Shackles of the Streets

I wore the chains of gang life’s might,

A prisoner of pride, and endless fight.

The streets were my home, the gang my guide,

But little did I know, I’d soon divide.

The rush of adrenaline, the thrill of the chase,

The sense of belonging, the false sense of place.

But beneath the surface, a different tale,

A life of hurt, of pain, of endless fail.

I saw friends fall, victims of the game,

Their lives cut short, their futures but a flame.

I felt the weight, of a life un-lived,

A soul trapped, in a world that wouldn’t give.

But then I saw, the light of day,

A chance to break free, to seize a new way.

I left the gang, the life, the pain,

And started anew, with a heart that could sustain.

It wasn’t easy, the struggle was real,

The temptation to return, the memories that would reveal.

But I stood strong, I faced my fears,

And slowly, I healed, through all the tears.

Now I look back, on those shackles of old,

And I’m grateful to be free, my story to be told.

I’ll use my voice, to warn and to guide,

To help others escape, the gang life’s tide.