Jimmy Santiago's "From Violence to Peace" 

Let me start off by saying that I didn't read the whole poem. Honestly I thought it was too long and got bored, however the beginning of the poem really intrigued my interest. I'm currently in 5th period and the teacher let us work on our own. The room has some talking of people close by me. I went on Poetry Foundation and looked for Jimmy Santiago. I found this speech From Violence to Peace and started cracking up on the first three stanzas. Never in my 16 years of life have I heard this type of language from an author. 

Twenty-eight shotgun pellets 

crater my thighs, belly and groin. 

I gently thumb each burnt bead, 

fingering scabbed stubs with ointment. 

Could have neutered me, made extinct 

the volatile, romantic man I am. 

“He’s dead,” 

doctor at emergency room 

could’ve easily told my wife that night. 

Instead, “Soak him in a bath twice a day. Apply 

this ointment to the sores. Here’s a month’s supply 

of pain killers.” I remember the deep guttural groan 

I gave, when the doctor pressed my groin. 

                  Assured 

I could still make love, morphine drowsed me 

and in a dull stupor I don’t remember 

police visiting my bed, or laughing so hard, 

they scowled for a serious answer. 

I howled a U.F.O. shot me along the Río Grande, 

and they cursed and left. 

The fact that he has to make sure that he can still make babies almost killed me. I was choking on laughter, the girl sitting next to me right now was looking at me as if I was crazy. I LOVE THESE STANZAS! This is not little baby poetry but actual poetry. Jeez I just can't with this man!