She moved here in September
In some ways, the wild west is still wild-
hidden behind brand new shields
bought off the lot,
reflecting the new murals as it passes by.

She'll never forget the fear that lives
one block away from the hip new brewery,
the ross- security guards suddenly not off beat.

"Shut that dog the **** up" he said with the aim on her dog
Real guns, smacked dab in the middle
of the attempted 40 west arts district.

What is it about governments that missed it
and try to make every poor neighborhood an arts district?

So then what?
The answer seems too easily answered
while the reply hangs empty.

And this place, Lakewood
nah, that's nothing.
You only get help if it's declared as something.

But mostly it's the words you said
when the smile faded for a brief moment
That changed me as a person.

And she is just one.
Humanity is layered in trauma
with the worst of it going to brown and black mamas.