Rough Side of Town

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Law abiding citizens nurturing our safe community
we live in a universe of rules written by pencil pushers

Seeming offensive to some and boring to others
gives birth to an underground parallel world out there

Somewhat of a by-product off on a tangent that’s gone astray
it’s the night to the day of our structured monochrome society

Onto shady streets the law of the jungle reigns supreme
its pulse has a raw might that’s visceral and palpable

Theirs is a culture that speaks a foreign language
dark entities settling differences with machine guns

In some concoction of violence chaos and survival
forever keeping score their way etched in blood

Drugs and overdoses every day in every way familiar
jiving on the wrong side of town where we won’t visit

Intertwining realities as normal to them as ours to us
we can’t relate to theirs and they can’t to ours

In their brutal arena the law is an eye for an eye
their justice is savage merciless and unforgiving

Empires built on vengeance of what you want you take
violence begets violence hopefully our worlds never collide

We try to stay blissfully ignorant in our little familiar realm
there’s no reasoning with rebels once the line is crossed

At least in this world our corruption is underhanded
and it’s much easier to maintain the illusion
with our manicured lawns and white picket fences



AP: Honorable Mention 2020

Submitted on June 24, 2020 for contest OPINION sponsored by KAI MICHAEL NEUMANN  -  RANKED 9TH

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020



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Date: 7/1/2020 8:16:00 AM
I have been reading the entries for this contest and loving them for peeling off layers in realities and yours stands out again Line. This is a brilliant thought provoking write. Congratulations on your win :) Keep writing and inspiring. Blessings and love :)
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Line Gauthier
Date: 7/2/2020 4:55:00 PM
Thanks for your most appreciated visit and compliment, Aditi.
Date: 6/29/2020 1:21:00 PM
Delicious, so delicious.... This is a gem worthy of your high placement
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Line Gauthier
Date: 6/29/2020 2:36:00 PM
Thank you for your very kind compliment, Funom.
Date: 6/29/2020 10:46:00 AM
Wow. Thank goodness Vanier isn't that bad. Makes me think of the notorious lower east side of Vancouver, but I'm sure every big city has it's shady side. Great write! Congratulations on your win, xomo
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Line Gauthier
Date: 6/29/2020 12:06:00 PM
Hope we'll never see it firsthand ~
Date: 6/29/2020 8:05:00 AM
makes me so glad I live on a peaceful little island .... but I do read the press:-( congrats on your win Line:-) hugs jan xx
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Line Gauthier
Date: 6/29/2020 9:02:00 AM
Thanks, Jan ~ sounds great.
Date: 6/25/2020 7:17:00 AM
Your poem is exceptional. I hope you win. God bless you with love, Gina
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Line Gauthier
Date: 6/25/2020 8:08:00 AM
Thanks, Regina. Much appreciated ~
Date: 6/25/2020 1:51:00 AM
there’s no reasoning with rebels once the line is crossed.. You put your powerful enough to pierce the hearts.. Great entry Line.. Good luck..
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Line Gauthier
Date: 6/25/2020 8:08:00 AM
Thanks, Jenish. Much appreciated.
Date: 6/24/2020 11:22:00 PM
the truths of this world expertly described, well written
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Line Gauthier
Date: 6/25/2020 8:09:00 AM
Thanks, Timothy. Much appreciated.
Date: 6/24/2020 8:52:00 PM
Sounds like way too many places I know...'the other side of the tracks,' as they used to call it... Hell on Earth. Strongly voiced, my friend! :) gw
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Line Gauthier
Date: 6/24/2020 10:49:00 PM
Thank, Gershon. I'm happy to say that's not the type of crowd I've ever hung around ~
Date: 6/24/2020 8:51:00 PM
Well written Line, and in big cities that's what it's like. Your words are true. Good luck in the contest Tom
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Line Gauthier
Date: 6/24/2020 10:46:00 PM
Thankfully I'm not familiar first hand with this myself ~
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