hood life
welcome to the ghetto
where the old men sit on porches
and reminisce
about the days gone by
when they used to be high
on top of the world
at the top of their game
boasting of all the young girls
that shrieked their name
crying out as they passed
hat leaning to the side
body locked deeply in a
pimp or gangster stroll
when the afro was king
and the words black power
still meant
something……
every now and then
they shake their heads and offer up
lamentations
about the young thugs on corners
claiming they’re taking over
chrome plated pistols rest low in
boxer short bands
necks and wrists dripping with
platinum ice and crystals
while they keep office hours from
12 to 9
with numerous breaks for
incidentals
scowls marring their faces
as they check the vicinity
for the boys and girls in blue
who drive by three and four times
daily
scanning the crowd for those who look restless
checking for telltale signs of hot tempers
and fingers getting twitchy
offering spotty cash flow
for those feeling a little snitch-y…….
matronly mamas still pulling switches
off trees
catching wayward grandkids with blows
that bring them to their knees
sweeping the sidewalk
cleaning up the daily debris
calling to their friends
two houses to the east
asking if pastor is coming on sunday
to preach
if the church bus is running
and if it’s still free
laundry hanging outside on the line
whipping in the breeze………
clean cut brothers with bow ties and bean pies
hawk their wares
calling for the lost to become found
waging a war on poverty and disrespect
crates of fruit and newspapers in bundles
comprise the arsenal at hand
reaching out to the people in the place they call
home…..
the sisters take center stage
got the area on lock
whistles and stares
hoots of appreciation
jeans slung low on hips that are made to carry
a baby on one side
schoolbooks on the other
in this age and day
15’s too young to be a mother
the natural beauties in locs and headwraps
ankh rings on their toes
golden hoops in through their noses
grassroots workers trying
to keep a dying
movement
off life support…..
traditional families
trying to scratch out a living
worried the schools aren’t good enough
for their 3 kids
sitting down to dinner
teenage son’s friends roll by
blue cadlillac
20 inch rims that spin
bass thumping rattling the windows
papa checking his watch
got an extra shift at the plant
nervous about the pink slips
making the rounds
mama’s hours got cut
she’s down to part time
struggling to find the blessing
in barely staying alive….
welcome to the ghetto
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