Under by Scott Pleasants

Under
by Scott Pleasants

If I take off my shirt 
you’ll see a railroad track of broken dreams running up my back
You will see scars around my shoulder 
that look like hand prints from those who tried to hold me back

If I take off my shirt 
you will see the blemishes of nightmares caught in the crosshairs of the projects 
when all we wanted to do was be kids
You’ll see an accomplished professional tatted across my chest 
and as I breathe in and out 
my lungs push out fresh air that contains more setbacks and challenges than I can remember 

If I take off my shirt 
you will see my forearms that are branded in braille 
with the story of my glory 
so that when I am found 
my family will be able to touch me and tell my story

If I take off my shirt 
you will see a bulge around my waist 
that is full of music and stories and writings and history 
because that’s what I like to consume

and as I get older 
I learn how to balance my diet 
I learn how to ingest to digest and when I get full when I need some relief 
I will just come to a place like this to just throw up some poems

But no worries to you in the front row 
because tonight I decided to share bars instead of scars 
tonight I decided to keep my shirt on 
and allow you to look around 
to look around the room and wonder 
what may be revealed if we all decided to 
just take off our shirts

Scott Pleasants is the first and current Poet Laureate for the Township of Teaneck, New Jersey. He is originally from The Bronx, New York and is expressing his thoughts through the lens of a seasoned transportation executive and U.S. Air Force Veteran. A published poetry author who allows his words to rhythmically tell the story of our journey. Scott has been recognized on the local and state levels. He has performed poetry at many venues including the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in NYC, Busboy & Poets in D.C. and his poetry has been featured at Harvard University.
Instagram: @iampoet33