Building Peace in Troubled Communities with Sports..A Poem

Battered, bullied and abused, I existed in shadows

Until the sensation called hope was no more

I grew up among the worst of neighborhoods.

Living dangerously on the wrong side of the law

Drugs were my only haven; my gang, my oasis and my sanctuary

I knew not right from wrong, nor good from bad, nor friend from foe

No light shone at the end of my dark tunnel, as misery abounded

Guns, gangs and petty crimes filled my days, tormented my nights.

Police chased us across filthy streets with their guns, cars, and batons

Escape attempts were futile, often we were caught like rats in a maze

And gunshots put an end to many a life; cheap, wretched, unworthy lives

Crime does not pay, unless it is payment in blood, our young blood

Ending many dreams, before they had a chance to be fulfilled

In such a hell, we lived, nay barely existed. 

No end in sight, with our fates twisted. 

Then one day a miracle happened

Right here, in the center of our community

Outside an old dilapidated building 

Under the tree that had witnessed many a stabbings

Beckoned a man, dressed in white.

Listen to me, my friends, he said. Come together and play some sports

Everyone has some talent, I know, come show yours to the world.

Drop your knives, your guns, your masks.

Come together and reclaim your innocence 

Out of trouble, I offer you a way, if only you heed my words

Make most of it, you have a chance, prove yourselves to the world

Many a days have been wasted, now it’s time to reclaim your soul

Unbelievable though it sounded, my heart yearned to hope 

New opportunities awaited me, when guns, knives, masks were gone.  

I have not stolen anything in a while

To keep my slate clean, my soul cleaner

I have imbibed nothing harmful, nor smoked poison

Eyes now shine with hope and wonder, 

See, there’s light at the end of my dark tunnel

With sports please build peace in troubled communities

Inspire us to become better human beings, not fiends

Teach us to value ethics, discipline and hard work

Help others, just as I have been helped.

So that we can set goals, aim, achieve and aspire

Prepare a plan to succeed and reach higher

Or find a way to escape these hellish flames of fire

Re-write our fate equipped with motivation and desire

Train us to defeat violence, our anger and senseless hatred

Search for new horizons and consider our lives sacred.

Peace can be built in troubled communities through sports.

"Build sports facilities, not juvenile detention centers, to keep young people from committing crimes."