Family
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An older woman with purple hairWalked into the office with such great flair,And pranced straight up the stairs, intending to meetThe CEO of the company that sold her that peat—
She cried out for attention—was it really a game?
Or was it the only way they’d remember her name?
Her voice, an echo, lost in the night,
Drowned by indifference, swallowed by spite.
“I just want to go home.”
“But, you are home.
This is your bed.
This is your room.
That is your mirror that is not quite level
Mom abandoned her children, just gave us away.
Sheer terror he felt, as she promised to come back someday.
Left full of confusion, feeling broken and alone.
A house full of love, but no mother at home.
9:45 PM
twilight arrives
bleeding on your bathroom tile.
you brush your teeth,
wipe your face.
the towel is already damp.
i hold on to her word like it's a gospel.
she's taught me religion,
yet i feel like i forget my solid grasp on her teachings.
i yearn for her approval,
just as she had before me.
I am from long train rides, crossing borders and foreign foods.
I am from the competitive spirit of any and all sports.
I am from the world of music; pop, rock, reggae, you name it.
Sweet melodies.
I am from long train rides, crossing borders and foreign foods.
I am from the competitive spirit of any and all sports.
I am from the world of music; pop, rock, reggae, you name it.
Sweet melodies.
Like a bear
Who stands up to its enemies
With its ferocious, bone-curdling cry
Scaring away those who stand in its way
Away from its untouchable shelter
There, in the shaded cave hides
Little Fire runs around
Energy fueling him
Like car-running
Petroleum
He races like an
Engine, desiring
To warm up the
Chilly weather
But the blizzard
What's the point of walking
Into a place with cozy decore
Yet it's no place like home
The sign on the matt welcomes me
But I don't feel welcomed
There are people with open arms
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
I’m sorry?
I am sorry
But I’m also not sorry
I love you so much
You say you love me,
and I think that's true,
But you don't love me
more than you love you.
If I was worth more to you than your pride,
maybe then you would have apologized.
I want time to stop
I want to sleep, breath, and find peace
Days feel so hurried now
Time ticks
I feel the rush I feel the need the desperateness
“Never tell Zayda you're hungry.”
"Never tell Zayda you're hungry."
I was told very long ago
By Mama, his daughter, who made him so happy,
Cold and Alone
A girl,
Little more than a skeleton in this fallen world,
Balls herself up in a corner of this small room,
Freezing,
Your death came as a surprise, it certainly wasn't foretold.If you hadn't died, today you would've turned 76 years old.I learned that you were terminal shortly before you died.
The one person in my life who was supposed to be there for me showed me not to rely on
anyone,
And don’t you dare think for one second that I need support from you to get anything done.
Who said I is inside?
Oh! I wish IT wasn’t!
Put IT up in a tree
Or on a clothing line
There in sultry Hampton.
soft and squishy is my heart but I have learnt the dark artof using a lipstick like a wandwith a layer painted on I become like teflon
When all you did was please
For acceptance and ease
And the moment you stop
Because it’s not what you want
In her eyes, you’re not good enough
like roses and diamonds
we flip but never flop
even if we slip off
eventually,
we wont fall off
roses are tossed around by wind
but firm is there root
I got you yeah I got you ooh it was a Saturday night, When it all went bad yall tried to make it right Ended hurting me bad but that's all right I still love you dad.
Today is Mother's Day of 2024.But you died and you can't celebrate Mother's Day anymore.You were a wonderful mother and I'm your youngest son.You died eleven years ago in 2013 when I was forty-one.
Today is Mother's Day of 2024.But you died and you can't celebrate Mother's Day anymore.You were a wonderful mother and I'm your youngest son.You died eleven years ago in 2013 when I was forty-one.
Sometimes I miss being a kid
Being younger
Being cradled by my mommy when I get a scrape on my knee
Playing outside with my sister and laughing
Going to the park and having fun with my daddy
If my mother truly knew best,
then why is it that my father is here
and not her?
You keep telling me that I should trust in my mother,
BUT the second I do,
it gets thrown back in my face, ten-fold.
She wanted you,
but she needed something else
not for herself though
so she did what she knew best
she let her wishes go
she choose the need
and she did get it
she should be happier-a bit
In the twilight of life as years gracefull dance,
En la penumbra de la vida, con gracia que avanza,
The heart of Hispanic heritag, we hohnot and enhance,
El corazon de herencia hispana, honramos sin mundanza.
I remember you.but I also hope thatyou will remember me too.
You’re out theresomewheresmiling,crying,having the time of your life.
Another year older
Another day colder
The heat went out again this year,
Almost like a tradition
I’m single again
Almost certainly a tradition
And the pipes have burst
If I could but forget your touchYour embrace, so warm and tightThe way you sang, so sweetly muchAnd how your words lit up the night If I could wipe your scent awayThe taste of you upon my lipsAnd in silence the pleasures you layWith all the memori
If I could but forget your touchYour embrace, so warm and tightThe way you sang, so sweetly muchAnd how your words lit up the night If I could wipe your scent awayThe taste of you upon my lipsAnd in silence the pleasures you layWith all the memori
Oh lady, do you remember me?The flower you left in the book of poetry.I lay forgotten for so long,My petals dried, my colors gone. But then, a miracle occurred,I melted warm in the odes of Keats.His soul now resides within my own,And I breathe his
Trust me: all mothers are incredibly special
Wonderful, beautiful and phenomenal
Without mothers, there will be no living
Trust me: all mothers are incredibly special
Wonderful, beautiful and phenomenal
Without mothers, there will be no living
They say
“when something is too good to be true, it usually is”
How sad, that i use this in regards to you.
May is the month of love
May is the month of all flowersMay is the month of all Mothers.
Willkommen Zuhause
Willkommen auf der Erde
Wo niemand perfekt ist
Und nichts ist immer richtig.
Willkommen Zuhause
Welcome Home
Welcome to Earth
Where nobody is perfect
And nothing is always correct.
Welcome Home
Because, she is everything.
She is all the things I am not
And all the things I wish I could be
Everywhere she is full
Is a place I feel so empty.
It's a hard feeling to describe
Zulfiqar, Iftikhar and Intizar,
Names that echo through the bazaar,
Each one unique and full of grace,
A symbol of a different place.
Zulfiqar, sword of Ali's might,
A weapon for the just and right,
i.
I say I don't like
being copied, but then I
go and copy you.
ii.
I can't live without
your imput and telling me
what to do, weird
i.
I say I don't like
being copied, but then I
go and copy you.
ii.
I can't live without
your imput and telling me
what to do, weird
I know I cannot impress upon youThe love and care that I carryIt is not explosive, but stable.Strong, safe, familiar.Natural and home grownWith roots buried as deep as a tree decades old.
I am a living memorial of the people whom I came from
I am a living memorial of my great-grandfather from my failing legs
I am a living memorial of the goodest boy from my wrist
I am from divorced parents
I am from a large house of empty rooms
I am from a school that looked the other way when problems arose
I am from a neighborhood close to a park
I peered out the windowI saw you leaveand somehowI was not surprised.
You hated it hereyou rebelled against mebecause I never couldI never could replace her
Sitting next to the fireplace with hot coco in my hands
A comfy ugly sweater on with a blanket wrapped over my legs
Watching a beautiful movie with family and friends around
Protection. It comes from a Primal place deep within that it creates Instincts that rivals a stone cold killer and WE become the Savage threat because Love is Love and that's the root of OUR Power.
I’m so far away from youbut I’m thinking of you always.
I miss your smileyour laughyour presence.
You are alwaysin my thoughtseven nowwhen we’re apart
A mass was said for us in Ireland, by request of my grandmother's sister, or my mom's aunt Nora.
The first thing I remember loving was my cat-
My first best friend.
And my baby brother,
And dinosaurs.
-
I loved my stuffed animals,
And worms on the sidewalk.
I loved the people in movies,
I can't tell you how much I love you
After love for myself
I have love for you
Even lightening from sky,
How stronger it could be
Cannot be stronger than my love for you
Freedom is a scarce commodityRunning into open armsEvery time you close your eyesEvery time I say I love you.
Anytime you need someoneThere is always a place for you in my heart.
In the darknessNever fear, my dear!
There is no one stronger than youHeed my words well,Enter the lion’s den.
You are not aloneYou will never be
Home’s where the heart isThere is where you’ll be
I love you so muchIn my heart, you’ll be
But you are so strongWarrior you’ll be.
The world had changed.Nuclear war had seen to that.Two powers fightingAlana wanted to sayone was evil and the othergood…
But things weren’t so black and white.
I know what it felt like to be without work
And to be without a girlfriend, to befriend
people I shouldn't have befriended , done things I wouldn't
consider doing now with my time.
Why haven’t you come out?
It doesn’t make sense
You know your parents would… probably accept you
They are allies, you know that much
Today is Mother's Day of 2022.But I can not spend it with you.You died over nine years ago.Love was what you once showed.Many people celebrate this day.But in 2013, you passed away.
It was darkand the fire burned.Lena knew it was only a matter of timebefore she lost her mind.
Her sister was a wild oneeven though her body wasoh so frailoh so frail.
I visited my mother just yesterday
For far too long I had stayed away
Frail and weak on a hospital bed
Smiling while knowing what lay ahead
Still in there, my mother of the past
I hate him in all his glory but hell he’s improving
There’s a reason i nicknamed him the good o’l asshole
Hell i'm planning a tattoo dedicated to him
I remember the pizza place
Today I realized the word Shepherd, is one "e" away from Sheep herd
Which isn’t enough to write a poem about
But it was enough to make me not kill myself today.
A boy and girl in a photo, half a century old
Long hair on their heads, truly a sight to behold
Laughing and having fun, from a time now long past
Do they still remember, did their memories last?
My first home stood by shells and sand alike. I passed the days and nights down by the waves. Home two had fields and woods through farms to hike. Our fence was long but I climbed all the staves. The barn held horses, cows, and many goats. But Cr
I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sor
We used to write, you and I,
When I was too small to grasp
The world or anything in it,
And you were afraid
Of what I would find if I knew;
So I waited by the mailbox
For your watchful answers.
I'm Rapunzel and I've just cut my hair off.
It meant freedom at the beginning,
But now I can see
I'm still trapped.
How am I supposed to get down now?
Hayley Williams said "burry the castle",
My family,
It's falling apart,
Just like dominos.
When my brother makes my mom upset,
She gets mad at me.
And when I get mad,
I get mad at my sister.
My whole family,
i met the devil last night
she wore my face
and had slinked on my body like a coat
she looked like myself,
though a few years younger
He awakens to a day of hopeafter happy day of birthattended by smiling parents proudwho know his priceless worth.He awakens to a day of hopelying restless on his bumafter one move that surprises him
Every night my mind plays melodies
From a song I haven’t quite learned yet
Perhaps I never will
But she also weaves thank you letters
Thank you’s for all the people in my life
The ones who left me
When I close my eyes
I can see your face
Your pain harden soft wrinkles
That once caressed you gently
Heavy weight
Let there be laughter
And not grief
On the day I go
For tears
Will not suffice
Let there be light
Losing someone you love is the hardest thing that anyone can go through,
It's so strange to think about them being gone when they were always there for you.
Some people will never understand the love that we have for our pets,
My family means the world to me.
It's somewhat like a big huge tree.
Our love grows roots further than the eye can see.
What my family feels like to me.
Love is something that always grows
But it's very sensitive you have to be very apprehensive of what steps you take.
It takes seconds to break and years to make.
Familie is a capability.
Which we all don’t understand.
Families are people.
Who worries about you.
No matter the case.
They are forever loyal.
I had a father
Though not known
For the world to celebrate;
But I had a father
Whom I had known,
I won't forget till date.
Love
what would we do without it
God
What would we do without Him
Family
What will we do without you
Colors
Mine is blue
All the adults think that their kids are just
Dying to get
Older,
Leave their childhood far away
End the Legos and playdates, leave
School hoping to get paid. Buy their first
***DEAR MOTHER TODAY IS YOUR DAY.
WHATEVER YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME I CAN'T REPAY***
***YOU ARE MY LIGHT OF LOVE AND POSITIVE RAY.
YOU ARE SO BRAVE AND I ADORE YOU THAT WAY***
***I WANNA BE YOUR PORTRAY.
Dear Mommy,
It's the third Mother's Day without you
I miss your beautiful smile, and your laugh
I could count 1000 things I miss about you
and it wouldn't count for half
Beautiful Baby
Rosy Cheeks
Eyes Like The Ocean
A Smile That Melts My Heart
Curious Baby
Eager to Learn
Crawling and Exploring
Each Day a New Adventure
Loving Baby
Only you have loved me more,
I have loved you too,
But only you have more love.
