do not go into dark alleyways
with doors falling off the hinges and cigarettes littering the street
do not step over puddles and slide your hands across the filthy walls
covered in graffiti and scratched-out hearts
do not turn your back to the exit
and be so naive as to assume
that you are safe
do not go into dark alleyways
there is nothing for you in the pitch-black of the roads in between separate worlds of hurling bottles and angry words
do not go into dark alleyways
there is nothing for you there