Change My Senses

When is it going to change?

Seeing,

 Mothers sit and wait for their unreturning baby’s daddy who went to “buy cigarettes” for the corner store,

Trash and garbage lying on our streets from people out of our town saying we are the new dumpster,

Little girls form ages ten and up walking on the streets at midnight, yelling at the next car asking “looking for a good time”,

My little nephew fall asleep to cries and screams at night instead of his lullaby tape,

When is it going to change?

Hearing,

Auntie yell at daddy for yelling at mommy for yelling at me,

Uncle Sam point at my brother saying war is the answer,

Gunshots and screams over and over every night and every evening,

Silence in the morning but violence at night,

Gunshots next door to the left, screeching and screaming next door to the right, and “No John, please I promise!!!” upstairs,

When is it going to change?

Tasting,

The bitterness of fear from women, men and children when Mr. Evict comes knocking at the shelter they call home,

Tanginess of blood from when your mom told you to bite your tongue because her “company” was over,

That small amount of joy when the children are playing kickball, then your child is playing dead, all too well,

When is it going to change?

Smelling,

Death from across the streets every Saturday, and instead of having church we have funerals every Sunday.

When is it going to change?

Feeling,

Alone,

Tired,

Helpless,

When is it going to change?

Where can we make this change?

Who will help make this change?

What can we change?

Why can’t anyone just change?

How can I make this change?