We knew you had a gentle soul,
We've heard them say a hundred times,
You wouldn't even raise your voice,
When wronged, abused or lied to,
Your love was real, that's for sure,
For Ma Phyllis
There’s a small kingdom,With many people,Yet unknown to the worldThat mourns the loss of their Queen.
Six decades ago – an athlete;
five decades ago – a proud Marine;
present day – shattered pride!!
Visiting family for weekend stay, and
Today, a day like any other, the summer winds blow gently through an open door, I am happy, content, filled with hope for the future.
We heard the news January of ’18.
Tears burned my face as the pain entered my heart.
It was not a happy day; it was not a pretty scene.
A new, difficult journey was just beginning to start.
As we fight and fumble through our life, around every turn lies a new and exciting challenge.
I never thought I needed help
Picking up the pieces
Then you came along to help with
Picking up the pieces
I never trusted you
But I'm
Picking up the pieces
One day I might trust
One day I might find the one
One day my mom might be okay
One day my sister may find who she really is
One day my brother might learn to truly care
One day we might all be a happy family
*_NOT EVERYONE_*
_Everyone can stay not in your life, most especially fake people would find every reason to let go._ *While the real will seek all chances to stay go.*
_No friends, cherish the family._
#c9_fm
Blamed for the bottle
I'll never forget.
Blamed for the abuse
Hovering over me, reeking of the stench
Pouring out drunk love
At any moment it felt like this could be it.
All I could do was sit and listen.
Rare times, I think of you
Time goes by.
Less I long to see you
Days turned into months
Months turned into years
No longer do I shed tears
You seem to be okay.
I am okay too.
Not a single day goes by
where I don’t think of you.
The feelings of heartbreak,
I thoroughly cannot explain
Comes in waves.
Generational, delusional,absolutely unoriginal and hypocritical
The amount of times you spoke to me as if I didn't have a clue, as if I woke up one day and decided right out of the blue
For your brokenness that clings to me
In my openness so ceaselessly
Relaying all the meanings, forever afraid
With each years' dawn I'm leaning toward a shoulder's setting sun
For each new breath of life, we must embrace the lies we've sung
A moment gives life
Twists us to pain
Grants us reward
Redemption
A moment strips us of dreams not yet had
And sure enough we can all fall in collective defeat
Pain would be heal
If you and me stick together
How wonders it would be
If you and me stays together
for ever and ever till
the last breath of our life's .
We were inseperable,
You and me.
2 years was the only thing between us.
Through tears and loss, as long as we had eachother, we had the world.
Though the selfishness of hate and greed consumed you,
Jorge newbery y cabildo
En Jorge newbery y cabildo estaba mi pebeta de ojos verdes como el mar
Esos ojos verdaderos que te leen el alma con una mirada y no te mienten al amar
in biology class
we learned that everything in the body
is constantly in motion
because stagnation fosters disease
i went home
He is the sun
That Lights the way
To a peace
I have been
Neglected from
the truth
was always tangled in lies
The only proof was
The look in your eyes
I dig with bloody fingernails,
Tearing at the earth’s fleshy core.
I begin to unravel the wooden umbilical cord,
Every celtic knot, every split end, every love affair.
Enable GingerShe sang to me
Every night as I lay in bed
She tucked me in and sang
Starlight, Star bright
Good night, Sleep tight
Her sweet voice
Sending me off
Into the night
It Seems Most Relationships Now... CRASH or BURN... !!!
So Choose A Sound Girl To Have In YOUR WORLD... !!!
BEFORE You Are FORCED To Get A DIVORCE... !!!
Our people’s lips
piccolo at canting birds,
spit kisses into hands
then pitch,
awaiting swift receipt.
Lips, appended
"I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be." ~ Joan Dideon
One of the fondest memories that I have and hold dear to my heart was when I used to go to school in Berkeley.
Garden In Heaven
Was hoping for some miracles
As i look the road to heaven
Gates of heaven leads me to you
Your propitious flower and trees
Chose to bring its satisfying idylls
PTSD
Been trying to wiped away ghost
of the past memories
Through all the places I've been to
I have lost everything that really counted
It pains me to think can't get this over with
I'm NOT ONE To Shirk When It Comes To Work... !!!
But See That Some JERKS Like To Run DUMB Words... !?!?!
Like...
falling in love is like an angel has descended from above
to grant your every wish, you placed on top of your christmas and birthday list
you waste all your money and time on them cause to you their your dime
My groovy sister
You are the most ravishing sister
I will find you a ravishing mister
Thankyou for for holding my back
Nevertheless you are such a crack
You are fortunate that you got me
Once the child comes,
Mother's out of strength,
But her soul aligned with her baby,
That's mother's love
Now When It Comes To... “ My Life’s Story “...
I found a flower on the ground today. It was purple- an artist would go as far as to call it lilacand I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
When I am lonely,
Or need someone to talk to,
I know you are there.
You really try your best to understand;
We always come up with a solution.
You get mad at me,
I get mad at you,
For the lost souls and the misguided in life
Let me shelter you from strife
Let me shepherd you to new light
Take up your own path and leave me
Say farewell to my relatives
They shaped my being
Sheltered my innocence,
Then shattered my youth
And burned my garden of eden
Today my life changed forever
For the better
I became a father to a beautiful daughter
I come now to you my brother
A woman of worth greater than rubies
Never failing to fulfill her duties
Through cold and drought it is no matter
When I wish I could hear you,
Through that rough and tired old voice,
And when I wish that you could still tell me stories,
About the Baseball that you threw with your brother,
Part 1 of a 6 part poem written to my mom using different
body parts as a guide to weave each poem together.
This one depicts her eyes & mouth.
A deep dive into the ocean
(INTRODUCTION) (Skip below to read a description of my mom to help understand
the poems.)
The next 6 poems I write are about my mom. My mom passed away when
I frown and adjust my crown. My spirit shattered, but made no sound.
Counting my blessings, but my soul is down.
A sadness so deep, so profound.
Losing weight by the minute, I'm already down 80 pounds.
No one bothered to wake up, speak, call or text to see me on my way.
I don't blame them, I went my own way, I didn't have much to say.
I didn't expect anyone to be different from the person they were to me yesterday.
Nine days back turned I 28
Today you went away
Though rarely you made your presence
Which felt so strange and out of place
And it's Corona and no friends to pay
the last to you of farewells
When you left me i was alone.
I felt betrayed , lonely, and scared.
I didnt know if you were alive or dead or if your heart still played the same keys that mine did.
My mind dances in shadows and confusion.
I don’t know what is real, what I touch, what I feel.
I hide behind the shield of my illusion.
So I continue to continue, to pretend that I am real, that life is what I feel.
i still remember the jar of cookies
you hid behind the picture frames
the sweet buttery smell that wafted out everytime you cracked it open,
"shhhh" you whispered with a sly grin on your face
our little secret
i hate u stinky bitch
the stench of u remind me of the times i love
i hate u stinky bitch
but i love u
...(I needa) Free my Mind, Find Some Time, (And) Take a Breath of Fresh Air, (A Space) Away from this Place, (And) Nothing to Follow Me There.
yell, scream, shout
silence is scarce.
with every word spoken, a new argument begins.
each room of the house is a minefield.
i tread lightly, but somehow always become collateral.
My friend you are alone,
In a seemingly darkened place.
Eyes are weary of tears;
Whose heart is bleeding could not ease.
I wear my mask not for me, but for you
For your children
For your parents and grandparents
With their cancer, heart disease, and asthma
I fear for their lives
The sickness is brutal
He wakes up.
And starts to get ready for his day.
He brushes his teeth
Because is mama always said she wouldn’t let any son of hers go out with booty breath.
Left, right, under, and pull
We tighten our knots woven with steel fibers
Around our bosoms
As to defy the wayward cyclopes from intruding
And to protect our childing innards
It was 1966-
then,
so I can only imagine
and invent their words
myself
because I was only
three,
and still ignorant
of politics.
Though now I understand
This empty feeling in my gut
Will it ever recede?
Or will it get the best of me?
We love to sin, they like to lie
But will you hide behind them?
First to speak never counts
Reason always takes the back seat
Important decisions are made together
Entertainment is the bread and butter
Never too much or too little
Doubt is the universal poison
First to speak never counts
Reason always takes the back seat
Important decisions are made together
Entertainment is the bread and butter
Never too much or too little
Doubt is the universal poison
I’m angry with you. I’m sorry I am, I don’t want to be, but I am. You make me sad and you hurt me. My heart aches all the time. Why did you fall in love with me if you can’t love me?
Ya Know ...
Within My Arms Are Lyrical Psalms ...
WITHOUT Jewish or Christian Points of View ... !!!
What They Produce Is NOTHING New ...
But The Style PROFILED STREET FIGHTS Like ... " GUILE " ... !!!
He wraps his sore hands around an ice cold beer
Bartender asks how'd you make your way here?
He could barely hold back the tear rolling down his face
He has tried everything to stay out of this place
- They say,
"In due time you'll be alright", "just stay patient".
So Heavenly Father I'm reaching out - This life's got me pacin'.
Not knowing which way to go, with either road - I never make it.
Making a child and leaving her be
Is like digging a hole without planting the tree
We can see your idea
What you thought you might do
But then changed your mind so you can start something new
These Days I Stay... “ Elusive “...
While Some Would Say... “ Reclusive “ …
I told you infact I am gay,
You didn't get it so let me reiterate,
I like women that like women not men that like women!
That means I'm bi
Or at least in your eyes
Pain surrounds his body
He still plays with his youngest child, Bobby
Stress deprives him from sleep
He still makes time to teach his middle child about sheep
Death is upon him
Daddy Daughter Memories
You have good memories you have bad ones. But the ones that stick are bad ones. I have never understood why they do, but they do.
(Disclaimer: This poem does not insinuate I engage in incest.
Mention of sleeping with my brother refers to times in the past
that I have been woken up by my younger siblings after they'd
Home is the smell of a linen closet,
with its never ending array of
canvased colors consisting of
extra bedding for the unexpected
sleepovers.
Home is the bruised hardwood floors
my living lord
my living God
my hero
my dad
one who fulfilled all my wishes
one who understands all my feelings
and one who cry when I get dwellings
She’s the perfect girl
Beautiful, Smart, and Kind
Can get pretty irresistible at times
I just need some time
To pray to the lord
To make this soul so divine
I’m bored at home
I hear the deep rolling growl of my fathers pick up truck pulling into our driveway
The plumes of smoke filling the air like an ominous grey cloud of warning.
Sometimes I can still hear
the sounds
of yesteryears-
my family's voices,
their conversations reverberate.
And I recall
my father's and uncle's
ardent discussions
of the revolution
This black and white photo
there-
on my wall
is of you,
Mother
at 15 or 16
taken during
the height of WWII.
In your life
the devastation
was not yet apparent-
With the recent loss of my mom and dad, I can’t help to think how each of my sisters and brother are dealing in their own way with the loss.
I am the second-generation seed
Of the flower my ancestors planted
My grandparents—born and raised in Jamaica—
Traveled to Ellis Island
To nourish a new garden
My mind is so angry at you
Yet my heart still longs for your love.
Today I am letting you go because I love you so much,
and because I want you to be happy.
We all look our grandparents and think we'll live forever, that we're invincible. Like we've got time to worry about small things that mean nothing at the end of the day. The things we think are big are actually tiny if you think about it.
When you have nothing
You should always have family
That’s what they say.
Your family should have your back
And love you
I slept to getaway.
I slept to hide from my responsibilities,
Now I stay awake to get away from my dreams.
Now I stay awake to hide from my thoughts.
How long will it take me just to get rid of anxiety
My shaky hands can show you i'm not used to the formality
But as I find myself growing more out of my comfort zone
I think I finally found a way to call it a normality
When someone says Fall
What do you think of?
