MICHAEL OBEDIAH SMITH A POEM ON THUG CULTURE

Often at the
Mercy of Thugs

this is nowhere 

where I care to be 

neighbourhood 

in which I live 

it is where my house is 

not easy therefore 

to just pick up and leave 

is even this though 

an indication of 

the bitter taste 

of the quality of life 

in countries so many 

are desperate to leave- 

to vacate and head 

for places where 

there is law and order 

where structured society 

is guaranteed, is maintained 

is this what we 

allow to become 

of countries we are from 

fleeing them in desperation 

for places that are governed, 

kept safe from those 

who would create mayhem 

from those allowed 

here and elsewhere  

to make life unpleasant, 

uncomfortable, unbearable 

with loud music 

that is tolerated

and not shut off 

and not shut down 

just the beginning of what 

can and usually does get 

much much worse 

so bad that, these places, 

allowed to be spoiled, 

are not fit for human 

habitation anymore 

nothing left but to risk life 

to get to Europe 

across the Mediterranean 

or to the USA, 

across Mexico, 

across the Rio Grand 

why are our home 

countries allowed 

to become so lawless 

to be ruled by mayhem 

why can we not make 

these places, spaces 

pleasant, prosperous 

why are they allowed 

to collapse like they do 

those within who 

are allowed to turn 

our home countries 

into hell on earth 

© Obediah Michael Smith, 2021 

11:37 PM Monday 28.6.2021