death by association

I read in the paper

that this kid I used to hang with

shot another

much younger boy on a bike

I remember sitting up the playground

high on pot

and other sedatives

picking on this kid

To me...

it was all in good fun

the name calling

the punches friends throw at

one another

in the dry boredom of summer

but that was years ago

and I lost touch with this young man

he too

lost touch with something...

himself I suppose.

He eventually went on the run

from the police

gained some ground

but then the unexpected happened

He called to turn himself in

and resign as criminal gangbanger

the police went to where he was

on an open street downtown

this kid opened fire

round after round

wounding the officers but not seriously

but this kid

this young boy

caught a couple bullets to the chest

ripped away his life

his confused state of being

they took away justice

to preserve themselves

and I agree

It is an odd thing when you choose

to overlook past friendships

when gun casings line the streets

This child

this boy

this memory

holds nothing but a life that should have been

much longer

if not for proud colors

and drugs

and thick silver

spinning rims

I suppose that dignity thrives everywhere

even in the toughest regions of the world

laws are not just abided by the public

but the non public as well

I can still feel the grass beneath my feet

on those hot summer days

that kid...maybe 12

with no idea of what a gang is

 

Reviews

[Viper9]

A perfectly encapsulated reflection. Meandering yet self-contained. Moralistic, yet not self-righteous. You walk a very fine line here, my friend, and you do it skillfully.

(Didn't find it at all confusing, myself, though I can see why some might.)

[MrJodie]

This one is really, really powerful. It's more of a message, poetic as it is, than I'm used to with your pieces. This hammers a little harder, cuts a little deeper and is more "in your face." It's surprising but not unpleasantly so. The only criticism I'd offer is that the transition between mentioning his shooting of a younger boy and his final shootout with the cops is a little confusing. Is it possible to mention his gang ties a little sooner to help the reader? I know, I know, we don't do that. Do we?

I love your poetry and respect your work. I'm eager for more. Thanks for sharing this.

[Jarrai]

That was a very good read, I could see the whole scene play out as I read, and I think this is one of the better poems out there. If any criticism can be given it could be that you lack punctuation, which is easily revised.