of success, what would you do with it? Would you use it for good, or an easy opportunity to hit? Can you ever be satisfied, or even if you had everything, would you still grind? Cold you realize that you can't take it with you, or would you feel lost if you had to live simple? Are you a gangsta who likes to clock, and proves his manhood with a glock, and wats in your sock? Are you a sexy woman who has brains and smarts, but limits yourself to spreadin ur legs in parks? Did you have a baby too soon, and decided to strip, do you have a quick temper and won't take any lip?

To the gangsta, what if your actions got your own people killed, would you then be better equipped to spread good will? What if your mom saw your dirt in the street, would you then be more compelled to keep it discreet? What if the reason you carry a gun is because you scared to square up cuz you might run? What if the whole world gave you respect, would you still have put down his throat that tech? What if your sister acted like the girls you mess with, would you then finally learn your lesson? What if you had to live like the crackheads you sell dope to? Would that change your mind and have you feelin remorseful?

What if you got shot and paralyzed permanently, would you then feel bad for all those people you sent to surgery? What if you caught feelings for a girl, and your enemy took her from this world? Would you rally a death squad to get revenge, or would you one by one take from the crackheads that syringe? What if you met God today, would you get on ur knees and begin to pray? Would it take you back to many of your victims who did it? Would you remember how you laughed cuz you were so sadistic? What if you meant to do something more with your life, you'll never know. What if you got killed in the crossfire, where would you go?

To the stripper, what if I told you that your body is God's and no else's, would you take the man who show a pic of your chest and tells his boy "yea I felt this." What if your family saw your night career, would you freeze up like headlights were shined and you were a deer? What if your son said hey that's my mom, would you regret doin that deed after prom?

What if your son ended up in a hearse, would you then see the true value of what strippin is worth? Yes I know your favorite color is green, but what if I told you, you're livin out the devil's dream? What if you woke up after weeks of eatin a lot, and realize your strippin career is shot? Would you cry many tears, or would you be woman enough to ask for help from your peers? What if you go home and a regular follows you home, would you wonder what the hell is going on? What if I told you you are adding to their fantasy, and it is to the tune of the devil to which you are dancing? What if tonight was your last night on the pole, would you feel as unwanted as a badly placed mole? What if you quit now would it be so bad, or are you scared that you'll have more fun than you ever had?

To the reader of this poem. What if you saw my gift, and decided with you and yours you need to shorten the rift? What if the girl/guy you secretly like, is not conceited but really iight? What if that boss that gets on your case, is not a jerk but jus testin you to see if you deserve a bigger space? What if you have to stay up late and study for a test, but a friend calls for you to go out, and that causes mental unrest. What if that professional athlete you love, took performace enhancers to do things he/she were never capable of? What if you were a constant distributor like Jordan, instead of may NBA players whose best skill is hoardin? What if you played the game and only worried about wat was fundamental, instead of breakin someone's ankles and sayin it was accidental?

What if you are black and liked rock, would you be scared to admit it, because of the possible culture shock? What if you were white and like rap, would you not fess up to it cuz many of your people are not used to that? What if you went to see a chick flick with your lady/guy of interest, would you be nervous if ya friends saw you there and asked who is this? What if you had a secret love affair, but when you both are in public, you act as if no feelings are there? What if you are married and your husband is unfaithful, why do you allow that behavior which is obviously disgraceful? What if you stood up for your rights and thought it was ok for blacks to be with whites, would you be scared to say it cuz sometime the truth bites? What if you wanted to apologize to the kid you used to pick on, but you're scared so you just assume they moved on. What if you closed your eyes and finally began to see, that is nothing wrong with being who you want to be.

To the writer of this poem...What if it all ended today, what would you imagine people would say? What if you loved yourself wholly for the first time, and turn poetry into your dream to rhyme? What if people said you seem arrogant, would you turn the other cheek, or let your disdain be apparent? What if you used your mind like you always could, would you be afraid of lettin down the hood? What if you take pics cuz you really feel slightened, and your fear of rejection over the years has been hightened? What if God came and said it's ok, would you readily throw the punk devil out ya way? What if you dreamed of rockin the heads of billions, but are scared of venturin beyond pavilions?

What if you don't let people in cuz last time you got punched, and if you got hit again it may be too much? What if on the low you wanna be a playa, but know you can't cuz it aint in ya nature? What if you don't want to lean wit it and rock wit it, would you be afraid to tell them to put a sock in it? What if you don't relate to women well, if conversation was poker would be your tell? What if every girl's perception of you when they saw you was that you're gettin some, but in actuality you're getting none? What if they then thought you had no game, you then answer with or without it you're still the same? What if no one really understands the monicker JioVanni, and they don't get that it was made as a method so no one would stop me? What if your family thinks ur anti-social, and tellin them your feelings is non-negotiable. What if you never practice poetry or anything like it, but jus up and one night decided to write it?

What if more girls like you than you could ever know, but you ask silly questions at times that makes you appear slow? What if you wanna say things but hold them back, because you fear a harsh verbal attack? What if with all the issues you have you choose to procrastinate, because you KNOW you can be great? What if you had moods swings and people think it's for no reason, but it's really cuz inside you are screamin. What if you took the approach to life, and didn't get so consumed with strife? What if you let it all be known to another, and forgave your mother, sister, and brother? What if your mother died today, and God gave you a second chance, what would you say, would you let the devil win and fill you with dismay, or say hey mom it's your baby? What if the slanted eyes are really slits into your world, but are often mistaken to be sexy to girls?

What if your lips are as big as your heart, but for someone to reach it is a shot in the dark. What if you stimulate more minds than you know, but STILL are afraid to blow, are you willing to let this thing go, when you have wonderful role models like Maya Angelou? Now....what if you looked in the mirror and quit with the pretend, you said I love you and let the dream begin. What if you thought quicker than the fastest corvette, and your mind was sharper than a mach jet? What if it's hard to believe from your swagger, that you used to work for kroger as a bagger. What if you, yes YOU reading this poem, said at my funeral I was so glad to know him...

**Fueled by passion, driven by pain before I die the world will know my name**

- JioVanni