Beyond city limits embedded
In, population of trees, poverty 
Birthed a neighborhood of
Innocent youth draped in 
Blissful ignorance. 

Everyday life, a vegetating war zone of
Boys playing gang games in
Strange weather
Today’s forecast: stray bullets.

My mother and father no older than I
Took classes with them, we
Learned to read together 
Parental authority lost favor with me
Too grown to be told had to be reasoned with.

Left home by chance before 
Streets could claim my life, before
Taking up residence in penal institution 
Most of my friends have yet to graduate from there.

Found myself playing gang games in
Different war zone as professional student and
Resident of a martial institution 
Leaving streets of hopelessness for 
Countries of the same.