>>>
Mandy meandered
>>>
as she walked
>>>
down her block.
>>>
She was upset
>>>
by that fight that night.
>>>
She felt
she was
in emotional shock.
>>>
There were the boys
and
there were the girls
>>>
yet
her thoughts
had questions
and
had the whirls.
>>>
What exactly happened?
>>>
How did it all start?
>>>
She couldn’t recall
>>>
that specific,
first part.
>>>
She remembered,
how it
began small.
>>>
Then,
grew more and more.
>>>
Just what was said?
>>>
What was at the core?
>>>
Boys and girls
jumped into that fight.
>>>
They said mean
and
vicious words,
right beneath
the streetlight.
>>>
After strong words,
then,
people started hitting.
>>>
They were bitter
and
angry
and
no one was quitting.
>>>
What seemed
to stop the fight
that night
was because
everyone who joined in
got hurt.
>>>
They grew tired
of the pain
and
all the words
that were curt.
>>>
Mandy chose to leave
when she saw Randy
roll up his sleeve.
>>>
She did not want
to fight that night.
>>>
She ran to her home
and
stayed inside
not to roam.
>>>
She was still angry.
>>>
Her heart,
still hurt
yet
nothing was gained
with the fists
and
the blurt.
>>>
All of the children
yelled about
what was on their mind.
>>>
Yet,
there was nothing fun
about
not being kind.
>>>
Mandy likes truth
and
she knows
it is important
how she speaks it.
>>>
She doesn’t like fights.
She thinks
they are uncouth.
>>>
Mandy kept pondering
for she wanted
a different way.
>>>
Her neighborhood friends
used to smile,
laugh and play.
>>>
She didn’t want
those good times
to ever go away.
>>>
She
then
decided
that
she would not fight.
>>>
She wouldn’t join in
to say mean words
in the night.
>>>
She believed
that she could stand
on the ground.
>>>
She could talk it straight
without any cruelty
to confound.
>>>
Mandy
designed
a new strategy
in her mind.
>>>
She decided
to be the first
to be lots of fun
and
to be kind.
>>>
She started
by saying hello.
>>>
If she received
a jeer
or a sneer,
she told herself,
There’s nothing wrong
with just being mellow.
>>>
She then stated,
Let’s do chalk art
on this block.
>>>
I like to draw pictures
and
to talk
and
then go on a walk.
>>>
She started
doing this
day after day.
>>>
Then
many children
joined in
to play
and
play
and
play.
>>>
Mandy
noticed
it was more fun
to get along.
>>>
She learned
to move through conflict
and
wrote a carefree song,
Put down the hatred,
Bring up the love,
Our hearts are first rate,
Let’s have peace
like a dove.
>>>
She clapped
and
tapped
as some others
joined in.
>>>
Some children still
made fun of her
yet
she turned away
from them,
for she had
something to do
and
something to begin.
>>>