DANA BURTIN - POEMS

Dana Burtin is 18 years old and a college student majoring in Recording Arts and Technology. Dana writes and constructs songs for everyone to hear under the moniker, LyricalGenes. He makes positive and motivational music; hopefully, a relatable message for everyone to hear. With that being said, writing is his form of positive expression and his way of giving back to the people. No matter the circumstances, he gains the most satisfaction when he has the opportunity to help anybody through something he loves doing.

Smile For Me 
​

Where's your place to spend a quiet night
Because these times have grown to show you your emotions just overflow
You see your affecting others now
But you don't quite know
Where to go from here
Wishing you can make yourself just disappear 
I know how you feel 
Hoping other people know how you feel 
Without saying a word 
You want the rich to be poor and the poor to be rich!
To feel the hunger when we switch
Hoping maybe then you’ll click 
Trust me I understand!
I'm in your shoes so I'm with you
Don't ever think that you're alone when I'm always here with you
It's about how you deal with the pain
Don't let that feeling steer you away
From what you're working toward
If you fail, ok
Nothing's perfect, hey
Today is the day
That you create a different way for yourself and make up for your mistakes Everything happens for a reason, no?
Every once a while you got to hit the brakes, listen!
Can you smile for me?
Can you be proud for me?
I know these times are hard
But go the extra mile for me!
God, can you listen to me?
So you can hear the people SCREAMING!
But they smile at their demons from this word
Can you smile? 

Everybody wants happiness
Nobody wants pain
But you can't have a rainbow 
Without a little rain
To be or not to be
It's all the same
You got to take the reins of this game
That we call life
And never go a-strange
And even though it's strange
That we don't have the answers all the time
It's necessary to meet a compromise
For future endeavors
Just hang on it won't last forever
Life is hard
This is not the land of Never Ever
Pan, Peter
Watch your demeanor
What goes around comes around
Karma's a repeater
You'll get repaid one day
Even if it's meager
But your soul is in good hands
Play with it like Ether
If you're told to be a leader
Then you're not a leader
You may think you're worth nothing
But somebody needs you
Trying to be unbreakable to the core
That toughness is key!
But listen man
​You got to smile more! 

See Through Me 
​

My People, Prelude: 
This is for my people. 
Who are my people? 
My people are those who understand this world. 
My people take it upon themselves to ask questions no one else asks. 
My People stand tall in the face of adversity. 
My people are not divided as one specific race, no! 
My people are the individuals who fit into categories that can never be detained by opinions. 
Do you see what I see when the homeless become helpless? 
Do you see what I see when you travel a few blocks north from our inner cities, and people wearing suits, ties, and own sport cars, have smiles on their faces, feeling secure 24/7? 
White, black, Muslim, Chinese, MY PEOPLE, see what I see. 
See What I See: 
No cognitive purpose, struggling, I see my people slowly degrade in despair 
They are hoping for a miracle that does not seem to play fair 
Begging for people’s help, those of which do not seem to be there. 
I see you and I’ll be back even if I have to come alone 
I want to see a glimpse of hope that has been overdue, oh too long! 
I see the world and even the world knows it is wrong! 
You call for help, but people say, “Leave a message at the tone.” 
Knowing they delete these “unimportant” calls 
If only they knew, but I do 
I see you grieving. 
Interlude: 
To my people of all races and their families. 
Try swapping shoes with people whose lives are far from ease. 
It’s time I open up these doors; therefore, you see what I see. 
See What I See (Cont.) 
For those who think I am writing this preaching what I preach 
Not even from these lines or what you see can nearly go as deep 
As to how our people suffer, the ones who only believe 
And belief is their only mechanism to one day eat 
A burger in the trash is sufficient enough for them to eat 
The more we know the more we feed those around us with truth instead of hyperboles. 
For those who think the world is perfect 
And their lives are secure constantly 
It’s time you know the truth, 
Take my hand and follow me. 
Postscript: 
To my people of all races and their families. 
Try swapping shoes with people whose lives are far from ease. 
It’s time I open up these doors; therefore, you see what I see.