The Man They Call Lumps

He stepped out young with the road wide open, Boots on the dirt and a mind set to learn. Didn’t chase glory, didn’t need a slogan, Just followed the pull of the places he’d earned. He learned real fast where the noise turns deadly, Where boys get older in a single breath. Carried those years like a weight held steady, Not for the stories — just respect for the rest. He found his calm in the eyes of a woman, The one who could read him without a word. She softened the steel he kept tucked under, And he loved her quiet like a truth he deserved. Now he stands firm when the daylight’s fading, A man built from choices, not from chance. Still walking forward, no sign of breaking, A life lived honest, not a life lived to dance.