WHILE WALKING

The disparity among the city dwellers
were obvious as I walked along the
corridors of bright and dimmed lights.

The different levels and styles of music
were distinct.  The conversations ran it's course
from university masters to street doctorates.

The level of dress was worn by a mixture of
high class hookers, college kids, the hip and the heavy,
those in the know, eager to show brand names,  self
style and body culture.

Their rides were message senders, sleek and daring,
expensive and style setting Their daring colors were
trendy,stylish and meant to catch the eye.

There were no evidence of racial division along these
corridors.  All different ethnic groups were holding
hands, talking, laughing and dancing to the beat
of soul music.

Drinking the same drinks, sometimes drinking out of
the same glass, eating the same foods, doing the same
drugs.  All wanting to belong to this community of souls.

This is a different generation, trying to forget the
history that haunts them. They are willing to bend
one's will to the desires of the street vendors that pushes
corruption rapped up in fool's gold.

In a differrent part of the city, the lights were few.
sad music played, mostly blues. There were very few
cars on the streets. The homeless were competing
against the rodents for food.

Dwellings that were once filled with laughter, are now
filled with the weeping of children and unwed mothers.
Apartment are scarcely furnished, very little food
or clothing.

The pimps and drug pushers on every corner draining
the life that is left, taking the innocence from the
mother's daughters and sons, age don't seem to matter.
Replacing hope with dope.

In a different part of the city, the lights were bright on
every corner and at the end of every driveway, and doorway
of it's camouflage private clubs and homes.

There are majestic homes seeking separation from the
slum lords, deseased communities.  It is the same people
behinds these doors that are responsible for the quality
of life, that they seek to avoid

They play their music from sound proof rooms,
smoke their long pipes from ventilated closets, drink
their imported wines, beer and liquors, taste their pure
cocaine. Exchanges sexual favors for political leverage.

In this setting, they make political decisions that are
destructive to the community and it's people in which
they are not visibly a part of.

This community of bright lights, perfectly paved street were
totally silent from the streets. There were no visible pimps or
drug pushers, there were no signs of hunger, no loud music
there were no children crying.

But you can still sense the pain.

Poetic Reflections By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2009