Urban Paradise

Urban youth cry a distinct cry not one of anguish or grief or not the cry of a five year old throwing a temper tantrum

They cry because they are searching for mentorship, guidance, attention, love, and someone who believes in them.

Although their cry is manifested in an unconventional fashion it is still there screaming at the top of its lungs

HELP ME Please HELP ME if no one lends me a hand I might get devoured by these cold, unapologetic, vociferous streets.

I might vanish either under the ground or in the depths of confinement

For this is something I am too familiar with.

A young guy at at the rehabilitation center where I work told me he used to be a fit guy before he became paralyzed.

I apprehensively asked him how he became paralyzed. When he told me "I got shot" I did not know whether to cry or laugh!

I wanted to laugh because I thought his statement was a joke but I wanted to cry because I also had a feeling it could be true.

Unfortunately he was not joking....a stray hit him one day when he was 16 outside playing with the rest of his friends from the neighborhood

Many are born into this beautiful yet ugly realm but very few make it out!