Urban Jungle Song
URBAN JUNGLE SONG
Galoshes slip slop along, plop, plip as they drop,
slicker slides like greased otters swimming in slop
pop, pop, pop, rain pelts the rubber hood in splats
as chubby hands launch paper boats shaped like hats
that float on ahead down the road
awash with wishes that swim and slosh
innocent of the need to cleanse or wash.
Pop, pop, pop go the weasels in the stolen Pontiac
Popping without stopping, as they shot him in the back.
He trips, then slips, then watches blood drip-drip
as he raises a palsied fist to the mist across his lip
while they drive by and roll down the road
cackling and slapping high fives with a grin
the random boy’s death was this punk’s ticket in.
Wiper swipes and wipes the glass, cop's paperwork required.
His eyes cast down until the sound of pops and squeal of tires.
Without regard for fear of pain, he slipped it into gear
to crash across the ganger’s path as it barreled ever near
he cut them off from access to the road
his duty in actions without hesitation
ensured justice and eventual incarceration.
Mum wipes tears for her dark fears have come true.
Her child gone and there is none she can do to undo.
Justice cares for just us and don’t you forget
there is nothing they cannot take from you yet.
Would life be better if you walked down that road?
Life happens when you are ready or not.
Fate says you get what you already got.
You are captain of your own ship Destiny,
if you slip up on your trip don’t rip it on me.
Sloppy plotting costs us lives each and every day
and sometimes we forget what we really want to say.
You never walk alone, no matter your pick of road.
We each have our own true voices
and make our personal choices.
----
©2013 Christopher Reilley
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Your words with the mud and the blood, the gore makes me really feel the mess of murder and violence that will stick to to skin even to innocent bystanders...
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly strong writing, Christopher! I resonate with; "Life happens when you are ready or not."
ReplyDeleteAn epic entry, rife with dissonance, brimming with the sad trappings of a senseless drive-by shooting. Is anyone safe anywhere anymore? My poem is my reply.
ReplyDeleteSo true with that last couplet, we make our personal choices. I also like the striking sounds and the strongest imagery is the random boy’s death was this punk’s ticket in. Good work with the dissonance in your poem.
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised by the use of "pop go the weasel" to create the great turn in this poem. The rhythm, rhyme, and repetition all work well with the dissonance of the theme.
ReplyDeletePowerful dissonance in this poem...violence so senseless!
ReplyDeleteWow! Amazing use of dissonance, and quite thought-provoking.
ReplyDeletecackling and slapping high fives with a grin
ReplyDeletethe random boy’s death was this punk’s ticket in.
How hard can it hit to be termed 'random'...