I see the building standing tall
Knowing what's inside
Trying to prepare my heart
For the horror the walls hide
Approaching the gates and bars
And the imprisoning cold stone
It's heart-wrenching to think
To many children, this is home
As I walk in the smell hits
A stench that is beyond compare
No one will take care of it
Because no one really cares
I walk down halls of filth
Up stairs that are so gross
Thinking in this life we live
Children hurt the most
I come to the door I've looked for
I knock and say my name
Knowing once the door opens
My life won't be the same
On the other side are children
That are dirty and half dressed
With ratty hair and hungry
Who live a life of death
I look into their eyes
I look upon each face
Each child now a memory
I never can erase
I speak the words that offer hope
To give them a second chance
But uncaring people tell me no
Children trapped by circumstance
They're born in a prison to die
Born in a prison to stay
But someone has to fight for them
Even if we lost today
So I walk away from the door
And down stairs that are so gross
Through these halls of filth
Knowing children suffer most
And as I leave the building
Drugs are offered everywhere
Violence is breaking out
While no one seems to care
But I will never forget
I know what's inside
My heart will always remember
The horror those walls hide
Author notes
This poem is about real things that I have experienced at some of the projects of the inner city of Chicago. The descriptions are what my eyes have actually seen.
A contest entry
- Prewrite Contest! (Show me your stuff) by BloodCrusted.
600 points, ended April 18, 2007, 97 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - PREWRITES!!!!!! by Luminescence.
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Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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You really bring things to a good visual with this piece. The fact that it's of reality is what scares me- though it shouldn't because I to have seen things so ugly; in a nicer town only one block from the school buildings. Great job. Thank you for entering.
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Okay..I grew up in a complex type situation that was deemed projects. Low-income, cheap, identical buildings, countless occupants, many kids of all ages out in the parking lots playing, talking, gossiping, sharing our troubles. We were all the same, no matter what color we were. On the other side of that pretty little picture, we were also doing drugs, drinking at really young ages, sneaking out of our houses, taking our Mom's car, getting into all sorts of petty crimes..The outcome of all this being, everyone of my girl friends was pregnant by age 15-none but one finished high school, and most of the ones I keep in touch with have had years of drug abuse to deal with,
Some have died..
and so on...
The horrors I saw were nowhere near of the caliber you see in Chicago, I'm sure, But it did make me stop and think about my own childhood in one..and how grateful I am that we got out..
Sorry for the novel.
This definitely solicited a response though, thank you for your entry, and beest wishes to you!
Jin -
I have never had to witness such horror and that's what it is to me. This is so sad. I don't think I could see something like this without crying. Especially for the children who suffer this. You did a great job with detailing what you saw firsthand, I felt like I was there with you. Thanks for entering and the best of luck to you!
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This is so sad. Now I know that not all of the projects are like this but every once in a while... yes some are. I like the way that you made this flow and how you walked us back out using repedition... it was a great way to end the poem. It gives it a different conclusion than you would nomally get.
Great poem.
Thank you for entering my contest and good luck in it,
~Lumin. -
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Thank you.
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Interesting.
It's sad that I took somewhat of an offence to this.
I grew up in the projects, though nowhere near this bad. More like a housing complex type thing. But still, I feel guilty. As I read this, I put up a barrier against it, and refused to agree with what I was reading.
Then I read it again, and it touched me. In a very weird way, too...
Thank you for the entry, and good luck in the contest!
-System of Cyanide
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It's actually real.
I was surprised this was offensive to some people out there, but it makes sense to me if it feels like an attack on the people who live there. It isn't meant that way though. I actually come from a very bad background full of drugs and alcohol and violence and death. My mom actually died an alcoholic and addict when I was only eleven. Ten years ago my life drastically changed. Now instead of being someone in that environment, I try to reach out to the people in those environments and have watched many children rescued out of drug houses, abusive homes, and many other terrible situations. I chose this poem as my best, not becuase it is my best ever written, but becuase it is so close to my heart. The descriptions in the poem are actually a combination of three different projects I go to and everything I describe in the poem is real. I live on the southside of Chicago, in the hood, in the middle of gang wars and drug traffic. The reality of what my eyes see is shocking and heart-breaking. I wrote this poem because I want others to know how bad life is for people around here and hope that someone might care and reach out to them. Thank you for letting your deffenses down and giving my poem a second chance. Rachael
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Incredible
This poem made me shiver, the descriptive way u wrote it and the simple lines cut through me. it puts you there, in that building, and seeing their faces. This is a powerful and motivating piece. Bravo, agape- cynt
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WoW!
All the immagery in this poem brings up a lot of visions in my head. Some of these are from the poem. The rest are from my own memery and heart. I am ashamed to admit that there are times when I wish I could forget, but I never can. Not even when I want to. You are right. Their faces never go away. They just join all the others who look helplessly into your eyes longing for a chance to live. Often we are helpless to save them, but G-d will be victorious!!
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wow mom,this made me really sad. because i've been to those places and seen those things,it cut into my heart to read this.the whole world is so full of sin,we dont even see what we're doing to our own children
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