Stop Sign Youngsters lollygagging

Location

Stop Sign

 

Youngsters lollygagging in the street

Playing hopscotch

Tossing marbles

With the flick of my

Bony thumb

Not even a stop sign

On my Haitian island

 

“Car!”

Jean-Baptiste’s mother  shrieked

With a smile

Sandals flip-flopping randomly

To skid over past death

To life

All of us stopping past the

Dusty road left by

The speeding white pickup

Not even a stop sign

On my Haitian island

 

90 degrees out

Nothin’ but tank tops

From gambling to yoyos

No officiers tellin’ us nos

Tires skidding on the dusty road

Not even a stop sign

On my Haitian island

 

Corrupt government

Watch out for your own kin

No need for blood

For a perfect family

It doesn’t matter how you made it

As long as you got there

 

We abhor rules

But a joke here and

Slingshot there

Fun to all is necessary

Not even a stop sign

On my Haitian island

 

 

Guide that inspired this poem: 

Comments

Additional Resources

Get AI Feedback on your poem

Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool.
 

 

If You Need Support

If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. Text HOME to 741741