The Children Of The Night by Mark Spencer

The cold hard city streets can be so unfeeling,
When you grow up on the wrong side of town.

The children who survive, do it by stealing,
But a life of crime will, one day, drag them down.

Those who somehow make it, are street wise and strong.
They have learned to live with the hate and shame.

But it's still not a life that lasts very long,
When the prison bars and graveyards call their names!

The city streets at night are far from paradise,
And the children have to fight to stay alive.

This life makes them tough, with hearts as cold as ice.
In a jungle where the strong may not survive.

Some will go to jail and some of them will die,
As everyone around them turns away.

Through all their pain and fear, these children never cry,
And their mother's are the only ones who pray.

There’s no one on TV asking you to give
Fifty cents a day so these children can live!

It's easy to help others, so why is it so hard
To help the needy children in our own back yard?!

Lori Ann Day (198.81.26.166) -- Friday, February 21 2003, 11:28 pm

Oftentimes, what is obvious, and right in front of us no one sees. When you're running, the goal is to read within a few seconds the intentions of others, but not allow yourself to be read. When I came back from San Francisco as a teenager, I was so street wise that people asked me if I was from New York. I learned to stay in the background, and read others well. In order to survive, I couldn't be mistaken once because that meant my life. I thank God for mothers who keep us in their prayers, who save us from the graveyards as we live our many lives out there. Thank you Mark for a reality poem, and bringing it to the attention of others who need to take a closer look. God bless you, and help all those who are running from something.

Mark Spencer (152.163.189.98) -- Monday, February 24 2003, 10:52 pm

I grew up on the streets of L.A.
Lennox is positioned right between Inglewood and Hawthorn. If you drive out of LAX (LA International Airport), the first mile you drive up Century Blvd. is Lennox. That's where you find the strip clubs and porn shops. Lennox is zoned for that. It's other zoning distinction is criminal activity. In 1979 Lennox was conceder to have the highest crime rate in the nation. It's a one mile square slice of hell that will chew you up and spit you out. For the kid on the street, it has not changed in thirty years. But at least, life on the streets is getting better for the street kids in Romania, Bosnia and El Salvador. That's nice. After all, you here about them. How many of you even knew the streets of Lennox existed, Let alone that children lived on them? I'd be interested in comments from people who have been to or through Lennox. Even if it were coming to or from LAX, over Century Blvd. or Imperial Hwy. You can see a lot just doing that. Thank you Lori Ann, I appreciate the fact that, after reading this work, you were compelled to say something, to notice the kids I wrote about. Perhaps you noticed because you were once one of them. Experience has taught me that most people have nothing to say on the matter, and the fact that you were the only one to comment did not supprise me. This is what I call a "pretend its not there" subject. I'm supprised anyone commented at all. So thank you again Lori for not turning away.

Mark

Martin Vann (63.208.61.195) -- Thursday, February 27 2003, 07:51 pm

Adults at age nine, why are we so blind?.
Mark & Lori;

I am a coward, yet seek the courage to find a way, to save them all. I have not made one monetary contribution to any charitable organization in a very long time. I did in the past long gone by, my excuse today? Trust, where did or would, my contribution go? Yes, I feel ashamed, I only help those, I personally know. I have my own prayer, that I say every night and have done so, for many years. Its almost like a document, it covers my requests for those I love and ask forgiveness of my sins, Keep me healthy and my business profitable. When something happens in the world, I ask his blessing upon them to.

I don't know what else I can do. Perhaps, you have an answer better than mine, I have no higher place to go.

MartinV

Justus Isaiah Richardson (152.163.189.98) -- Monday, May 5 2003, 12:21 am

My life to a tee.
I'm right there with you Rev.

Justus

heaven a.k.a sad girl (68.43.99.209) -- Sunday, December 28 2003, 07:39 pm

I KNOW
I AM GROING UP IN DETROITS STREETS.AND I HAVE FOUND IT STRANGE THAT I CAN NO LONGER CRY.EVEN NOW WHEN I AM IN TOTAL DARKENED PAIN.WELL YOU SAID IT ALL.AND YOU DIDNT LIE TO DO SO...

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