Over 15 years ago I met a friend in college (Temple U.), he was a Freshman and I was a Senior, so after graduation we lost touch. We were both paying for our own education. He lived on one of the most dangerous streets in Philadelphia. I sometimes wonder what happened to him.

People are not aware
What it is like
Life can be very unfair

Oh god did you survive?
Down on Cambria Street
Are you still alive?

I would go home and pray
Those stories you told
Back in the day
That you were doing ok

Sometimes I think of you
Our friendship short but true
Do you think of me too?

You did not have much of a voice
Living in your mama’s basement
I suppose you had no choice

Where hidden violence looms
Afraid to walk outside
Feeling totally doomed

Little grass and no trees
Dilapatated row homes
Curtains made from sheets

Hanging out broken windows
Hoping not to get beat
Gaining fast relief
From stifling summer heat

People hanging on corners
Selling that good ole crack
Trying to make a living
Better watch your own back

Drive by shootings every hour
Bullets zooming through the air
Feeling like they have power

Searching for a bite to eat
Cooking meth in the backroom
A dangerous evening treat

Neighboring houses burned out
Like an empty bomb shell
Buried body parts
Found down under El

Robbery at the corner store
Mrs. Robinson got shot
She is not around anymore

Pan-handlers dragging around
And so very loud
But no one hears a sound

Ladies standing in the night
Dressed to the hilt
Like they have the right

Good people
Living on that street
What a darn shame
Faced with a great feat

For some we got lucky
Because living every day
Can be so fricken ugly

I hope you are alive
I hope you made it in life
I hope you survived
Cambria Street

Could it be that Darwin's Theory, survival of the fittest based on poverty is true ? 

See photos--copy and paste into your browser:  
      
http://www.citynoise.org/article/5653