There,

 they stood,

menacingly,

awaiting inevitable confrontation.

Their demeanors, although tell a tale,

seemingly resist the outside noise.

Joint in hand,

they stood,

bolstered above the stoop.

Their faces stern,

they stood, 

effortlessly,

self-fashioning,

projecting a provocative stance

around the neighboring land.

However,

these are just kids, 

sort of like me and you.

Unlike me and you,

they didn’t play for pleasure,

rather,

they stood,

like lifeless dolls,

deep down hoping for interference.

Underneath,

it appears there’s a new story to be told

inside of their narrowing hearts.

One of tragedy and turmoil.

One that scrapes the soul,

decays the mind.

Yes! 

Like you and me!

always self-fashioning.

The powerful presentation takes on a new meaning!

One of pure strength,

these boys wore a look of fatigue on their faces,

however,

they didn’t back down,

instead,

drowning out the inside,

they stood.

Seen as the nadir,

they were shut out.

Indeed,

different from you.

Still, 

they bear the weight of kings.

Always distressed, 

past decisions overbearing,

they wrestle with despair. 

Weights this heavy don’t fall on a commoner.

Nonetheless, 

the young men portray themselves as knights,

hoisting their battle scars.

They defend themselves,

against you,

against the system.

A new perspective arose!

Rather than displaying

a somber image,

they now expressed otherworldly resilience. 

Emerging from bloodshed,

at the zenith,

they still stood.

No longer a photograph of the past,

reality sneaks in,

the boys transcend time.

Their position hadn’t changed!

Still wounded,

still stone-faced,

they face us now,

They Stand.