Write Your Block

My Neighborhood (Kensington)

Mapping Philadelphia, one poem at a time

Write Your Block

My Neighborhood (Kensington)

Mapping Philadelphia, one poem at a time

Frank Sherlock, former Philadelphia Poet Laureate, created Write Your Block as a way for Philadelphians to explore their neighborhoods via poetry, charting—and sharing—their communities through their own words. The result: A map of Philadelphia that is not rivers and parks and streets, but ideas and memories and dreams for neighborhoods through the people who know them best. Below, one such poem, from one Philadelphian.

Submit your own neighborhood poem here.

My neighborhood/writeyourblock (Kensington)
by LeMyth
my neighborhood

my neighborhoods in transition but nonone can see it that way
where with mundane & content or where inebriated & free
just down the street gentrifucation procalls the
the art and the business draw me but my pockets falt me & i go back to kensington
my neigborhoods in transition but were to boxed in to see we cant make a move when no one chooses to see
i just moved here & im happy to be
but i know in 2 years this will no longer be heavy populated by spanish decent bc the people the powers can be who want it can write a check that we cant cash so displacement & desolance will be our last meal
of our last night @ our family table
the one where my neighbors children grown from fist to navel they now attend school and soon to will move on bc we all share time but not the power to see it wrong or right bc this battle wont have a fight
bc we cant stand a chance my neighborhood is in his hands
& he wants it

Header Photo: Flickr/Peter

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility. For questions or clarification on these conditions, please contact Director of Sales & Philanthropy Kristin Long at [email protected] or call (609)-602-0145.

Photo and video disclaimer for attending Citizen events

By entering an event or program of The Philadelphia Citizen, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with The Philadelphia Citizen and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising. By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises.