Street Rat

She cries herself to sleep every night.

Her eyes red with tears

8 years old

Alone on the streets

Her parents been dead for a year

Both parents shot down by gang violence 

Her parents did nothing wrong

Just in the wrong place at the wrong time

Two honest parents gunned down for no reason

Not having anyone to turn to

Or

Nowhere to go 

She learned to fend for herself 

Fight when she has to

Riff raff  

Street rat

Garbage child

They call these among other names

She reads what books she can find

To help her learn

She dreams of a life off the streets

But until then

This is what she has