gun shots bust like nickel plated cherry blossoms
pulled from the waistband of low jeans
hidden in the sleeves of Richmond sweatshirts
blooming the shatter of auto glass explodes
with the impact of wayward chevrolets
at twenty third and rheem while
mothers fly from living rooms and bound
front steps to snatch babies from front yards
behind chain link and denial
dragging small arms of frightened
screams at mamas fearful urgency
overhead metal slams into the siding of old houses
burrowed amid termites and unrelenting detritus
of slow and persistent consumption
these streets are ruled by the warlords
whose law is vengeance like winter rain
driving hard dark and cold
into impotent neighborhoods
buried deep into weary rooftops
that cannot resist them nor repel them
but pay tribute with diverted eyes
and avoidance of darkened sidewalks
while disclaimed soldiers barter euphoria
and seek disrespect
among the homes of their enemies
classmates in the iron triangle
children run to school wary of the cars that slow
and pull to the curb and thump their skin
dark figures in dark spaces taunt them
and provoke scurry and furtive flight
into the arms of shit apostles
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