It was at about 10pm on August 9th, 2006... the very day my family and I returned to my hometown for the wedding of my mother and stepdad. For how beautiful the occasion was, I couldn't help but notice stuff that was simmering down beneath it all. We were all shocked to learn that a longtime resident of my hometown was beaten by a group of rowdy youth, and in the stress of that situation, ended up passing away.
It bothered me, immensely. Never had such a thing happened -- to my knowledge anyway -- when I lived there throughout my childhood.. up until when I left permenantly in 1999. On top of that.. everything was just so dilapidated. Buildings falling apart, businesses evaporating... and what terrified me most.. young kids smoking, drinking alcohol and acting older than they should. Perhaps I'm an old soul; perhaps I love my town so much, and recall fondly of what endeared it to me. There is still so much to love about my hometown, but at the same time.. a few new things to fear as well.
To this day, I still hope things will look up.
===================================================
Too much grass between the concrete
Far too much plywood
A rusty swing, a split fence
A childhood haven
Pain and blood has
I now fear my playground;
===================================================
----------------------
I remember when I wrote this.
Step on a crack, break not your mother’s back
But instead your heart
Barring windows through which
Blueberry pies once cooled
Dirty linoleum floors long devoid
Of a child’s spilt apple juice
The baring of too much adulthood;
A charade to mask the childhood
Little girl, redo that last button
Stop growing faster than you should
Sits devoid on the corner of the block
For there is nothing more to be considered convenient
As a Pepsi (©) sign rots in the corner of a window
Touched my town tonight
Immature hands compelled
To strike so much
Hurt so much
Where has my beautiful town gone?