The Life of a Single Mother Going Back to College (Eye Level)
By Joy Lynn Clark
11/10/2014
Eye Level by Dazee Dizzle
Being a talented and undiscovered writer, I decided to get a plan B. Photography isn’t paying much, Poetry doesn’t pay a lot, and it’s the same story with being a musician. Maybe I need something to fall back on. I spent six months in therapy trying to come up with a viable solution. I need something better than struggling artist. Then, no one can say I’m not doing anything with myself.
I decide to go back to school. Since nothing is better than plan A, I decide to think of something that I can make good money with. My first idea was biology but then, I looked at the salaries and I realize that’s gonna require some grad school. Math and Computer Science is what I eventually settled on.
I lived in the suburbs. I had a two-hour commute daily. I took the Metra, then the CTA. At first, I paid for parking. Eventually, my car needed the timing changed. I let it sit in the driveway and I walked a couple of miles daily to the Metra. (it took a whole semester to save up the money to get the timing changed but I eventually saved up enough money for it. On the other hand, after walking a semester I just stuck with it).
I had so much weight on my back, my laptop and my books felt like a hundred pounds. I had to get a tablet.
This particular semester I had an 8 o’clock calculus class. My parents agreed to see my son off to school because I had to leave out so early.
My son was a holy terror in the morning. My parents started calling me while I was on the train. This is the life of a single mother going back to college. I have got to move.
Eye Level
we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
But we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
In a two person seat
On the Metra train
Doing my homework
Due today
In comes a chick
Looking to sit
Grab my stuff
Try to be cool
But I can’t work
Next to this fool
I try to resume my assignment
But I lack the space to finish it
I look around the train
And there’s plenty of spots
I told this chick about my homework due
“I’m inside can you move”
She gets heated
“You don’t own this train”
Should I get up?
Think again
I spread out as best I can
Now she’s tripping
Waving hands
Head is spinning
Making plans
we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
But we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
She got issues
Cause our things are touching
And I think
This beef ain’t nothing
Grab my bookbag and my Tab
Make a stand
Getting out first
Got more hands
Telling me to ask her for an excuse
Kicking it off if I refuse
I comply not to fight
Cause I’ve got to protect all my tech
Got me ticking off the disrespect
And I’m thinking of my destination
Got to end this confrontation
Swallow my pride apologize
And reply then angry eyes
I stay cool and walk away
Cause I ain’t going to jail today
we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
But we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
I should bash her in the head
With this thing in my head
I look down and change my plan
Cause I got a tablet worth more than your life
Goofy and contrived plus I need a ride
Keep it all in stride
Plus my back’s against the wall
Gotta make the call
I choose to flee
Though that’s really not me
I’m thinking violently
we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
But we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
Stuck taking the punk
Am I on TV or what?
Glad that I got my shades on
Cause if you look me in the eye
You’re dead wrong
Cause of the silliness
Grown women don’t do
Immortalize you in a song
And I know which stop you got on
It ain’t a problem it’s a solution
Got some holy water you douching
Clean it up and make a conclusion
At times my consciousness
Streams like wifi
I see my life flash by
With something to lose
I put in work
You need to pay your dues
Feeling like I should call
The cops for you
How can I tell this to my kid
On the phone behind the glass
Explaining what I did
we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
But we only eye level
cause you got me in the cut
I can’t even stand all the way up
Say she gon’ kick my but and stuff
Gotta break and give it up
