fending for yourself
fear infiltrates educated hallways
racial tensions fill the streets
a mother trying to quit worrying
where blue birds land on their feet
homegrown violence simmers
deep within inner city alleyways
hooded teens swagger and curse
knives sheathed inside ragged socks
street smart kids wired for sound
defend themselves from unjust laws
backpacks filled with jagged edges
sit unnecessarily beneath bus seats
homeland security doesn’t work here
not where children fend for themselves
either all alone in darkened classrooms
or recruited by enemies of the state
november two thousand fifteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
