A neighborhood (loved!) is caught in the smoke
Yet one generation shields another
Butterflies flit near the watchful-eyed mother
Beautiful (free!) unaware that they’re broke
Violence encroaches, hands reach out to smother
Those kids flutter by though the violent winds wuther
Addicts (still loved!) quickly hiding the coke
One generation shields another
Delicate wings seek a sheltering brother
His eyes (yet free!) wonder if freedom’s a joke
Violence encroaches, hands reach out to smother
Joy and pain fill the eyes of the steady grandmother
(Love!) built of a strength that nothing can choke
One generation shields another
A neighborhood won’t place its trust in the other
But its kids dream a (free!) hope that neighbors invoke
Violence encroaches, hands reach out to smother
Yet one generation shields another
©2026 Jacqueline Tisthammer. All rights reserved.
Photo by Nikolai Kolosov on Unsplash
In Pursuit of More 