FISH OUT OF WATER

FISH OUT OF WATER
Having grown up in the country
The city streets I did not see
Oblivious to the urban life
All the struggles, all the strife
Until I moved to a bad neighborhood
In Hartford, I fully understood
Floundering like a fish out of water
Everyday I would watch the slaughter
Drive-by shootings all day and night
Just to survive was a constant fight
The only white girl in "Frog Hollow"
Feeling unsafe was hard to swallow
Couldn't even walk to the corner store
Without being approached like a $2.00 w***e
Pepper spray I kept on my keychain
My only defense, I'd explain
All my neighbors were street savy
Every person, except for me
The majority were supressed
"Tagging" walls, they expressed
So many had dropped out of school
But on the street, they were no fool
Many generations living together
At least they were safe from inclimate weather
The shelters couldn't hold all the homeless
Had to arrive early is my only guess
Many received foodstamps and welfare
While other's worked hard to get out of there
Often people succomed to crime
Feed their habits, buy that dime
My hat's off for those able to move on
The ugly duckling turning into a swan!

DORI {07JULY11}