In the Midst

Author James J. Adams presents <i>In the Midst</i> an updated edition of his previously published poetry collection <i>Put the Guns Down</i> (1996). Adams's poetry aims at bringing attention to the violence-particularly gun-related violence-that affects our youth. It proceeds with authenticity and timelessness presented in the edgy spiritual voice of the street. As relevant now as it was in 1996 the poetry of <i>In the Midst</i> focuses on the lives of the young-as they are and as they should be.<i><b>Put the GUNS down</b>Put your arms up. Act crazy be heroic & your grave is nighFights used to take place with fists & cold mama jokes. Both the time & the day have taken a deadly twistPresently brotherly disagreements have a medieval or wild west styleGUNS are completing what captivity & disease started; Burying Folks till our presence is throughA chunk of melted steel with a curved trigga</i>