Both HandsE

(grrr) (talk to 'em)

Both hands! (both!) One fold, one fist! (fist!)

Granny taught the first one, the yard taught this

Both hands! (both!) Don't get it twisted! (nah!)

I was raised right. I was also raised in it.

Left hand open! (open!) Right hand closed! (closed!)

You pick which one. That's how it goes.

Third pew from the back, Mount Olive, that was ours

Usher gloves on my granny, white as flour

She'd pinch me when I nodded, peppermint for after

Same hand signed me out of juvie. Wasn't no laughter. (none)

Fourteen, first time that I heard a door lock from the wrong side

Learned to sleep light, learned to eat fast, learned my strong side

C.O. said "you'll be back." I said "probably." He was right.

Second time I did it standin'. Third time I learned to write.

Every letter started "Granny, I'm okay." I was not.

She wrote back "I know you lyin'. Eat. And read the book I brought."

Both hands! (both!) One fold, one fist! (fist!)

Granny taught the first one, the yard taught this

Both hands! (both!) Don't get it twisted! (nah!)

I was raised right. I was also raised in it.

Came home to a casket and a key to her apartment

Plastic on the couch still. Her book open where she marked it

One line underlined in pencil, twice, so hard it tore

I read it with a pistol on the table. Then I read it more. (that's me)

I ain't gon' lie and tell you that I put it down that night

I put it in a shoebox. Took a year to get that right.

Now I run a movin' truck with two dudes off my tier

We carry your mama's china like it's hers. 'Cause she was here.

So if you see me bow my head before I eat, don't laugh

And if you see the other hand ball up, you did the math.

Left hand... (open)

Right hand... (closed)

She still watchin' me.

(BOTH HANDS!)

Both hands! (both!) One fold, one fist! (fist!)

Granny taught the first one, the yard taught this

Both hands! (both!) Don't get it twisted! (nah!)

I was raised right. I was also raised in it.

Left hand open! (open!) Right hand closed! (closed!)

I'm tryna keep it open. Help me keep it closed.