Do you think of how far you'll go?
How fast it takes in order to fall
And when you'll hit the ground?
Smoke billows in the air
Laughter and jokes ringing in your ears
Adults acting like children
Having a good time,
And dancing to loud music
We all want love. (Don't we?)
SAY NO. To the hate. Discrimate. For goodness sake.
We all want affection. (Don't We?)
Show me that. Yes I will and everyday.
We all want. Many things. (Don't We?)
Its not safe out there.
For you or me.
Its not safe out there. In the streets.
People feeding their addiction. Others beg to be something..
That they are not.
I lay here as I think..
A dream, of another of me awake.
I look up at the ceiling. Pictured. A smile on your warm face.
How could I be so lucky, yet so foolish with my ways?
I try to rest.
To see another day.
I want to read an entire library.
I want to write letters to close aquaintances in cursive, signed "sincerely."
I want to look up at the night sky and know exactly what star formations I'm looking at.
As I open my left eye
I see a dark sky representing
All the friends and opportunities I have lost
All because of a dark cloud hovering over my mind,
As I open my right eye,
I see a bright blue sky,
The trail I walk is
Well-traveled, yet familiar to none.
Clouds can creep in, inviting
Unwelcome storms
From every direction, heard
And felt
Deep inside me.
My life, defined by a roller coaster of trials and tribulationsLike the prisoner, thrown in a lion’s pit, unprotected and vulnerableImbroglio in a maze of hardships and adversityClouded by the “fatal prejudice” of humanity. Dragged and chained by
My mom says we have to leave our home to a new special places for Jews like us. I don't really understand what she means. We only get to bring a few things but strange men are yelling at us to hurry up. I decide to bring my giraffe.
The sun was skin kissing, much like summer but it was the opposite season. The feeling of motion sickness was taking over my body. I fell into a deep sleep knowing we had miles to go.
The path of a forest stream is
guided by the gentle branches of surrounding groves
meandering angles shaped by stoic roots
driven deep into the bitter earth
The path of a forest stream is
guided by the gentle branches of surrounding groves
meandering angles shaped by stoic roots
driven deep into the bitter earth
making dirt and mud their mossy home.
Trickling through my sweet veins bursts a desire to
fly
through the ocean of petals, whose broken cellulose is splashed
vibrantly
“Good night you two, I love you.
You can stay up,
Just promise me you’ll stay in your room, okay?”
Father said
You came to Iowa, married, divorced.
He wanted you to be small.
You wouldn’t have it. No one
can contain you,
Extraordinary woman.
Throw some words, start a fight
There's nothing more to say tonight.
'Cause we all know who got the blame,
And it wasn't the white boy who lost the game.
'Cause brown skin attracts glares.
Born amidst passions
Of timeless opposites' attraction
Flaring and flashing
A heatwave arises between us
Some call it magic
We are getting hotter
Stronger
More complete with time
Through love
A hand ruffled through hair,
a kiss on the cheek,
hearing humming sweeping
from the warm kitchen.
A pat on the back,
hand clasped in hand,
a foot against a foot
The grasping touch.
his gentle hands held me,
raised me.
with my fathers might.
the pain I encounter,
the accidents I make,
the pride in my ethnicity,
my favorite songs,
he invented me.
Daddy,
Permanent creases make a home beside your eyes
And distract from what was once an icy blue gaze
You promised yourself any wrinkles would be temporary,
But your stress seeps in, a stealthy move,
She was a distinctive girl who likes to switch up her image, says the bottle of hair dye
On the glossy white bathroom counters
A patient girl too, says the oil paint drying
Monastery monochrome,
boom balloon machine, and oh,
diamond rings and gutter bones.
Marching up some mountain,
with our aching planning.
The look in your eyes says it all
That smile, wide and toothless, like I was a superhero
I swear I haven't seen eyes so bright, I swear nothing is as beautiful
She rises with the morning,
She lights all that she sees,
Her warming rays embrace me,
Reminding me of my worth.
She never stops her shining,
She dries all of my tears,
She rises with the morning,
She lights all that she sees,
Her warming rays embrace me,
Reminding me of my worth.
She never stops her shining,
She dries all of my tears,
At midnight
think of tossing and turning
in bed.
Think of the sounds of silence
as you drift into slumber.
If you have this name,
We stand today Connected by fate. In Foreign Lands We signed a contract. We only stand If we all stand. And we fall If one falls. But we aren't afraid Because today We are invincible.
Family is what got me
here. They pushed me
encouraged me
helped me
supported me.
They got me here.
And I continued
Now I push myself,
I encourage myself
I help myself
I look to the left
I see my man
He holds
Our feline tricksters,
To the right
My family
Smiling brightly,
In front of me
My hopes and dreams
Set the table, wash the dishes,
Pour the water, say the prayer.
You bury every worry because you know it’s not yours to bare.
Keep a quarter in your pocket, sure to make us smile
Love
Is what we want and what we need,
It makes us hurt and makes us bleed,
And gives us strength to go on;
But causes pain when its gone
It gives us hope it gives us rest
FAILURE
What started as a dream took a slight left turn
a wife and daughter brought so much joy
I knew sacrifices were apart of the grind
no one mentions the self doubt present drifting into my conscious
First there was a mothers voice
calming, with a warm sort of cadence
around to lift the mood and sing a song
around to guide and support
Giggles, laughter, and nonsensical conversations
It’s a beautiful Saturday
I look out to see the sun shine
Feeling very alive inside and to my surprise
I smell food,my nana’s in the kitchen
It’s a beautiful Saturday
I look out to see the sun shine
Feeling very alive inside and to my surprise
I smell food,my nana’s in the kitchen
WE THINK THEREFORE, WE ARE XE I'M BECAUSE OF YOU! WITHOUT YOU I AM NOTHING WITHIN YOU I AM ALL THINGS WITHIN THE WORLD WE ARE ALL!
You were there when I was down and out
When no one wanted me
I was on my knees ready to shout
At only age three
It took many years
But you finally saved me
And dried up all my tears
The soft creak of a bed
And the give of a mattress—
A time and place where the day learned to die
And we are left alone
Our sanctuary, our haven,
These hands.
These hands hold so much.
These hands can hold the world, a heart, the power.
So much counts on these hands, your hands, and yours.
express train to hell just left the station
does anyone still have a reservation
if so don't worry, it's alright if you do
we'll just get you on the way back through
those already aboard were arriving soon
A Tribute to My Mother || Written 2 Years Ago
You have painted flowers on my spine
Twisted your love into my ribcage
Shattered my aching bones, I am you
You come in all shapes and sizes
my love for you reaches beyond the horizons with
ravioli and
fettuccini and
macaroni and
linguine and
Please don’t overthink this, Dad,but this morning when you walked into my room,murmured, “It’s time to wake up, Mr. President”and checked my vents for warm air,I painted a portrait of you in the low light.
March 15, 2019 - The day that changed my life.
Who knew that all it took was a loving husband and wife.
You happily accepted me with all my flaws and broken parts.
House of cards
Easily blown away by wind
It doesn't take long
To notice how fragile it became
It holds memories inside
Memories of the good times
It has always kept the scent
Dear Father,
You were there for my birth
At least I think you were
But that’s about it
You saw me growing up
But I would rarely see you
Later, they will tell me I didn’t smile for a year. They will tell me that I look like her, that I move like her, that I sound like her. They will tell me, in not so many words, that I am her daughter and so I cannot be anything else.
Eyes that's seen the offerings of the world
Legs with potential to jump
Feet that could walk to hidden treasures
Yet settled in a garden under sun
The enduring love of my grandparents' hands
Held within one another as they commit to stand
Throughout the hardship and sufferings of current and past
To uphold a legacy that will infinitely last
When I was young, each day was so incredibly filled with possibility.Each moment burst with fresh emotion so bright and furious that it burned out all feelings prior to it.
Breakfast Is Waiting
The hot butter bubbles on the pan
And the eggs slide around ontop of the oil
He always said breakfast everyday would lengthen your life span
Breakfast Is Waiting
The hot butter bubbles on the pan
And the eggs slide around ontop of the oil
He always said breakfast everyday would lengthen your life span
Breakfast Is Waiting
The hot butter bubbles on the pan
And the eggs slide around ontop of the oil
He always said breakfast everyday would lengthen your life span
It’s hard to think of just one thing,
When I consider all that this life will bring
What has inspired me,
What has set me free?
At first sight, I gave you my heart.
I knew that from the start.
Big gray eyes and cute little curls.
Now, you are my world.
Sister, sister I cherish you.
Sister, sister I love you.
I believe that you appreciate me
I believe that you will love me unconditionally
I believe that you will love me without regrets
I believe that you raised me the best way you can
She smells of hardwork and motherhood
Her scent permeates the room immediatlely after she enters
Her eyes are forced open and the bags beneath droop lower than yesterday
You are truly a product of love,
Divided by the sum of your ego,
Subtracted by the quotient of your imperfection,
Multiply by the difference of your commitment.
I wonder how different I’d be if you were around longer
Maybe I’d be perfectly bilingual like the rest of my family
Maybe I’d be a better me
Maybe I’d get out the house more
Hero
When you hear hero what do you think?
You probably think clearing a building in a single bound;
Think faster than a speeding bullet
Think defeating the bad guys.
But you know whats more heroic?
Feeling the turbulence all around me
I see a group of people I recognize,
My cousins.
"Where am I?" I ask.
They pointed to the grass.
I look down, then around me,
"The cementary" I whispered out in shock.
So What's IMPORTANT To You ... ?!?
Well For Me ... My HEALTH For One ... !!!
And Food For Two ... And Number Three's MY POETRY .... !!!!!
I Hear You Ask ... "But V, what about your family ?"
My Poetry Flows In ... " So MANY Ways " ... !!!
Which Goes To Show That My Wordplay's GREAT ... !!!!!
"Your arrogance, will seal your fate !"
I find my place
In between your arms,
In between your loving words,
And soft whispers of “I love you”.
In between the warmth of your embrace,
And the scent of your jacket,
Take Your Time Man USE Your Mind ...
Before You Try To Ride With CRIME ... !!!
Take Your Time When You Design ...
Your Prose To Flow Poems In Rhyme ...
My favorite color is the fiery center of a stove once it ignites,
bringing a sense of familiarity of my grandma's cooking.
The sound of the heat touching the bottom of the pan,
slowly boiling the ingredients together.
Every night
Before I go to sleep,
I pray to the Lord
Even though, I feel ignored.
I can't afford to lose my dad even more.
Think about the possibilities!
Excitement in the air!
We're blended…
A new family…
Anxiety high
Moral low
LETTING GO
I’ve been through a lot lately.
Most of it has been so big and painful.
But today I’m letting go,
On a night where the stars greet thousands of miles just to lift your head
and the earth shifts to meet the steady shuffle of feet with her soft grass bed,
I'm a lot like Cain,
That is, I don’t think about
The consequences of my actions. I don't know
What they’ll be
Until they happen. I
sage
/sāj/
noun
1. a plant with green leaves that are primarily used for cooking, originating from southern europe and the mediterranean.
If a man gained the whole world, but lost his soul;Where would he be?Would he be lost, crossed from The Book forforever & eternity?Or would God grant him the chance to repent &reverse his destiny?Free from being forced to travel in dark -
Please forgive what I say next,
but after you are gone
I will burn the memories of you at the stake
and choke on their smoke like the tobacco rings of your cigars.
I've Just Read A Poem ...
About ... " Child ABUSE " ... !!!
It's Touched Me So Deeply ... !!!
I'm Now Feeling ... BLUE ... !!!!
It's Filled Me With SADNESS ...
And FILLED ME With MADNESS ... !!!!!
inspire [in spīr’] originally, to breathe or blow upon or into
i.e. plants inspire us
i.e. we inspire plants
i.e. I breathe because of what has been planted before me
Back and broke from my hiatus
Still mentally unstable, sentiments in stables,
but my hunger's been killing me
Zozo's been feeling me
Mind blew up from a Twiztid rap melody.
