The rain was falling heavily on the rooftops.
The wind was blowing pretty hard.
I heard there was a storm….

Yet, sitting, I could still see children,
Playing happily outside.
Running from one place to another.
Shouting and enjoying.
They continued to enjoy the free bath
Until the rain had stopped.

The rain was falling heavily on the rooftops.
The wind was blowing pretty hard.
I heard there was a storm….

Yet, standing, I could still see a young man,
Dressed with old clothes.
Walking down the streets.
Talking to himself.
Nothing to protect him against the harsh weather.
He was pale and thin.
Looked as if he hasn’t eaten for weeks.
Drenched in rain, he continued to walk
Until he was nowhere in sight.

The rain was falling heavily on the rooftops.
The wind was blowing pretty hard.
I heard there was a storm….

Yet, walking, I saw a young man, looking at me;
A child, sitting on his lap, gazing at eternity.
I bit my finger, lowered my head, continued to walk.
Walked and walked and walked.
Nowhere to go.
I ran, bumped into a boy.
He got angry, shot a dismayed look,
Ran to his mother.
I whispered “sorry”, then walked again.
I saw a man and a woman.
Shouting.
Fighting.
Their children crying.
Mirrors flying.
And breaking.
Littering the streets.

Continuing to walk, I saw people.
Running.
Shouting.
Crying.
Panicking.
Cursing.
Trembling.
Red lights flashing.
Sirens sounding.
Cops running.
Robbers hiding.
I heard a gunshot, then another,
And another, still another… and more.
I dropped to the ground.
My stomach aching.
My vision blurring.
Holding my hand,
Seeing blood.
I crawled…. more blood.
I crawled…. more blood.
The rain washing away precious life and blood
Down the drain….

The rain was falling heavily on the rooftops.
The wind was blowing pretty hard.
I heard there was a storm…....

Yet, continuing to walk, I saw the shining light.

10/18/2001

Author's Note: This is one my favorites poems and the longest I have written so far. I hope you enjoyed it. The first stanza that I kept on repeating was actually for a short story that I did back when I was still in high school. A friend who read the story said the lines sounded poetic. And i believed her. LOL.

Posted on 10/18/2001
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