Before the Crows Arrive
- sdonlucky18
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
A Golden Summer of Legacy
There comes a moment in every dreamer’s life when the destination quietly becomes another beginning.
June was that moment.
Exactly one year ago, Life Is Just a Dream: A Book of Poetry entered the world carrying nothing but words, faith, and the quiet conviction that one story could outlive the silence surrounding it.
Twelve months later, those same words carried me to Chicago.
Not as a spectator.
But as an award-winning poet.
Standing before the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, I had the honor of accepting the 2026 First Place Best Poetry eBook Award for Life Is Just a Dream. It was a moment I’ll carry with me forever—not because of the plaque itself, but because of everything it represents.
Every late night.
Every performance.
Every rejection.
Every poem written when no one was watching.
Every chapter completed while wondering if the world would ever turn the page.
The award wasn’t the finish line.
It was confirmation that persistence leaves footprints long before recognition arrives.
To the entire BCALA Awards Committee, thank you for this extraordinary honor. A special thank you to Tiffany Duck, whose kindness, professionalism, and encouragement helped make this experience one I’ll never forget.
Chicago had more lessons waiting.
As recipients of the award, we were invited to experience the Obama Presidential Center—a place built upon the idea that leadership is measured not by titles, but by service.
Walking through those halls, I found myself reflecting on legacy.
Great leaders don’t simply leave behind accomplishments.
They leave behind opportunities for others to dream bigger than they once believed possible.
Standing where history continues to be written reminded me why I started writing in the first place.
Not to become known.
But to leave something worth remembering.
The city continued to surprise me.
For years, Shameless wasn’t just another television show.
It was one of those stories that stayed with me because it understood struggle without surrendering to it.
To finally walk through the neighborhoods where those unforgettable scenes came to life felt strangely personal.
Sometimes art prepares us for chapters we haven’t reached yet.
Sometimes the places we’ve only visited through a screen become reminders of how far we’ve actually traveled.
Then came another full-circle moment.
On June 20th, I had the privilege of performing at the Ruff Ryders Juneteenth Street Festival.
There’s something beautiful about poetry leaving the page.
Standing before families, elders, children, music lovers, and neighbors reminded me that poetry has always belonged to the people.
Books preserve words.
Communities give them life.
The momentum didn’t stop there.
I also attended an incredible event at Long Island University, where legendary engineer Young Guru shared decades of wisdom earned at the highest level of music and culture.
Greatness has a rhythm.
The more rooms you enter, the more you realize every accomplished person leaves behind clues.
The responsibility is simply to listen.
Looking back at June as a whole, I realized something.
None of these moments happened overnight.
They were built over years of invisible work.
Years where it often felt like it was just me…
G.O.D…
and the vision.
There were moments when anxiety whispered louder than confidence.
Moments when loneliness tested purpose.
Moments when the dream felt almost impossible to explain.
Eventually I discovered something priceless.
Purpose became the remedy.
The work itself became the peace I had been searching for.
Looking back now, I understand that every setback was quietly building endurance for moments exactly like these.
And then came perhaps the most meaningful moment of all.
As I accepted my award, I dedicated it to someone whose story hasn’t even begun.
My unborn son,
Christian Mi’Amor Linton.
Expected to arrive on December 9, 2026, by the grace of Almighty God.
One day he’ll understand that every poem…
Every performance…
Every sleepless night…
Every sacrifice…
Every mile traveled…
Was another brick being laid beneath his future.
Everything I’ve built has never been about standing above anyone.
It’s always been about making sure someone else has a stronger foundation to stand upon.
That is legacy.
And the work continues.
July opens another chapter with the release of my next single,
“Love You Truly,”
featuring my brother $inematic.
A reminder that music, like poetry, has always been another language spoken inside the same heart.
Then…
August approaches.
Those who have followed this journey closely have already seen the signs.
Something darker.
Something raw.
Something honest.
The silence has almost finished speaking.
Crows of the Ghetto is on the horizon.
Some stories arrive loudly.
Others circle patiently before they land.
This one has been flying overhead for years.
As June closes, I don’t see an ending.
I see evidence.
Evidence that faith still rewards discipline.
Evidence that consistency eventually introduces itself.
Evidence that dreams become history when they survive long enough to become reality.
One year ago…
Life Is Just a Dream became a book.
Today…
it has become a testimony.
Tomorrow…
another chapter begins.
The crows are almost here.
“The dreamer prevails.”
✍🏾 Lucky Goldie
© 2026 Poetic Production NYC™. All Rights Reserved.
Life Is Just a Dream: A Book of Poetry © 2025 Lucky Goldie.
P.S. June reminded me of something I’ll never forget: awards recognize the destination, but character is built on the road that leads there. The road continues.
Comments