I Come From (Cold Street)
I come from ah city of gorillas who don’t care,
no matter what you do
even take ah banana’s peel and they’ll take it there…
I’m from ah cold street, where dudes carry cold heat,
and their adrenaline is pumped from the way the X creep…
My city is like no other the gorillas is one thing
But them snakes are another
I’m from ah city where the wizards play and you’ll hear shots if you turn the wrong way
I’m from the murder capitol where everybody tryna eat
and I ain’t talking about no Big Apple either
So don’t think it’s sweet…
2 Comments
Leave a Comment
The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
Using allegory was a really effective way to evoke an emotional reaction from someone who might have different life experiences. The helplessness, frustration, and danger I felt thinking of a fight with gorillas over just a banana peel mirrors well the feelings wrapped up with our community’s dead-end violence.
The rhythm of the piece is solid. I especially love this line: “I’m from ah cold street, where dudes carry cold heat.” Showing, not telling, can be one of the hardest things to accomplish when writing. The imagery in this poem is strong. Nice work.
That was very true but words to the wise or from someone who has been in your shoes give the people reading more to think about then that you are a killer or thug you are talented and i know you can do it.