DEATH OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
SCATTERED THROUGH THE GRAVEY ARD OF WASTED CITY BLOCKS
ARE THE SN AGCLED TOOTH, HOLLOW EYED SHELLS
OF ABAN DONED BUILDINGS,
STANDING LIKE OLD WOUNDED ANIMALS WAITING TO DIE.
WH AT THE HELL HAPPEN ED HERE ?' YOU SAY TO A PASSERBY
WHO LOOKS YOU DEAD IN THE EYES, AND REPLIES:
THEY RAPED AND MURDERED ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD.
FIRST THEY WITH DREW SUPPORT. BANKS, SCHOOL S,
HOSPITALS, STORES
AND RELOCATED ACROSS TOWN.
ALL CLOSED DOWN
STRANGLED THEIR BUILDINGS TO DEATH
LANDLORDS
BY CUTTING OFF GAS, ELECTRIC, HEAT.
TURNING THE ONCE HAPPY TEN ANTS INTO HOMELESS REFUGEES
LEFT TO WAN DER THE GRAVEYARD STREETS
FEAR, HUNGER AND HATE TAKE HOLD: CRIME BECOMES KING
ANO THER P0OR NEIGHBORHOOD SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD
AND LEFT FOR THE DEAD.
REBIRTH!
THEN UP FROM THE WOUNDED STREETS COMES THE CRY:
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AIN T READY TO DIE,
'CAUSE WE VE GOT SONGS THAT ARE YET TO BE SUNG.
BALLED UP FISTS WITH BLOWS TO BE FLUNG
HOMES TO BE BUILT FOR HOUSING OUR ELDERS
AND RAISING OUR YOUNG
SO SING YOUR DEATH SONG IN SOME OTHER TONGUE
AND DO YOUR DEATH DANCE ON SOMEBODY EL SE' S STAGE
NO, THIS NEIGH BORH0OD AIN'T READY TO GIVE UP THE GHOST
WE'RE PLANNING ON LIVING OUR LIVES
TO LIVE, NOT DIE
TO THE VERY UTMOST.
- TO LIVE!
W. S.
BULLET
