Childhood -Vs- Dark Adulthood Poem by Heath Gunn

Children play in mid-day sun,
Thugs conspire to trade drugs and guns.
Innocence borne from lack of knowing,
Evil spreads and keeps on growing.
Swing on swings, slide down slides,
Walk with knives strapped to their sides.
Trusting and open with all they meet,
Their prey they seek on darkened streets.
Covered in mud they scream and laugh,
Scored a fix, slumped over a bath.
Every game a joy to play,
Face exploitation every day.
A life of wonder while it lasts,
Life ended by a dealers blast.

Heath Gunn