by Nicole Lepke

Created on: November 24, 2008

I Passed Him By

Down the street I pass him by
That nasty man with the swollen sty
He looks at me, hands out and smiles
I pass that man, just pass him by

Further down the street I strode
Don't look them in the eye, I'm told
Danger, violence could unfold
I dream of living on a gravel road

Things here really are what they seem
You sit up in terror, but not from a dream
The bullets pop, a random stream
Through the night, cold, hard and mean

Who gets hit this day or night
Only adds to the constant fright
You hold your children with all your might
And pray that they will hold back tight

For if you loosen your grip at all
Just one wink and they will fall
They see the money stacking tall
And jump right on the dealing ball

There they'll struggle til the end
They fight you off to protect a friend
You call the cops and your son you send
Off to a cell, alone to defend

Now, down the street, my fists clenched tight
I think of the past - tears cloud my sight
My son is gone - his life ended that night
Released from the cell, thrown back into the fight

Stuck on the same street, I again pass him by
That nasty man with the swollen sty
He looks at me, tears fall from his eyes
Anger in my heart, I pass him by

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