In the Midst

Author James J. Adams presentsIn the Midst,an updated edition of his previously published poetry collection,Put the Guns Down(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 ofIn the Midstfocuses on the lives of the young-as they are, and as they should be.Put the GUNS downPut your arms up. Act crazy,be heroic & your grave is nighFights used to take place withfists & cold mama jokes. Boththe time & the day have takena deadly twistPresently, brotherlydisagreements have a medievalor wild west styleGUNS are completing whatcaptivity & disease started;Burying Folks till ourpresence is throughA chunk of melted steel with acurved trigga