Take It Back (Written for the North End Arts & Music Fest)

So now I guess I'm supposed to be
scared of the little kids
that run around my block
that have always run around my block
and occasionally yell curse words they think will make them sound
powerful and masculine and tough
because they might have a gun
and they might know how to point it
and they might know how to shoot it
and their bullets haven't hit me yet
but I hear pops in the night and in the daytime
and I can delude myself into thinking they're fireworks this time
but really, I know
that someone else has gotten ahold of a weapon
and decided to point
and I listen to the pops and know someone has snapped
the crackle of gunfire in our neighborhoods where we sleep is our fear
and even though we're supposed to be scared of that
and lock our doors and windows up tight in broad daylight
and never venture outside
and never talk to those kids or look them in the eye
that's ridiculous.
I shouldn't think that a 9-year-old looks suspicious
or a 12-year-old's intent is malicious
any more than I should hide
from a five-year-old on her training wheel bike
I'm only in my 20s, but I'm an elder to them
and I won't walk on the other side of the road
and I won't shy away from calling our your disrespect
Cause I expect kids to run wild
But I don't expect gunshots from a child.
So I'm saying this hot, cause I won't be mild:
Take back Waterloo
Take back the block
Before another victim is shot
Take back these streets
Take back our homes
So violence is not all our children will know
Take back the city
Take back the 'hood
Cause deep down all these people are good
Throw the guns away
Get your life on track
If you love your city, then take it back
Tell your kids what's up
Don't cut em no slack
If you love your city then take it back
We're all compensating for what we lack
If u love ur city, then TAKE IT BACK.