C'est la vie, it may be
What a curse, He saidI haven’t sleptDon’t know why I am cryingAm I depressedHaven’t heard from themShould I fly homeThey are caged inMy thoughts are neither freeShould I fly home
No child should die in the dawn of life,
They as bright and shining as early morning,
Their just-beginning story, that first word, paragraph, chapter
do you know the word home?
do you know what it means?
do you know what it
smellstastessounds
like?
do you know what it
feels
I wrote this the day before you died,
But today you are no more alive than you will be tomorrow.
What's to come is inevitable,
But I know you of all people can handle it the most.
There once was a man named Daedalus
Known as a dentist of excellence
He sampled some Vicodin
Now he’s imprisoned in
A habit of common excrescence
A habit which started with booze
What are your siblings like?
Do they lounge in the sun writing songs and dazzling many admirers?
You buy me flowers
You kiss me on my cheek
You take a shot of cough medicine
And leave it on the sink
The bread is warm,
Warm and soft,
Under her flour covered hands,
As she kneads.
She kneads for her family,
The family who forgets,
Forgets even their sister,
When I was a child
I had dreams of great feats.
Dreams of big things,
with the ones I would meet.
I stargazed and wondered,
how my life would turn out.
Unsure of my future,
You aren’t ready to hear what I have to say
But I wasn’t ready to find out, so I’ll tell you anyway.
The past decade has done nothing but brainwash my heart and my soul
I did nothing but what I was told
Unplanned, yes it's true,
I have cried my tears and accepted my fate.
What does that have to do with you?
Why do you only give me hate?
I've endured the too personal
I've gone through the pain
Unplanned, yes it's true,
I have cried my tears and accepted my fate.
What does that have to do with you?
Why do you only give me hate?
I've endured the too personal
I've gone through the pain
I see her in the mirror. when im staring out a window into darkness.
In the surface of a lake.
She is my reflection.
Her name is destiny, and she holds my fate in her hands.
(villanelle poem)
Zindagi aur kuch bhi nahin, teri meri kahaani hai
(Life is nothing more but the story of you and me.)
Longing is such an apt word.
The physical space between us is now uncomfortably far.
Your presence is the early morning fog on a cool fall morning;
She wears a crown
but only in her games
She wants power
Because she's scared to lose control.
She built a castle of broken dreams
Before this pyre we stand my son,
Within this hallowed shrine.
Gods, let the flames be seen throughout
Hispania one last time.
I never knew I would leave that day.
I never knew I'd be so far away.
It happened when I was a few years old.
During that time, I was pretty bold.
Rest now little brother do not make a fuss.
Learn to know you words and speak with a leveled mind.
This world will be harsh and will not change its ways.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OBSESSIVE
OVER SOMETHING I NEVER HAD LIKE A FAMILY
AND EVENTUALLY SOMEONE TO CALL MY DAD
NOT HAVING A MOTHER EITHER WAS HARD ENOUGH IT WAS SAD
It was difficult to hear at such a young age.
She should’ve known it was bound to happen.
They weren’t happy anymore.
Sometimes it is hard to stay positive and to believe in yourself,
You think you have it all planned out but there are people around you who try to convince you to be someone else.
Hello world,
Im a kid who hopes to change it one day.
Hello world,
remember me you killed half of my family.
Yet, I still want to fight and change everything some day.
Hello world,
Have you ever seen another take their lastbreath?
Who can tell which it was,until the momentis long past?
I find myself sleeping a deep sleep that I don’t want to wake up from.
On a bed of clouds, I float.
IAMDISTURBED
IAMGRABBED
I AMANGRY
I was happy,
TV nightly,
As a family,
Simple pleasures,
‘Any Umbrellas?’
Family holidays,
I was happy,
Perhaps the world was happy,
Or happier at least.
1,000 friends in a life time you could make.
Unfortunately; most will turn out fake.
Only a few will prove themselves true.
As you do them, they care about you.
Let me tell you a story
of how my people were extracted from their villages like sap from tree trunks
and walked hundreds of miles to a new home.
Let me tell you a story
My mothers name means JOY.
She brings a smile to my face every time she would sing me to sleep.
She brings JOY when she makes me Chapathis by hand, and roasts them over a slow flame.
I try to see what you think in this world right now
It's just full of all these things which could bring us down
Don't you say I don't know what is real or fake
It's all ruled by faith in the brain and it's no darn game
I understand not what goes through their minds
The hateful, the wicked the all holy divine
They speak of God's love and say they will pray
if you listen closely they cackle as you walk away
Me
By kaleena mojarro
I am alost for words for words
I have no muse
You did more then just break me
I am alost for words
Never leaving time or space;
Always evolving but never a race.
We see them for their fabled powers,
But inside us their strength flowers.
Family can help,
But family can also hurt.
Family can support,
But family can also oppose.
Family can appreciate,
But family can also disparage.
Family can be loyal,
But family can also betray.
When Friday nights become Saturday mornings. The dew glitters on the grass like a fallen chandelier, casting shards of liquid sun. Coals burn in the fire sending smoke crawling towards the sky.
Today is a day filled with cheer.
This is a day that comes only once a year.
This is the day you were born.
The day when sadness had been torn.
Torn into pieces that you could never put together.
In the sun,
My skin gets darker,
But that is not my fault,
The heat,
Makes people uncomfortable,
But that is not my fault,
Kids play with water,
As though we have some to spare,
I live in a world where everybody lies
I live in a world where if you do anything you get despised
I live in a world where I do everything alone
And I've made it this far so look how fast I've grown
They told me, all my young life:
Time heals all wounds --
and I assumed that they were right.
But what, I wonder,
heals the wounds
that Time inflicts?
I miss you
shy, always smiling and generous
full of love and eagerness to learn
You
dating wasn't allowed, no kids
rules to follow and break
I miss you
no bills or rent
heartbreak
When a fatherly figure dims by the growing load,
drops of responsibility may unfold.
No time to play, no time waste,
When a fatherly figure dims by the growing load,
drops of responsibility may unfold.
No time to play, no time waste,
When I was 7
Mama pulled me aside
I say “Yes Mama”
She started, “My baby,”
Which I no longer was
“How would you feel if..”
My world had ended
“Your Dad and I separated”
When I was 2 my sister was born and I was no longer a baby.
When I was 4 my brother was born and by then I could change a diaper.
At 8 people always said how mature and grown up I was, what a help, a second set of hands.
Much like my father,
I refuse to admit to my flaws
I evade revealing any of my own weaknesses.
Much like my father,
I am stubborn.
A poem dedicated to you, mama.
When did it begin?
When did I begin to resist your kisses, your hugs, your love?
When did I stop seeing you as a beautiful person?
but an ugly fat lady?
Being the oldest of three gave me the unspoken job
To be their guardian angel and hold them when they sob
Being the oldest of three gave me the unspoken job
To be their guardian angel and hold them when they sob
I had a simple thought on a simple day
A spark of mundane revelation as our car passed on its way
Distant yet close
A phrase all the more indifferent
To a young child unlearned about the closeness of family
Life gave it meaning once my sister moved from usAnd that distance surely changed me
The first time I saw my father cry
we were on the side of the road
the flip phone landed in his lap
from the back seat, I watched his shoulders shake
The second time I saw my father cry
Wondering where can I start but What beginning is better than from the heart For over a decade, everything was fine No complaints, was living life, disregarding time Growing up in the projects never made a difference to me Because love from my mo
The day he turned
The day he left me
Was the day I realized
What the world really was
The day he left
Was the day I lost some of my hope
You're slipping away
Your mind it is almost gone
Eyes clouded by confusion
Then you sing a song
your eyes brighten once more
The moments seem to be passing by your minds door
Once strong and leaned on,
I was raised in darkness and deceit.
For the first 6 years not a speck of love was around me.
It wasn't until I was older, that's when they found me.
Kindness, peace, love, gentleness, and patience.
I write today to the ones that matter, praying to his glory that these crystal dreams dont shatter. I write today to the ones that stayed, through thick and thin; might or right, their steps never strayed. I write today to the ones with soggy s
My first memories,
My first memories are of the sea.
My first memories of my own father
and his boat,
All on a tiny fishing boat
From the mouth of the Little Norway River.
A flashing of emerald trees fly by,
Rusty brick buildings move just as fast, racing the trees.
Sweat drips from a temple, down a neck,
Tangling with short streaky hair.
To look behind me at days past,
I think of events long ago.
To remember the year before last,
Is when I truly began to grow.
Caring for family, I wish I had known,
How not all sitters are wise.
Sparkling eyes and tender flesh are shielded from the world in a tight hug.
A photograph captures my father’s love.
I come from an Old Farmhouse
and Woods that the 6 of us ran through for 7 acres
I come from Raspberry bushes, Tall oak trees
and tapping Maples in the Fall
Realizing the world isn't so nice
Is what changed my perspective on life
Having a biological mom that doesn't care for you
I am from
dead leaves
on oak trees
to green grass
covered with trash.
I am from
chimingchas
every Sunday
to hearing
"Hey! Go hit
the hay!"
I am a seed sprouting in both infused unfertilized and fertilized soil
No one can really fathom the highest potential that I could achieve
Only after I, the seed, has proved to weather the storms and turmoil
There was a barrier between me and my goals
And I had crossed an inevitable bridge to self doubt
It created an illusion that the weight of the world
growing up in this fast pace world
I thought at twenty I was a big girl
paying for things
living alone
but there was somthing missing
I still was not grown
Between the life of a child and an adult
Being the oldest of three gave me the unspoken job
To be their guardian angel and hold them when they sob
Growing up
He never had people
Who would stick around
He's ashamed to say
that his own mother neglected him
Caught between my thoughts and what is real
I look up to the starry skyAngels don't use Wings to flutter
they only fly,
"There will be people who walk all over you,
they will use you and take advantage of you"
Words that my father told me at 18 before I left for college
I heard what he was saying, but I didn't understand what he meant
I see him there.
Deep lines, pretty tall.
They tell me, respect is key
But I don’t feel it at all.
The man who gave me that ball
I looked outside the window. It wasn’t pretty or serene
Trees were bending, ducking for cover
and snow hit the ground with a scream.
Unsure, I asked, “Is this a blizzard?”
I looked outside the window. It wasn’t pretty or serene
Trees were bending, ducking for cover
and snow hit the ground with a scream.
Unsure, I asked, “Is this a blizzard?”
Glow Up Scholarship
Money
The day I first worried about it
I was no longer a kid
16 years old
Father in the hospital
There’s this static noise
In every phone call
Getting harder to ignore
As the days go by
An unspoken truth:
The reflection in the pond
of the five flowers that bloomed on the bank
displayed like towers to my floor level frame.
Surrounded by the dirt and decomposed,
and the water swamping my sorrowed leaves
There’s this place I call home
And I don’t know why but it seems to me
That this place isn’t as simple as it used to be
I was a little girl - Their little girl, she her she her
I went to the hospital to visit my little sister;
a newborn baby near her death bed.
As I said hello but not goodbye
the world seemed to be JUST fine.
That was when I realized;
I am not a toddler.
I’m their daughter
so I love them
It’s my home
so I stay there
It’s my culture
so I sew my mouth
It’s my circumstance
Happy Father’s Day to a father
Who was absent when I craved for him
Back then in my days
This relation was rather growling and grim
I did not choose to lose you
To let you go violently into
That good night.
I did not choose for my heart to stop
When yours did
When paramedics covered you up
And stopped trying
Tired.
Exhaustion
I seek to be retired
Where did it come from
Starting when I first came to the planet
Beginning of my life
Highschool, the Past Present, and Future
Anxious is the way I felt when I woke up on the 1st day of 9th grade. I feared becoming defaced.
I remember sitting in my daddy's lap
But I'm too old now
I would break his legs if I sat on him
I'm not his little girl in my eyes
In his eyes I will always be
When I look in a mirror
Five foot two- can't fill those shoes
You never knew the pain they put me through
Five foot three- can't find real me
You say I'm my own, but never felt free
Five foot four- s'you I adore
Good memories: made-up games, summer friends, the world is your oyster.
Bad ones: voices of thunder and spite spilling out of parents’ mouths.
There I was
A little girl
Who did not know
What life would bring
I used to wonder
my grandparents' house has held many people,
my opa built this house from the ground up and that’s how they built this family too.
in May I cut
my hair as short
as I dared
and stood before
you with bared
neck. and then
suddenly
I didn't anymore resemble
the little girl who sat on your lap,
looking up,
It’s something of an out of body experience
The first time you see
Your mother
Cry
It’s shocking.
For the first time it’s
Not bright happy tears
Or the sort that spring up
Since I was young
I was told family had to be number one.
They’d have your back through thick and thin,
And defend you from every sin.
Six years ago, two little boys invaded my home and stole my heart right from my chest.
The little ginger haired devils appeared in my life out of nowhere and they took control.
The mother walked into her home,
Not expecting her story to be told in a poem.
But her life took a turn that day,
There was no way
I have grown up six times.
The first time, I was stitting on a couch, watching television
when my father stormed in with eyes red as hot embers
yelling at my mother
who pretended she didn't remember
cheating
One day I realized.
I no longer needed you.
You left me alone.
So in return I left too.
I know you’re my mother.
But that’s not what mothers do.
I’m an adult now.
It was 9 o’clock
I was 9
My mom said
“come on girls, I guess it’s time”
She sat us down
and held her breath
and with a big sigh
She looked at us and said
You were so quiet before.
A meek, fragile sort.
Your art was never seen by other eyes
You thought they’d think you were telling lies.
Benny’s Biography
By: Alexis Seith
im a kind and carefreey kiddo,
and my name is benny hyde.
im sory for my speling
but, you see, im only 5.
my brother-he’s in first grade
Life was fine and dandy but
we haven’t stopped to smell the dandy lions.
You’re the sweetest thing I’ve picked out of the garden
In a while. We’ll both be fine in time
Sister, oh sister
She is gone, but oh how I miss her
I never got hold her
Never got to kiss her
I was supposed to teach her
How many more poems?
How many more tombs?
How many more thoughts?
How many more wombs?
Anger, a muscle memory,
triggered by his voice now
teasing, now taunting, now
icy creeping in my ears and
down my spine.
Like tomcats we clawed,
screeched at each other, like
To my younger siblings
--who are separated
And feeling
I abandoned you
As your oldest sibling, I take responsibility for our parting
I endure the troubled memories of our past
You were the first faces I saw
Yet the last ones I ponder
No, I don’t want to come home
Why?
Oh. I forgot
You guys thought you raised me right
Ha
Let’s back up this janky bus
Sandwiched between innocent fingers
Are wrinkled dollar bills
And the cashier’s eyes linger
On my own.
Grown up in an instant
Only twelve, but
"You aren't my mother."
Such a foolish thing to say.
But as a child,
How could I know better?
Tears formed in your eyes
And your cheeks became red.
You were hurt, in pain.
Who put the baby in the drivers seat
Beause I promise you I´m like 12
Why are you putting these keys in my hand
Ok I guess this is happnening
I used to have a car seat
It was blue AND pink with little flowers
a generic ringtone, a sound foreign to this 2am hour
a beat as we freeze, glancing down, and then up
"hello?"
a motion towards the bottle
clink, pour, swallow
"things aren't looking too good"
a pause
Life is like the Earth
Always changing
Growth, rebirth
Movement, rearranging.
People are like seasons
Some seem to linger, to last
But for whatever reason
Others quickly become past.
he was shot, In the back.
We knew what was comIng, we had for a while,
the man came to our doorStep, but didn't make a sound.
we knew He was here to take, not to give,
the man began to steal, to rob and to threat.
8,000
9,000
10,000
Feet high
Alone I soared,
Alone in the sky,
Alone I sailed,
When reaching new heights,
New forces unveiled,
The icy wind's bite.
On the radio I hailed,
Sometimes we run.
Just run. And run.
Sometimes not fast enough
to escape our problems.
But sometimes we run
so fast
we forget to
slow down
and enjoy our gift.
Do you ever just want to be dead?
... I do.
Often.
But, I don't want it to be my fault.
I see how much it would hurt them now.
It begins with:
3 sisters with familial love built from brick,
6 hands encumbered with budding sunflowers,
6 feet that were miles from homesick, and
Times change and people do too,
I didn’t believe it when they said you knew
You knew I was growing and still didn’t call
Times change and people start to fall
A person may leave or stay,
To know the reason, if I may.
A person can always get hurt,
Only if they didn’t make the cut.
I know this all too well
I have two parents
Which means twice the yelling
I get it
I am ⅓ Musketeer
First week of May 2011,
we go to pick up my dad from Chicago
I was 8 years old
Waited about two hours, never did he come
I am ⅓ Musketeer
First week of May 2011,
we go to pick up my dad from Chicago
I was 8 years old
Waited about two hours, never did he come
She’s like my first child you know
I carry her weight on my shoulders
But she’s not a kid anymore
Man she’s getting older
You were my big brother though we weren't blood,
Through everything you always came through,
Now that you are gone my tears begin to flood,
Wished I could've said goodbye, who would've knew?
Growing up is difficult.
Growing up in a third world country is also difficult.
Moving away was hard.
It wasn't easy.
I dont think it'll ever be.
I used to be selfish , narrow minded I never knew what it was like to truly leave my own wishes behind n- till my grandma was ill and crows took flight I hated my sister all my life, but I realized
They're sisters
for each other, but still bicker
Family that once was
Then the summer of 2012 comes around
An eleven-year-old girl
Number 1 - become his best friend
Remembering the smell of long nights newly blossomed, pink lilies lying on the carpet of a forgotten home
The air becomes dry
and the wind stops mewling
familiar hymns that I stopped singing
So that I may talk to you
My short, silky pigtails were brushing
through the wind while you pushed me on the swings,
since my little legs couldn’t swing myself.
A hard wood high chair was where I sat
It is uncomfortable now but not at the age I was at
I looked around the room and saw many people eating
It was another Saturday night and we were having a family meeting
Purple used to be my favorite color
Until the blank canvas of my skin
Was tainted by the purple marks
That reminded me that the love I thought I had perceived
Was never the love that I received
Take Isabella with you
I'm watching the game
She’s not doing anything important
I’m confused
Oh what I have become
growing from a child to becoming an adult
I remember all the things I have done
seeing all the accomplishments I have won
Oh what I have become
She told me with a red face.
Our silent rage crackled around us like lightning in the rumble before the rain.
I heard her whisper- through her teeth,
You came into our home
I could tell you felt alone
Your brother looked so scared
I thought I really cared
Little did I know
Timeless
Black coffee drawnone seat at the table.
Mingled soundsmuted distractions.
Lives flowing in our houseintermingled senses.
Passing without pausetimeless dismissals.
Hey Grandma-
I’m calling because-
No. No, I’m fine. Mom just yelled at me again-
I know I shouldn’t cry about it-
Hey Grandma-
Mom is sleeping away everything-
My grandma has a heart bigger than the Minnesota lakes she grew up on.
She would give you the shirt of her back if you asked for it, feeds the neighborhood squirrels right out of the palm of her hand,
We are created without consent
Given to those with supreme claim to us
Molding us in the image they see fit
Until conscientious, awoken from youth
We are expected to live with respect
I’m so..sad
All my life I’ve never been satisfied
With me
Abuse and control seizing my quiet soul
I couldn’t let go
Rest ripped from me
I fought fathers for a lifetime
A simple ritual, done without a thought.
Fix the dinner, tuck her in, make sure the doors are locked.
Say goodnight and go to bed, then a thought goes through my head.
“In the eyes of a mother
I see you as my daughter.
I see you as a gift sent from the heavens.
I see you as a woman who will grow to be strong and independent.”
“In the eyes of a father
how do you tell someone something so crazy
that you cant see the light at the end of the tunnel
that youre an angel thats just been begging to go home
how do you tell someone something so personal
Waking up on Saturday mornings for the sole purpose of hearing Elmo squeak about something new on Sesame Street, has long been overruled by new responsibilities.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Stop acting like you're smart.
Those statistics are all lies.
You can't trust anyone.
Stop talking to people.
You have to keep it all a secret.
“Just Grow Up,”...
Three little words,
I’ve never heard from my parents.
“Just Grow Up,”
three little words,
I had to tell myself.
I am from forgotten songs,
From distorted guitars and double bass.
I am from late night TV
(Loud, blaring
children shouldn’t be watching).
Blood strange to mine, I could get ready to stay dead
I would hate my father for ever having planted me
A tall bird hunched in cold weather
What has happened to the days of truth?
When one could trust their neighbor, their family, a friend
Everywhere I look trying to see through the mist, the fog that hides our true intentions
A year ago as I wept and cried.
I felt depressed. I wanted to die.
2 bruises here and 2 bruises there
A cut on my leg, covered with air.
My lip was cut; My heart was crushed
It's easy to forget, you know?
That time can pass when you aren't paying attention
And suddenly, your little sister says she likes that boy,
And your little brother is taller than you are,
Like a colony of trees,
Resources we share for all to bare
Twist and swerve; curl and duck
Drawing in and in, each winding root
Water, endless pools of pristine liquid
Being a child is a special time
One in which you look up to your guardians
And think - I want to be like them -
As strong as my father
And as kind as my mother
The happiest point in my life,
Is somewhere I'm supposed to be,
Your youth shouldn't be filled with strife,
Instead it should be carefree;
But that has nothing to do with me,
But I'm blessed with a family,
Once, you claimed a kind of love, unbeknownst to the receiverRememory*A mother’s desperate love; one in which she sacrifices allRememoryDo you truly love your children, or only what they are able to accomplish?
i. you said they came with rocks
so i built a fortress for emotion
brick by brick from bitter lies
about how you thought it was,
to love a woman.
I do fear.
I fear being forgotten
for having been absent
for having left without impression.
I fear becoming misremembered
Failing my parents
Coming to this country with 100 dollars in his pocket
With hopes and dreams that reached as high as the moon
Aspirations set, only to be achieved by flying a rocket
That I could be, like you
makes my blood fire under
pulsing skin
dum, dum, dum
my heart beating a different tune
than yours
My heart leaps for life
not sitting on my butt
My mother taught me valuable things. She taught me to treat everyone as equals whether they clean the toilets or sit in a shiny new office on the top floor.
Calm overwhelms me
Breaking and splintering the anger and painThe words you spoke to me may heal with time But scars take far longer to fade
I stand tall
One day, you’ll be gone and I won’t know what to do with my life after you are.
The sad thing is you won’t leave earth you’ll just go really far.
A Year Alone
I chose to go,
to somewhere that was quite unknown.
A Year Alone;
A long plane flight.
I cried myself to sleep that night.
A Year Alone,
Strange Family.
You call yourself a family
but live so unhappily
mom smiles in people’s face but
when she’s home
puts people in their place
Dad stays quiet , don’t know what to say
depressed with the life he live
I will never take my eyes off you,
It's okay because we will see it through,
even if it is not in our destiny,
we can make this work I thought of every possibility.
I will never take my eyes off you,
It's okay because we will see it through,
even if it is not in our destiny,
we can make this work I thought of every possibility.
Lying, leaning, laying on.
Under grass, on you, and to you too,
You lay still, as if the lungs in your chest would burst
if you drew a single breath.
Maybe they might.
Black Feeble Lungs,
I’ve always had grandiose ideas of what my life should be.
How I would create the perfect love story.
Embody the image of beauty and sensuality.
Provoke thoughts and ideas that would start movements.
Family is something near and dear to us all
But it's definition is one we can't quite recall
Some say it's those connected by blood
But what about the children who are treated like mud?
Waxy lips,
Purple ‘n thick
Rear view,
A devious kick
Sing-song giggles,
A soft purse
Stomach churning,
A biological curse
“How do I look baby?”
“Pretty mom,” I say
My father cries at night
like a ghost’s lonely moan
Lamenting for the helpless
behind closed doors
Reaching out
I'm thankful for my mama I'm thankful for my sisters I'm thankful for my brother And all I've been given I'm thankful for their love I am so blessed Never ever will I See them as pests They desire my success And push me hard with no rest
Dipping my toes
Into the endless midnight blue
To me,
it's a deadly hue.
First my ankles,
Then up to my knees.
Pause.
Remind myself to breathe.
My clothes are wet now
Sitting in a white room.
what will happen next?
Sitting in this cold room knowing that tomorrow
i'll get yelled at… for being in this room
The news blares bright and gaudy. Full of fear and sound.
yet in the warmth of my grandmothers living room
golden light filtering
through her paisley curtains
it feels
far
away
I wish I could tell her
that he isn’t who she thinks.
The hateful wall outside him
is only one part of who he is
but the only part she sees.
To follow the right path,
I had to leave my old life
I will come back
Even though it was difficult to decide.
I was scared
Will you all be alright without me?
I was prepared
You will see
you used to work at every corner.
supplies stashed in the walls of your room,
money found underneath your bed.
hustling in the frigid, New York streets,
“How are you gonna pay for college?” they say.
“There’s just no way.”
“But look at your cousin who’s a traveling nurse.”
“She carries millions of dollars in her purse.”
So many words
None I can say
I look at them
They can see the words
But cannot read them
And I cannot say them
I scream
And I shout
In a foreign language
They don't understand
During my glory moments
You are not there.
During my breaking points
You are not there.
During my life
You are not there.
You have claimed to raise mec
I was afraid to be heard.
Afraid to be spoken to or with.
I was supposed to be the loudest in the room, and yet
I was the quietest.
I feared fear itself,
It feasted on my brain and my thoughts
my whole life ,
i always felt like i was missing something,
something that i felt like was a hole .
my brown eyes would water , when i
hear you say that its over .
but what can i do to make you stay...
It's ok
I'm alright
Just breathe
Out for 3
In for 3
I'm fine
I'm not alone
My dog died over four years ago,
And her ashes rest above our fireplace:
A mantlepiece
Behind a photograph of her that was there when she was alive
I want you to know that even though you're away, not a minute passes that I don't think of my Bae
I love every part of you and I don't just mean aesthetically, although, of course, you're gifted genetically.
The dust flies up in piles, unwanted.
Coating my eyes in a layer of grit, of oblivion.
The grass is freshly cut,
just like at home.
Home.
I think I paint because of fear of the abstract.
I think I have fear, and there it is,
Blossoming in my behaivor.
Like a flower peddle swayed by the wind,
I begin my life when many will end.
To the days...
I’m going to take you back many years,
back to when you had very few fears.
Back to the days of seeing isn’t always believing,
and being promised candy is always deceiving.
The first thing my mother did,
when a boy broke my heart,
was open the windows.
She said that
letting in the air, and
erasing his smell
Most girls know what its like
That feeling waiting for daddy to come home
Sitting by the door
Listening for the car door to slam
The footsteps and the keys in the door
Parents think they know us. Because they once were one of us. Young, and immature. They think we have the same intentions and the same ideas rolling through our minds as though there is a young version of them burning inside of us.
Familiar sounds, my childhood grounds
But rest is far from me tonight
The voice that hounds, tension abounds
And you are far from me tonight
I try to console my anxious soul
What makes us human?
It's not our nationality,
Not our ethnicity,
Not our complexion,
Nor occupation, social stature,
Age, gender, religion, body size, hair texture, nor the colour of our eyes.
But
I was born
Of a European Yew.
Its mighty bough had grown
Twisted and encrusted
With moss
In the garden of my great-great grandfather.
As he left his house for the final time
Materialstic things portray valuables and possessions
I went from rags to riches
And learned life's lessons
Get rich or die trying, some said
But that's not factual to me
Got money but want to be dead
Broken Harts
Nineteen year old mother,
Father and mother don’t love each other?
Father not around,
Mother crying on the ground.
remember me please within time as these melting cow doth we squeezesee me in ports desire taking gun for hire coming down to the wirebaby years ago let the truth be told people can be so coldlimitation onto exhaltation set the meter to forwardpaus
The popular 80’s hit has a tempo of 100 beats per minute, which is the same tempo at which one should give chest compressions during CPR.
—The American Heart Association
My
Some people remember memories in the form of words, sounds, and images
I remember memories, the smells of the grass, the honeybees
I remember the smell of the dressing room
Your cologne, perfume, the living room
I would like to look at the sky, but the starsopen my blood and disturbthe verses on the mouths of the dead:
Life is not giving us all that we need
It’s sometimes hard and difficult…
I'm asking myself
What would my life be If he was here?
It’s question without answer
Because he is not on my side
Alcohol wasn’t brought about to abuse it,
It was brought about for fun.
She doesn’t see; she just sits there,
Drink, after drink, after drink.
It hurts me, when I can see it coming,
Let’s be blunt,
Suddenly all the lights seem too bright for me and
I can feel the sting of how the artificial lights burn
Burning a hole into the crack den of
Teeth came in, screaming came out
As a child finding my voice came with fees
Every chance I got to fight I would shout
My mother made me get down on my knees
"NO!" "STOP!"
Don't let them see
Don't let them hear you cry
I know pain is the only thing you can feel inside
Flashbacks replaying nonstop in the back of your mind
"Mommy, Daddy, where are you?"
On an average day
In an average mind
I imagined the end of one's time
Never knowing pain
Never losing sane
Interest surpassed disdain
With the loss of sight
With the loss of control
When your throat has become raw to point of tasting blood and when your eyes are painfully dry,
I will cry, scream and shout for you.
A Father is a Man of Bravery
A Man who's courage is unwavering,
A Man who's never caught quavering
A Parent is an Example of Righteousness
An Example to his sons and daughter,
The clock strikes 12 all of the envious rats start spreading morbid lies that leaves this small town. Walking with their heads down
And heavy hearts when will this wistful disturbance will end
Tupac once said that's just the way it is things will never be the same. AN he right police brutality happening everywhere an no one puts up a fight. Last year they had punish a Muslim day ain't no one open they mouth or have a thing to say.
Everytime I see someone since my uncle’s been gone, they tell me how different I look
How I cut my hair short
How my acne cleared up
How my lips aren’t chapped anymore
ever since i could remember, i’ve been keeping secrets.
i’ve made little mental notes of the secrets and folded them with perfect creases. i’ve been gently caring for them as they made a home in my heart.
DAD,
I love you more than words can explain.
Even tho you can't hear what im sayin.
I feel it in my heart and in my veins.
Missing you so bad i'm going insane.
Earlier in the twilight
I saw the beautiful light
The day has just begun
And long shall it be gone
Although its a beautiful day
The town has grown cold
It is a day in April Bay
He was ten with his face always stuck in a book
Tales of wizards overcoming abuse at home and having adventures with friends to help him escape his problems,
Hurray! Hurray!! Hurray!!! mark this dayEpsy i into the twilight sky of friendsYou are the brightest twinkle i witnessedher embracing smile, calm as a lake
Its been quite the journey, hasn't it?
My first words, calling out for dad
My first steps, becoming your double
Its been quite the journey, hasn't it?
My first tears, watching that never opened door
It’s not easy having a 9 to 5,
Not easy taking crap from people ,
Whose value isn’t any less greater than your own.
It’s not easy reading three computer screens,
I see her, benching more than I weigh as sweat pours out of her pores
She says she wants to be strong
She's a five foot fighter
Her eyes tame fires
Girl Scouts trained her to be a survivor
She is someone everyone admires
Not the best driver
When life backfires,
It doesn't deprive her
Oh, my sweet mother,
Hope you are alright,
Could not imagine life,
Without you in my sight
Oh, my sweet mother,
Please hope you care,
Life will be stressful,
Yet, it will be fair
Oh, my sweet mother,
Hope you are alright,
Could not imagine life,
Without you in my sight
Oh, my sweet mother,
Please hope you care,
Life will be stressful,
Yet, it will be fair
The world is a wolf, snatching innocence and feeding on the shortcomings of others.
A child with mindless ignorance enters the woods; a blank slate.
They look upon the faces of those around them, observing and repeating.
Everytime I think about you,
My love for you is like glue.
You do all the work for me
You are a change that I only see
You are the best dad when I'm down
And provide help and support whenever
A man who taught me to be who I am today
A man who works hard every single day.
He never asks for praise, or gives a little boast
My eyes, blind to an orderly Earth
Discord. Turmoil paved the way
A struggle, a downhill climb from birth
I searched for comfort, day by day
Home
He is my ghost writer
The one who wants to see me ranked up higher.
Helps me put in the work so I don't stress later
No matter what I did he was always a fan never a hater.
He is my ghost writer
The one who wants to see me ranked up higher.
Helps me put in the work so I don't stress later
No matter what I did he was always a fan never a hater.
You look at me. I look at you. You look at your feet. I look at.. it. What is it? It is everything but also nothing. What is your perception? It's a glass that was once half full now victim to the rage of uncertainty.
My Buddy. He's gone.
My Pal. He's gone.
My Coach. He's gone.
My Example. He's gone.
My Support. He's gone.
Cancer, I hate you.
His Pain. It's gone.
His Suffering. It's gone.
Your age never held you back from dreaming.
From breaking and reshaping an entire subcultre.
Your gender never hindered you from achiveing.
Having saved thousands of those haunted by the black vulture.
Q:Who or what has had the greatest influence/impact on your life?
Most people do not know how much WE look alike.
Our simple personalities
connecting
through the rough times.
eighteen years of seeing YOUrself in
Thank you for what you have done
It has been loads of fun
Thank you for showing me to live my life free
Hi Gramps,
It’s me again.
I just wanted to tell you
That I love you.
And That you’ve shown me
Just like Father,
With strength in my shoulders,
Compassion in my veins,
Others in my thoughts,
I am one-track-minded.
Just like Mother,
With determination painted on my face,
You wouldn’t think
His eyes would shine so bright
Beneath those clouds that fog his sight
But they’ve been aglow since ‘25
You wouldn’t think he would be so kind
My sister always tells me, jokingly, as she always does,
that seeing as she’s my older sister,
she’s known me for literally my entire life.
She says,
“You don’t know me,
I am scared, you hold my hand.
I have anxiety, you soothe my fears.
I feel overwhelmed, you offer me solutions.
I am sad, you make me laugh.
I need to talk, you always listen.
I look at him
And he looks back at me
And I know we remember
I know we are both thinking of that time
Different pages
Same plot
Light shone on me in the earliest youth
I grew up and learned the truth,
Crazy enough life may laugh,
At the things you say, at your made up tasks.
At age 12 they started to make sense
Insecure souls,Walking on their own dead bodies,Emotionless,
coz they don't care, even less,
They say, don’t kiss and tell,
They say, don’t tell after we kiss,
Shaken inside, coz I can’t miss, every taste of the feel.
Maybe I’m crazy,
Maybe I’m lazy,
I remember you.You’re foggy but I do. I remember you being bossyand I remember loving it, needing it,Guiding me barefootthrough our woods, always so mossy. I remember stealing Kool-Aid in dry measuring cups-mine a quarter, yours a half and hiding
O Sis, could I love thee like no other.
For before my young eyes only squinted,
A face inoffensive to our mother.
I was, but a statue: black and minted.
Did not my ears think or care to listen
The night before the glorious day shimmered with nerves and talks of the future
Hopes and dreams raveled the starry skies and eased the burden of the morning
You taught me about me about life and everything it holds
Through the dark windy nights and days so cold
You brushed my hair and wiped my nose
While singing a song about my little toes
A part of your life
Best,beautiful,emotions and lovely moments.....
It'll never come back again.
A parmanent mark onto
Our soul,mind and life....
Memories is the one with which
A mentor, a friend,
Family to the end.
An aunt who comprehends
And is with you until the end.
Thank you for you;
And for your support
We may have struggled in the past,
I wish we're still kids,
Who just play around with joy.
No heartbreaks, no blues.
Mom, take me back there...
Where things are smooth, plain and fine;
When we're still complete.
As Abuela ages, the stages of a heart break commence
My life is full of confusion with the exlcusion of you being by my side
You taught me the real defintion of love, the kind of love where I feel a great sensation of awareness
"uncle na!" I'd yell out, and jumped on to your back
people would stare and maybe smile
to know she had a dad
adopted (maybe) or step-parent from birth
either way, she's happy
*Chapter1*I stood still,Never thought of being' shaken, taken for, coz love was granted.
I remeber growing up as your baby cub.
You taught me how to care for myself incase you were not there.
Well now you are not here and I am still a lost cub.
Dutiful, disciplined, dependable dad.
How happy to have had:
teacher, trainer, tactful taskperson.
