Poem: “Unknown Victim”

Unknown Victim

I was once a boy who was just a paycheck
being shipped around like the property he was.
I was once a boy who cried between the bars
that kept him away from the life he once call home.
I was once a boy who was lost without his mother
that was addicted to the pain that was keeping him away.
I was once a boy who didn’t know the man
that made him into a seed to have a life by a mother in love.
I was once a boy who thought having a gun
was something to value.
I was once a boy who was criminalized
by his society.
I was once a boy who had talent but sold his dream to the society
and got nothing in return but a flight to prison.
I was once a boy whose goal was set to be the man I am today,
a man that realizes his people are the most privileged people in America.
A man that realizes school was then the only place he can read all day
but he chosen prison because that where his corruption had leaded him to.
A man that realizes he had to build his temple with the proper tools
that have been given to him to go back into the society
to save those who are still in a slave state of mind.
A man that realizes we need to do what we have to do so we can do what we want to do
and that is to uplift those who are still hanging onto the darkness of their lower-self
and give them a grip of love, truth, peace, freedom and justice
so they won’t continue to feed corruption to the mind of our youth
because children today are our future and we need them to stand on top of the lightness of their higher-self

7 Comments

  1. Danny B on October 4, 2010 at 2:14 AM

    Wonderful poem. The repetition of “I was once a boy…” is haunting throughout much of the text, and is a welcome change to the common theme of pure childhood innocence/happiness found from most authors. The transition into “A man that realizes…” is a good literary device and worked well here to show the lessons learned through life.

  2. D on November 7, 2010 at 9:34 PM

    This is fantastic. I especially love that you combined your personal experience with an understanding of the bigger situation of DC’s youth in the last few lines. Keep the words flowing!

  3. FL on December 1, 2022 at 12:44 PM

    This poem is extremely impactful and tells a story that is compelling. I really enjoy how you begin talking about yourself and how it ends with the future. I enjoy that you intake the experiences that you have gone through and write them in this style. Overall the lessons you learned are prevalent in this poem and it is extremely powerful.

  4. Logan on February 28, 2023 at 8:53 PM

    This was breathtaking. The shift from “once was a boy” to “man” showed a progression only resembling that of one’s life. Literary devices can be so powerful, and you truly know how to use them!

  5. Emilie on March 22, 2023 at 1:24 PM

    I love the transition from boy to man. The beginning really showcases your feelings of pain, loneliness, and regret. The transition from youthful emotions to grown emotions is clear and evident. You can see that you now have feelings of hope and epiphany.

  6. Ava on October 10, 2023 at 10:11 AM

    Amazing poem! Your words are extremely moving and powerful. The realization within the writing gives meaning to this whole program. Thank you for sharing.

  7. Rahul on October 23, 2023 at 1:57 AM

    “Unknown Victim” is a powerful and introspective poem that explores the journey from struggle to self-realization and the determination to uplift others. It’s a moving piece that emphasizes the importance of helping those who may still be trapped in challenging circumstances. Good job!

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