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Wrong Place, Wrong Guy

********************** Mario Rocha is an old friend of mine from California who was wrongfully imprisoned for over 7 years. He was stabbed several times while locked up, but left the State Penn. a seasoned poet! This one's for you Super Mario!*************** A child's life evaporated gone in a second's time arrived to a teenage party arrested for a gang banger's crime a night spent with friends fifteen, acting his age the remainder of his years left to die in a cage so many witnesses none could tell speak truth, you die and family pays the hell aboard a train that stops for no one guilt or none receiving a fair retrial has rarely been done the kid never lost the battles in his head but exercised his demons with words instead freedom taken but none could rob him of the dreams in his heart though his nemeses stopped at nothing to rip his life apart still that prison train blazed down the track tried to silence him with fifteen stab wounds to his back they failed to kill him only made him stronger but his family knew he wouldn't last much longer unknown enemies returned with more severity the second time ensuring the kid paid for someone else crime they failed again justice kept him breathing the same justice that's been absent since that fateful evening innocent he never gave up hope there were no obstacles in life for which he couldn't cope just as the belief of his strongest loved ones began to disappear his unbreakable faith became crystal clear through painstaking persistence justice was served during the fair retrial he and his family always deserved incarcerated, the boy became a man much older than years writing was his therapy protecting him from fears through all the pain self-pity never gave him a good reason to cry even though they chose him wrong place...wrong guy

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011




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Date: 12/10/2011 3:59:00 PM
Such a tragic tale, sometimes justice is not served and obviously this man had a great deal of courage to just survive and you certainly have given the whole story the justice it needed in the telling. A fascinating write!
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Date: 11/29/2011 10:44:00 PM
very sad,,,,great poem,,,to a good friend,,,amazing.....
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Date: 11/23/2011 5:05:00 PM
Just saying thanks for your comment and HAPPY THANKSGIVING, dear poet!
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Date: 11/20/2011 7:18:00 AM
A great story and ending for a man who got lost in a broken system but still had the faith to rise above and find his way.. Wll done my friend and please pass on my prayers for him to have a peaceful life... Michael
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Date: 11/14/2011 4:04:00 PM
What a terrible thing that Mario had to go through years in jail, Joey. Let's take happiness in the fact that he was finally vindicated and used his time to study poetry. A very compelling write, my friend. It seems that DNA testing has been finding quite a few people executed for murder did not commit the crime. Our justice system has flaws. Love, Carolyn
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Date: 11/14/2011 9:06:00 AM
Wow, what an amazing story and amazing guy :) Great for him to rise over this and came out stronger-- and yes, writing indeed can be a huge help :) I am glad that he had that retrial :D, 7 years though, wow.... and I hope you don't mind me pointing out-- I believe that it should be "exorcised his demons"-- just want to help... really enjoyed this write, yay to Super Mario indeed :D
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K. Avatar
Kabuteng P.Ink K.
Date: 11/17/2011 10:48:00 AM
oh oops! Sorry, my bad then, Joey :) Thank you for the explanation, I should've remembered you mentioning before that you loved word play ;) that's very cool how you used exercise there, then ;) thanks again and I really enjoy your poems :D
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Jslambert Mister Roboto
Date: 11/16/2011 1:27:00 AM
Thx, your comments and help are always appreciated. I did mean to use "exercised" in this case for the sake of wordplay. Mario, was a kid who never exercised (lifted weights,ect.) b4 prison. Exercise was key in helping the 7 years go by. He also became a poet! Thank you, please continue to help if possible ~JOEY
Date: 11/12/2011 7:01:00 PM
You are a good friend.... sad to hear about the way... he was found guilty... Sometimes life happens certain ways for certain reasons... I have not figured life out just yet... But, i can see how one can find life in the oddest of places and moments... .. Have yourself a wonderful night..Thank you for sharing your interesting thoughts and words. Take care ;-) ..LINDA
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Date: 11/12/2011 6:55:00 PM
Nice job JS. a particular style that I like with a sentiment for this "wrong guy" with no good reason to cry. Love the way you put your rhymes together for "Dramitic effect." Thanks for your gracious kind comment. Agape, Moses
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Date: 11/12/2011 12:43:00 PM
thanks for telling me about Mario Rocha. Now I can understand that the stabbing took place in prison then. When I reread your poem, now I can get that. I think you should include a "bio" in the part of the post that says "about the poem" It would make interesting reading!
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Date: 11/12/2011 1:09:00 AM
Gosh, this is very interesting, Joey. What inspired it? A news story you recently heard about? Do tell!! And I am so glad you liked the sneaky ninja limerick I snuck so quickly into that contest.I barely made it in time!
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