Stunted pathways

The alley was narrow and dark and twisty,
Its walls were high; topped with sharp razor wire,
The sky, a light strip, high above.
Grafetti scrawled on the black bricks,
Expressions of anger, hatred and violence.
The windows above were small and dirty.
Even the plants growing from between the bricks were wrong,
Flowers too dark,
The edges of their leaves too yellow.
Where it led, I could not see.
What lay there waiting for me, I did not know.
I thrust my hands into my pockets,
Tucked my head deeper into my hoody,
And tried to walk faster.