Listening to lectures, leaning, learnin',
sometimes snubbing,
I've learned so much; thanks for loving.
The two people who you feel the most comfortable with,
who you would give anything up for them, and who you always have in mind,
who you always want the best for and who you will always go to for everything,
Tik Tik Tik Tik
You put me above any other
Even growing up without a father
Tik Tik Tik Tik
Taught me right from wrong
Always sturdy and strong
Tik Tik Tik Tik
Dear mom and dad,
I know you always wanted the best for me.
Giving me everything I always need, so I try and make you proud.
Living your dream through me, graduating from college and having all I need.
Quick questionCan a women be a man?Is transgender so new to us all?Its just a new word for someone to take the fall.My mom was my dad when he was not around
My rabbi makes me feel better about being alive,
my rabbi takes the hits of life when I do not wish
to thrive anymore.
My rabbi tells me about "back when I was a girl"
and how "if I can do it then you can do it."
Without you there is no me.
The way you two make my heart glisten like a rushing stream.
You watched me grow,
Always putting up with me when I yelled "No!"
Without you there is no me.
The way you smile puts me at ease.
The chuckle of your laugh brings me to my knees.
yesterday, you asked to stay
then in the morning, you went away.
throughout the day,
my eyes saw gray
just black,
and white,
Thin nimble fingers that braided my hair,
And dusted off a daughter that ran without care.
Feet that spin in circles and danced with all her might,
A grandfather you have beenStony character but with a heart of loveHonesty principle you portrayedNever halting to all the challengesThe commanding responsibility you gave
Beside Me
I need to slow down; I think that she’s that she’s behind me,
If he’d looked around he would
Have said,
‘I didn’t see you beside me!’
To Ferdi Simon,
You play with pens and pencils
Then they play with each other
Muffled talks comprise the symphonies
As the lead is flowing through the paper.
Coupled with melodious poundings,
My Influence is that of a bird
A bird whom leaves its nest to live
My Influence is that of whom could fly
Whom could soar high above the rest
My Influence is that of a Believer
You aren't the nicest.
You aren't the most relable person.
But you're my older brother.
We've laughed and we've cried,
you've watched me fall but you've watched me rise.
A poem for the best and most influential mentor in my life,
my big brother
David, my dear brother, you are like no other.
Thank you.
It’s never said enough,
But when it is said,
It’s said with much appreciation.
But who do I thank?
I thank my parents,
Often around,
When you was small,
Low birth weight, ear operations,
You went through it all.
Life became normal,
For you then,
Infant school calling,
Forever grinning.
I am not perfect
Though I have tried to be
Sometimes
I still try to be
There is something about being flawless that
Mutes my inner voice as it pauses to bathe
In steamy ecstasy
That very high
It was just the fall of October when the skies were still sleepy
The sun had pulled its blankets, yet the naked trees looked creepy
Amongst the golden rays lies a mysterious yet recognizable shadow
I cry each time I see a butterfly
because you aren't here to tell me to be strong.
You were there, walking beside me,
as my hands shook and I felt so hollow inside, screaming
"I can't do it!"
I’ve got - two loving mothers Who i’m sure - passively still love eachotherWho both supported me through panic attacks and shaking shuddersWho did their best to hold me near when I was paralysed with fear. But damn!
Planting seeds is easy when you all you do is watch.
It becomes embedded very early that alter to this path you'd
be awash.
Later on things seem normal, in the family home .
Started out,
Observation of 2 other entrepreneurs,
Watching them make money,
Started to burn my head.
Knowing I had the ability,
Match them head on instead,
Asking friends to join me,
I'm thankful for the little things,
No matter how small they may be.
But what I'm thankful for most of all,
Is the friendship of you and me.
I didn't know what it meant to be me
anymore.
On the floor,
there's a receptacle resembling me.
But you being here, being with me,
being the hope and the light,
and you knew who I was.
A chair can stand with only 2 legs.
A mouth can be fed with only one hand.
Birds can chirp, but never sing a song.
We can live, but never on our own.
Through all her pain and tremendous struggles she leads her children to be the warriors we were born to be
Through the time I lived in a poor area she led me to follow my education and stay on the right path
I stare up at the height of the now lonley, very damaged, fifty-five year old wall.
Her once brightly colored bricks now faded, and weathered.
She and He made me, just a short 18 years ago.
Thank you,
I have been wanting to say it for a long time.
Having the opportunity to say you were mine has truly been devine.
I think about all the life lessons you habh taught me and how they shaped me into who I am today.
Father of mine, all you have done
Ever since I could remember
All the days, all the fun
From Jaunrary to December
Your time and your love
Your sacrfice and your time
You won’t make it
The world cries
I will she deters
Tears threatening her eyes
With your skin so dark
I wonder if they lost an ounce of sleep
Or worried if you had any food to eat
Did they even shed a tear?
Longing and wishing you were near
When pains of poverty rapped at the door
Looking me in the eyes he smiled his typical transcendent smile,
You can be anything he sang
anything you want,
Studying his face, the sincerity was there
To believe the impossible is possible makes me unstoppable to stop at all obstacles that only scream fall when I intend to vault. No need for a halt. That's what momma always told me.
My mother spoke to me in terms of flowers
She spoke to me in sunflowers,
Tall, strong, and always reaching upwards
She spoke to me in the stem’s of wild garlic,
He who has a voice booming like Zeus’s thunder
But, singing so delicate yet clear like no other.
Eyes wide and alert,
yet so playful and mischievous.
From the moment of my birth
My first everything was with the fam
My ma and pa, my first teachers
What do you mean to me?
I got my morals from you
And so much love to share with the world
Remember when you broke your right hip?
It came as a shock to me.
There you were, the picture of health,
And only eighty three.
Of course, you were most disgruntled.
Heart teeming with love,
liver soaking in booze;
rough around the edges,
tender to the core:
the dichotomy of you.
It's been almost a year
That's three-hundred-sixty-five days
since the last time I saw you
Since the last time you had life inside you.
I remember the wires, the hoses, the machines
my grandmother says I’m lazy,
yet I am fully aware of the tasks
that are meant to be done before me.
I am fully aware of the miles of debris left behind my trail.
heaven
is a topic of controversy that dwells amongst great populations -
from a young age, I was exposed to such trauma of Death in circumstances that a young princess should not have withstood.
a grandma, a lover, an idol, a savior a women with admirable behavior for someone with nothing she has it allwhen she is needed she always stands tall you empower me to be the best to persevere through any test when i see the way you laugh and s
You gave me roots
Struggled against the odds
Keeping me safe
Saving me from abuse
Fighting the law to keep me safe
Having to be my mother and father
Working day and night to keep me clothed and fed
To my friend,
my cousin.
You represent someone who is exactly what I wanted in a father figure.
My real dad is afraid of everything, and has a hard time being supportive.
I write to you to praise you.
For the way that you have hurt me
in ways that cannot be described.
They cannot be described
because they were not out of malice,
A sister who loved.
A sister who cried.
The girl who touched everyone’s lives.
To me she gave the gift of ambition,
the gift of a dream,
with all of her strength.
You have inspired me to be best i can And to me you are the definition of a real man Emancipated and concentrated i often see on your face My promise
I came to this world
I found my self in the hands of a woman
My mother
She looked at me wth a smile
For in me she saw a blessing
My father ,my father
Where were you?
You brought me into this world
Instilled your hope, genes, and dreams into my soul
Mom,
Through these 20 years
I've had many fears
You've wiped away so many tears
My heart is full
<h1>SCATTERED ASHES</h1> <ins> <p>I am from a family where bubbles exist</p> <p>From a broken home and a messed up wish</p> <p>I am from a crippled yet standing still keeping secrets injured an
I don't care if your here I dont care if you're not
I don't care if your a woman I don't care if you're a man
I don't care if you're young I don't care if you're old
Many people know how important you were to me.If you hadn't died, today you would've turned seventy.You were a kind woman who loved to give.I would've done anything if you could've lived.
I keep my poems
Close to my heart
You told me that
I could share them
With the world if
I really wanted to.
The difficult me!
And I can make you mad
But I’m also fun
I can make you laugh.
AI’m tough and arrogant
I can make you loose your mind
But I’m also loyal
I will not let you down.
It is very hard for me to pick just one person that I dedicate everything I am to
For others it might be simple
For others it might be impossible
I place myself somewhere in the middle.
You only see my tears when I laugh
But can't see my wounds and scars inside.
You only listen to what you hear
She is a firefighter.
Putting her life before others.
Putting my life before others.
Others don't understand.
Understanding can be difficult when they are apprehensive.
I hurt because of youThe pain I felt when you hurt meThe anger that followed what you didI could never understand why you did these things to meI was 12, Just beginning lifeAnd you took it from meHow is this fair to me??I hurt everyday because you
First came birth as did we all,
A neutral force guarded by angels.
Outside their influence lingers an evil, some of which we cannot discern.
Two forces in my life have guided me. Two of the three primary colors.
Sometimes
the things we can
grow, learn, want
are what people are not
Protected
but desire demands
freedom
Security
but never chasing
after dreams
My father, my father, how much you mean to me,
You’ve taught me how to be mature, and good as I can be,
You help me up when I fall down, and tell me I can do it,
SAINT MARY OF THE SEA POSTS A LETTER:
TO THE SIREN HUNTERS, BE WARNED
i saw what you did
when you made sure no one
was looking
Daddy is yelling,
Rambling,
Cursing,
At mommy
Mommy is grieving,
Crying,
Hoping,
For Grandpa
Grandpa is dead
The world strikes me with many obstacles,
Many obstacles as time passes throughout the day.
Looking towards the sun, I didn’t realize how much time
What if I don’t feel strongly about anything involving words
This is my consciousness
My brother is coming home
I hope
I don’t want to be alone
Meaninglessness means nothing
Reading the "Giving Tree"again at age twenty-three, made me reflect onmy current anger with my mother.She has been there for mebut as I have grown older, she became the boy and I became the tree.
Goodmorning
How could I have known what sick meant
You were sick, been sick your whole life
Suffered your old life with
A smile
Oh brother, don’t turn away, the sister said
The future’s banging on your door
Won’t you just let it in?
And memories are sold.
I was raised to keep my issues bottled
I live with a family where communication is a problem
Introverted pacifist, avoiding all confrontation
When I try to speak, I stutter, failing all articulation
As a tribute to my dad now one year clean.
To the bottom I go
When I’ll be back, I don’t know
I get lost on the way
To a place I’ll stay
I wake in the morning,
And the first thing I do
Is start to get high
To not think about you.
I take a long puff
To forget about your sorrow.
Take another one in
To forget about tomorrow.
Two tiny turtles placed in a plastic shoe box at the corner of a cabinet
Their quality of life is equal to their cheapness of the quality box
Big words,
Small words,
Hard words,
Soft words,
Sad words,
Happy words,
Loud words and
Quiet words,
My favorite words are the ones that have me lost for words.
I waved hello to an old bent tree
Unsure where the journey would end.
I never expected that, waiting for me,
Was a wooden and wonderful friend.
It's Saturday
I wake up
Mom knows
Breakfast shows up at 8
It's Saturday
Dad's gone
Off to work
Won't be back till late
Next morning
On a trip
Wrapped in the blanket azul of her birth,
the little girl spells inmigrante beside inmate
with a stick in the dirt on the border
between cage and patrolman earth.
The world is dirt
Yet I’ve seen the greatest of flowers
Spring up from its soil
And she was the loveliest flower
I saw something that reminded me of you today
I haven't thought about you in a while
When are you coming home?
You should see me
I cut my hair
I've gotten taller
And I became someone new
I should have known the minute they started treating me different
Well, now I'm all grown and I'm getting thrown out of my ass
Forced to be all on my own, stuck with nowhere to call home
My family and I have been through some rough times, but them kicking me out is the worst part
They left me confused, feeling unwanted and with a broken heart
I'm going to have to find new ways to let all of this pain out
I hate you, and I can't stand up to you
You represent everything that I hate about this world
You are the epitome of evil
You are the living proof of why no one wins by playing fair
Everyone loves the tough guy
Why do we do this stupid little dance?
It's very well coordinated and I know the steps by heart
But you don't seem to understand that with each twist and turn we destroy what we have
It's broken down into simple steps
It was cold and we usually
had the same dinner for weeks on end,
but the home was a lot better.
