Do you see the world in my face

it grows in the city
down there in the sewers
where the kids crowd together
tryin’ to stick to where the glue is

the city in my face

[ article in progress ]

it grows in the suburbs
where the love-sons unattended
are left crying for their dads
or their Puerto Rican nannies

the city in my face

it grows behind a shed
at the edge of a school yard
in a face against the wall
in the back of a police car

the city in my face

it grows in the concrete
out there in the projects.
in the resignated faces
when they’re lining up the suspects

the city in my face

it grows and it grows
but you know beggars can’t be choosers
but you still have the choice
of being used or being useless

it spreads like a disease
through the veins of the system
you can share it with the world
or whoever cares to listen.

Ii grows under the carpets
in the corridors of power
behind barbed-wired-walls
and in observation towers

it grows on the side walks
where we sacrifice the daughters
of the unwanted girls
who grow up to be their mothers

it thrives in the dark
in the lack of education
in the cavities of hate
in the state of deprivation

when everything’s for sale
and where everyone’s a liar
and talking about change
is like spitting on a fire

we’re looking for a cure
but we’re not sure what the disease is
but anyone can see that
the only thing they’ll ever be is…

Even more rejected
Even more infected
Even more submissive
Even more vindictive

Even more bombarded
Even more retarded
Even more addicted
Even more constricted

Even more dejected
Even more neglected
Even more short sighted
Even more though we’re not invited

Even more indicted
Even less united

— — —

Published with another text as a photo essay in ETC Magazine 2019.
A smaller collection was awarded at Gothenburg Street Photo Festival, 2021.

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