Intimidation's Silence - A Poem of the Streets and Homeless Realities

Distanced as I am
from the evnts that shake
through the Homeless community frequently
by my being a camper,
I still hear
the aftershocks.

Rumbles that spread out,
like rippling Secondary Wave propagation
to leave emotions stirred about fiercely.
Fear, Anger, even some joy,
over the violent episodes
ignored by most.

And violence is high.
Again this week the tremblors
race through our fractured rumor mill
of what goes on there,
in Hell's Block, recently
and its surrounds.

Which left me pondering
over what those outside hear
through the biased mass media channels
of our trials and tribulations,
as the war rages
around our "caste".

Perchance that word fails.
It's more like a concentration camp
where we are rounded up regularly
shoved into a milling mass
to contain worst elements
under watchful eyes.

Eyes that sometimes fail.
Such as happened Wednesday night.
When even with cops spotlighting crowds,
a fight broke out suddenly
escalating into 'steel' flashing
before reactions occurred.

Not blaming the police.
All I've heard spoken about
indicates that altercation erupted so fast
they'd just begun to move
when the knife struck
and blood fell.

This kind of trouble
has been on the rise
with a rash late last year
that included one death known of
and others left in air
as the mass media
failed to follow-up.

Not their problem, perhaps?
Beneath their radar for stories?
Who knows their strange reasons why?
I know the code of silence
seems to works strong
among the homeless.

Which leads to belief
among leaders and the "homed"
that we are all guilty somehow.
That silence comes from fear,
as we're forced into
living with criminals.

Checking the news reports
I see no story there
about the events that went down
to use as a balance
to grapevine's sharp shudders
over the event.

And looking further back
only the fatality seems persued
as police released "person of interest"
they'd like to talk to
about that one event.
A hypocrite's silence.

Living with the criminals,
the drug abusers, and drunks
leaves one exposed, if they talk,
to perpetrator's allies and others
who hold "prison mentalities"
about speaking out.

Not to mention mistrust
between the Law and Homeless
created by actions on both sides
that widen that rift daily
thus preventing some move
to prevent violence.

You cannot really trust
that person on next bunk,
who might take offense at words
that implicate them or friends,
not to take retaliation
when least expected.

That is the blockade
for so many crimes there.
The fear invoked by intimidation's shadow,
as the criminals weave around,
leaving threats in air
veiled or openly.

So, I ask this.
Why should not the media
take up for those so fearful
to keep quiet about crimes
committed among the homeless
and keep pushing?

For courage is fine,
until the revenge falls down
and you suffer a painful event
that sends a warning harshly
that you best learn
to stay... silent.
As Journalists do,
in jaded disdain,
apparently.

17January2014 - Dyfedd Rex