Join the Neopoet online poetry workshop and community to improve as a writer, meet fellow poets, and showcase your work. Sign up, submit your poetry, and get started.

THE GHETTO

The ghetto

Woven in one word
Is the very essence of a soul
What’s makes the ghetto unfold

Is it trash, bottles or cans
The  paper wrapping of a life once had
As we tossed  away  those paper tags.

Is it trash in ones minds
The anger
Jealous actions
Hatred without compassion
Metastasized .
Unsubstantiated
Propagated   
By comparison
To a ghetto explanation

Remember it’s your word against theirs
What a ghetto is.
Is the ghetto away of life
Or is ghetto , a state of mind

Is the ghetto , not cutting your grass
Or not ,washing your hand behind your ass
Is the ghetto , the car your drive
Or the walk with the bags of groceries
Five children beside.

The ghetto is a state of mind.

There might be a part two , I had fun writing this one
Because I laugh when people use this word

  

— press, Sep 18, 2009

About the Author

Country/Region: USA

More from this author

Critiques

press

press

16 years 10 months ago

Kal Thanks

Hey Kal What's up with you!I hope all is well . Thanks for the love guy it's always a bright spot in my life. And your suggestion dose sound right. It's makes that line flow a little better. And I just read it your way again [ big smile] LOV2U PRESS
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 10 months ago

Hey U2, where is the love?

Hey U2, where is the love? Seriously Press, there are ghettos everywhere, and the question is which came first, a *state of mind* from those living inside or the state of the state that keeps that state of mind intact, so to speak. I suggest the latter. The subtle art of discrimination based on race, sex, sexual persuasion, ethnicity, familial status and national origin. Don't forget I was a Realtor once. And there was nowhere I wouldn't go... deep in the heart of any *ghetto*. Love. ~A
press

press

16 years 10 months ago

OK Kal I love to mix it up with you

I owned 6 rental houses and 2 apartment building, a 13 unit and a 26 unit with and elevator . Over two million in equity I swear this is true . So I have a good reasoning of the ghetto . I was the landlord . When I collect my rent I seen how people lived. Some were clean and had nice stuff. Some were not so good . The ghetto is a state of mind. I will add more later on my friend
Seren

Seren

16 years 10 months ago

Dear Press

I think its all been said before me but this is one of your best its showing the good side of things ... I enjoyed this one ... and it feels different from your other ones .. has something good happened to you ? there is a lightness to this one that wasn't in your other writes and I throughly enjoyed the change press well done :) love and higgest bugs Jayne x x
O

Orphani

16 years 10 months ago

Hi press, First

Hi press, First time reading your work, and i can see you have a social conscience. does the environment create the man ,or man the envirronment.the answer is both.It does depend largely on the individual, but also to a greater extent on our social conciousness,becouse we are all interdependant.economic realities can make a man rich or poor.But can it make him good or bad?We all make our choices based on what we learn.And I say where there is love there is no poverty. Best wishes to the people of Detroit during these tough times......o
KS

Kenneth Sharp

16 years 10 months ago

I felt this was a solid

I felt this was a solid piece overall; my favorite lines: Hatred without compassion Metastasized Part of the reason is the use of the powerful term 'metastasized', and the interesting linkage of hatred and compassion...which, I imagine many assume to be mutually exclusive concepts. And yes, I agree, 'ghetto' is a state of mind.
O

orgami

16 years 6 months ago

from where

truths I so greatly read the authenticity This is an amazing poem and written well a look back in honest view Thank You

Join Neopoet to leave a critique

Neopoet is a free community of poets who critique and support each other's writing.