Read the poem that’s informing as well as inspiring young people and older adults alike to the forces that’s destroying a generation of great minds.

The following poem was first read during a gathering at the home of renowned poet, Dr. Maya Angelou. It won the hearts of many.

A Change Must Come
By Clarence Nero

I look around and see all of this killing;
gang banging, drug dealing, dope pushing,
gloom and doom in the chaos of wanna be
cool fools, running and knocking down my
street like I’m the next one to groom for
death coming soon, and then I see no hope
in a grieving generation of endless dreams,
and possibilities, seeing the same sad story
being played out with my family of kin,
fighting in a battle of sin, and I say,
A Change Must Come.

Just the other day stopped by to visit Sheila
she got them two crack babies crying on each hip
like two sorrowful tear drops, and she wasting
away more and more everyday, ‘cause she
got that awful, killing disease called HIV, and
I’m looking at her dead in her face, and
I can see shamefulness and regret creeping
up to stay.
Her body drying up to bones and decay, and
she coughing up blood that’s running down
her cheeks, and she got them black spots all
around her knees, and she hurting real
bad ya’ll, and she can’t even eat,
‘cause she lost her appetite to the world
of deceit, and I say,
A Change Must Come.

Took a stroll through the Ninth Ward,
saw hopelessness and despair hanging
in the midst of the air; memories of folks
snorting up dope, out there on a bad, ya’ll,
shaking and trembling like a bad winter
chill, breezed turned cold,
so come hard times and deep water,
I ain’t gone never fall prey to the
foolishness and craziness out here
today. I’m gone keep my head up
and keep the faith and do like the old
slaves sing, and how Dr. Maya Angelou
say, “I’m gone run on,”
sticking around long enough to see
 what the end gone bring,
so don’t even be asking me or thinking
you gone be jacking me up with HIV or
some drug-induced affect, ‘cause I ain’t
stealing, pushing no drugs, or killing
just to get that fresh, dollar crisp bill feel
On a quick li’l thrill.
‘Cause you heard me?
A Change Must Come