Death, it's the goal, these gang bangers try to reach...
Retaliation, they think, it's the only way to teach...
It's mostly innocent bystanders, who fall victim to this fate...
Vendetta's against gang members, all they do is hate...
Ending this crime, will it ever end?...
Brother just got killed by his so-called friend...
Year after year so many people have died...
Shot to death, by this chicken-shit pride...
Hatred amongst colors, it's a wrongful disgrace...
Oh the bloodshed, as they're popping off, their own race...
Our blood is the same, no matter what our skin color will show...
Teach your children, this is not the way to go...
Erase this war, rid this gang banging style...
Refine a method and you'll make your life worthwhile...
Saving the future for our children all around, stay away from this life style, or you may hit bottom, six-feet underground.
Author...Denise R. Rojas...1/02/04. Copyright
Let me explain one thing on my poem regarding the language(chicken-shit pride) You all know I refrain from using vulgar language in my poems...but I can't think of any other way to put this.
No language is vulgar when it says something better than any other language. That's why we shouldn't censor and "tell it like it is." Largely from inexperience, young people think they are invincible, will challenge one another, and attempt to do something they've seen others do or in a movie, just to see what it feels like. There is also the ever present nature of two things: fear and group (mob) action.
I used to live in a bad neighborhood. Kids in bad neighborhoods learn early on who their friends are. They band together with friends because they fear the mean streets. Being with others easily creates a "gang" of compadres. Rivalries start and territory is determined. In a group of young men, the one that does the rashest action is usually followed by all the others. If that action seems to bring results (like shooting out of a car and getting away with it), then the other gang members start to participate in the same behavior, regardless whether it is good or bad. After that it takes a strong individual to realize what is wrong and leave the gang. Loyalty is everything to gangs.
Unfortunately... no matter how our school systems have taught our children not to discriminate people of other races, such activities of hatred are still taught by some adults outside of the schools. In the today's world, Racism, and Religions seems to be the biggest reasons to raise wars. Sad. but true.
Early Works is an exhaustive compilation of the first decade of the poems and stories of Z.B.McClure. Included are family photos, rare personal photos, photos of 1st draft manuscripts of many of his early poems. Also some biography and memoir materia
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I used to live in a bad neighborhood. Kids in bad neighborhoods learn early on who their friends are. They band together with friends because they fear the mean streets. Being with others easily creates a "gang" of compadres. Rivalries start and territory is determined. In a group of young men, the one that does the rashest action is usually followed by all the others. If that action seems to bring results (like shooting out of a car and getting away with it), then the other gang members start to participate in the same behavior, regardless whether it is good or bad. After that it takes a strong individual to realize what is wrong and leave the gang. Loyalty is everything to gangs.
Ron
Sandie