Shattered Security

Felt safe here from the beginning
Even though others talked about the ‘dangerous’ city
Or said we’re almost the only whites on the block

Still, it was HOME from the start
Our neighbors welcomed us and soon became ‘family’
Ken even became Lee’s new adopted ‘Pa,’
And ‘Billy the Witch Doctor’ is on our other side

Our front door remains open til well past dark
Nearly everyone we see outside saiys hello
We even walked home from Christmas Eve mass at two AM

But last week
When we discovered our neighbors’ house invaded,
Things changed
The sense of safety shattered