Atticus by Anthony

I'm from musty book and sun deprived rooms
From places dusty and dry to most men
And law and practice and books read too many times
From the heat and fire of others and the coolness and dryness of me.

I'm from the hate filled land of the south
And the prejudices of the people
From the spitting in my face and threatening to get me
From the trying to stop the one that killed the mockingbird.

I'm from acting on the streets as I am at home
From defending and aiming to
From not drinking or smoking
And not seeming to be able to do anything.

I'm from being good at guns but hating them
And liking everyone even though they don't like me
From being the one to take the baby steps for a better future
And from hoping my children won't be the ones to pay the price for other's
mistakes.

Written by Anthony, 14