My baby sister was my best friend,
my other sister my second best friend.
It felt like I got back part of the
A hug from a woman who's not my Mama
but has raised me nonetheless is
warmer than our run-down apartment in St. Louis.
Streetlights would allow shadows to form in my head.
They go away when I see my nephew's eyes,
I’m so scared
I’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscaredI’mscared
I don’t know
What to do
How to act
What to say
I’m so scared
I wish I could say “I hate you.”
I wish I could say “I love you.”
I wish for these two things,
And they tear me apart;
One leading down a path of no return
Don’t you dare
don’t you dare
speak one more lie
that I’m up to no good
when I making sure
you can get by
don’t you dare say
I do nothing for you
when I hide my pain
When you were dying, I was dazed yet ambushed.
We were fusing, and I got cold feet.
Who knew I wasn't cunning, firm, nor merciful of your love.
The content was only in text, and a dial was abundant.
We sat on a Telletubby blanket the first time
I held you
and you weren't bigger than a box of cereal.
You grew up in front of your two big sisters
faster than they were prepared for,
Grandma's hands
Clapped in church on Sunday morning
Grandma's hands
Played a tambourine so well
Grandma's hands
Used to issue out a warning
She'd say, "Baby don't you run so fast
A child and his mother walk down the street
The boy in front
Each step slapping the ground
His miniature blue flip flops
Flapping away dirt and ants from under foot
The mother watches, the round of her belly
It's me, your big sister,
well second big sister
I know you don't know me but
I love you
I'm sorry I couldn't be there to
Listen to that voice
There is importance in following
These pages enclose the words my heart holds
If I enacted the things I feel I could heal
Our generation acts as if emotions are no big deal
She was pure poison
Striking at what she wanted most
and pushing away those
who got in the way.
She wanted something odd,
maybe to make herself seem more full:
Poetry has always seemed to be in my life, in my blood even
My father is a poet, for my mother at least
He wrote them when he was happy when my mother was pregnant with me
We all go the distanceJust to do what we must,
And so we do what they want,
So we may earn their trust.
Life is so precious
truly a gift
something so sweet
like a mother’s kiss
from beginning to end
a joyful ride
like rifing the waves
on the greatest tide
from being a child
To My Dear Broken Family,
Dear Working Class,Broken Family of America Do not wither in a stormThis too shall pass!
Quivering, Quivering, Shaking, Hands
On Thanksgiving Day.
above the filled cornucopia, sliced turkey and relatives
dark news hovered above in a cloud
My sight is now fading
these last words I write
To you my descendant
Your birth will bring light
For you are the crown that
completes my quest
Our name is not noble
but now I can rest
I wanted to write a poem about music, but I understood that it is better to write about something true rather than something you feel good about. Now. My mother, she, she has always been there for me. In the highs and lows of my life.
Tina, my bathroom won’t smell like your hairspray
and I won’t hear your thunder in someone else’s voice
but if your heart chooses to grow, I hope you’ll come to know
I don't know what's wrong again.
Everytime it's something new.
I try and try to be perfect.
Nothing is good enough for you.
Each time, I think we're good.
Then you block me out.
Glass clouded with Hemlock's breath,with a crunch I step untoand revel in the sight of deathso sweet, compared to bitter you.
I write this for
you
Not because I like
you
Not because I love
you
But
Because your actions
One day in the dark
I was in my school park
We had a strong bond
but now my father's gone
I had to edure the pain
without that, there's no gain
I felt so helpless, so worthless
The stick-together families are happier by farThan the brothers and the sisters who take separate highways are.The gladdest people living are the wholesome folks who make
The Thoughts of a Child
Once I knew the thoughts of a child,
Once I knew only innocence and peace in my home
Once I knew only good and love, nothing of betrayal.
We battle our masters
with laughter that shatters
the perception of contrasting stature.
A giggle is a stave through the heart of catastrouphy.
But we hide behined tears,
Everyone needs a memory
Summer keepsakes
Family memories
Best friends
Pictures full of people you don't know
Awards
Lunches full of laughs
Dance trends
Sayings
Favortie songs
How do you love one person so much
That the world just stops
That instead of a person
They're just an idea
A passion
They rule your thoughts
Your stories
Mother, please don’t go away.
You know how I love you…
I’m calling you, please answer me!
Please don’t go please not now!
Do you hear me calling?
Those years
The tears
Those fears
They hurt
Those lies
And byes
And here
I see you
Those rough times
I won’t let you go through
The light will shine
Engraving on the hilt inlaid with gold
Newly daubed with tar of flesh and bone
A ruddy smearing on the blade
Tearing ‘tween muscle, marrow
A carving of the heart
I believe we may have missed it
the year of reconciliation
The prospect of harmony, of order
Just a smidgen from symmetry
the precarious plane tipped
I am from the Earth
The soil that sits beneath the flowers
brown and suffocated by the beauty.
I am from Wattupa Heights and the bike I never learned to ride.
Hand-me-downs from Shane and Brittany
It has been fifteen years. Sometimes I wonder
If when I cry you shed tears, too, and I wonder
Will I go deaf soon? I try to drown out your shouting matches.
The percussion leads your voice. The great wave crashes
My hair is too frizzy,
A red tangled mess.
My eyebrows aren’t arched,
Blonde makes it look less.
My pants don’t quite fit,
The muffin top pokes over.
I look down at the scale,
Blinding lights like an operation room.
I curl myself in the booster seat,
Woven polyester straps pulled to the sides.
Muffled roars of arriving flights make for difficult napping.
I forgive you for breaking my heart
You took a healed wound and reopened it
You poured acid onto it & let it sit
The pain is still there, but I forgive you
I forgive you for leaving me vulnerable
Never Farewell
By: Ricardo A Arreola
In a world filled with lies and made up memories
Hate is all a child ever grew to know
But when lying next to frozen stone one
My blade is tainted red
and it doesn't help when you shout.
i wish that i were dead
so just put me in the ground.
i'm done with stars and banners,
i'm done with tear drops too.
My mother writes poetry.
She has for years, though I never knew.
She keeps her poems in a journal,
Tucked safely away.
She showed me the book once.
I read all the poems in it.
I planted my legacy inside of you.
A tiny pebble of a seed,
brittle and bitter from a lifetime of storms.
I buried it deep in your soul.
A poem writen by my brother and I:
Brother, how you push all my buttons,
But I still love you,
Sister, though you tease me,
I still love you,
Brother, how you aggrivate,
But I still love you,
My Uncle joined the circus,
which is okay,
I guess,
if you like that sort of thing.
Truth is,
that sort of thing really
creeps
me
out,
like how
Lunchables
I measured each spoonful of Mexican cheese
and sprinkled it, like a surgeon, over a bubbling omelette
Next was the avocado, sliced in smooth crescents
of green because that's the good kind of fat,
As the colors fade and slowly turn to grey,
I rise from the ashes, color blossoming from within me.
I hear a whisper behind me,
But I dare not look back.
"My love why do you keep me, i am ever so tinyI may not be a babe or even that whiney...but I am so small yet you make me feel so goodand you protect me despite the whole neihborhood
(Bare with me it has a good message)A beautiful giantess goes up to a little manTake him in her sexy foot and takes him in her softr hands" I wish to please you and make you very F**ed
I keep trying to find
The lengths to which I would go for you
But every time I think
"This is it"
I find myself in deeper waters of your love
Than before and I know that
Thank thee, Lord, for living.
Thank thee, Lord, for death.
Thank thee for the ashy air
That fills my bony chest.
Thank thee for misfortune,
It took me by surprise,
The razor no longer slides through my wrist,
But I'm bleeding through the falling tears.
I have it all. I have the friends.
I have the love. I have the family.
A Beating Heart
Naeha Inapanuri
last week my life was steady
constant
the same routine
repeating
never ceasing
“The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine.” -Cherry Wine, Hozier
The wine-red honey
courses through her elastic veins
as it had for years and years,
I must thank you
Years of family memories
Frozen, standstill, captured, timeless.
And we shall know your absense
By the lost years
In our photo albums.
Dear glass child
The way the sun shines through you is blinding It looks like heavens pouring out of your skin
Dear glass child
You are so beautiful
I could see that pain and hatred in your eyes
The moment she spurned you as childish and unwise.
I know how it feels to be scorned and chastised.
I know how it feels to go against those baptized.
I came from the moon-
A crater left in the wake
Of a girl who couldn't stay still
The changing faces of my father
Trying to find the daughter he carved-
Never content because he can't find me
daddy. i know i no longer call you this way.
there are some nights where i catch myself thinking about your wounds.
your hurting heart.
We're connected, all of us,
From Hawking to Epicurus.
See those volumes sitting on the bookcase?
Each author offers warm intellectual embrace.
In a way, we are all one,
Twenty Two years on
and the child
has flown the nest
The 2nd heads off soon
and the rest
they say is history,
but history has a knack you see
Of bringing you back to reality
I am a baby
I enter the world and open my beautiful eyes to see the light
Cute as a baby, oh that’s me
Smiles from bundles of joy
Poof! I am a kid
Dear Grandma, I love you so much. You practically raised me. You called me your favorite. Things aren't going too well for you right now. You're always sick, passing out. You're nearly blind, and you don't remember me.
I was born in Newzealand,
at the age of 4 i was send to india with my parents.
I moved in with my aunty and uncle in Australia,
but my parents stayed back home in India.
when i was 5 i was homesick,
Her eyes blaze with guilt,
and an outrage at being guilty.
Being caught.
I patiently wait for the crows,
who so lovingly printed their feet
You are my life
You are my friend
I miss you so much
Deep down I blame myself for everything
It is my fault
I lost contact with you
I lost you
I will always see you as my big bro
Looking at the stars
Thinking about the place I go every day,
The place I call home
But it doesn’t feel that way.
Home feels like bad dream
Ode to the Hard Holidays
Whether it’s Christmas
Family coming together
Celebrate the birth of Christ
Gratefulness
Whether it’s Thanksgiving
I’m afraid of spiders their hairy legs and relentless fangs
Afraid of the tallest heights looking down from the stairs
As if they are a 200 foot skyscraper
Dear Mommy,
Let me start off with the fact that I love you
And that I really appreciate everything you have ever done for me
But you are not without your faults
In fact, you have quite a bit of them
I have not met you in this physical lifetime,
Although I carried you with me for quite some time.
I would like to tell you about someone I admire before you reach your destination.
(There’s no need to start with dear
When Mami is the same thing to me.)
I read a poem in Literature one day
That made me tense, a deer ready to run
Dear Daddy,
I love you and I miss you so much. I’m sorry I didn’t spend more time with you before you left this world. I’m sorry I didn’t express my love enough.
Man,
I still remember saying our goodbyes
But I can’t remember the last one.
You would remain still behind the glass
As my sister and I would be carried away,
Tears streaming from our eyes
I wonder what you were like.
My father's father, cast away from the light.
I never met you like I wish I have
You never heard me talk or seen me walk
We never had a chance to sit together and laugh.
Dear Father,
I guess you were the onewho was supposed to show me how this works.The ins and outs of love,living, learning, and putting my happiness first.
It has been a few years since I’ve last talked to you.
You’ve slipped my mind as I lived and grew.
I write to you this poem of mine.
I hope that it’ll make it to you just fine.
Hello Brother.
I miss you
Our family misses you.
It isn't your fault.
You did nothing wrong.
No one can help where they're born.
This has left our family torn.
When I was growing up I had a pretty happy childhood. I came from a broken home, however it never was an issue for me until I turned 12.
Dear Father,
You were there for my birth
At least I think you were
But that’s about it
You saw me growing up
But I would rarely see you
I never saw you at school performances
5th year
I was always a giver not a taker.
I bought my her toy, gifts or what ever I made her.
My sister is oldest but I was always the protector.
Dear, Nephew
You are so full of life right know
so full of energy, joy, happiness, light.
You make my days brighter than they were yesterday;
When I was feeling alone and depressed.
Dear Death,To you I've never cowered underYet casualties of those I loveWill tear my life asunder
Sometimes at night,
when the second-hand
ticks endlessly, forever
mocking me for my inability
to grasp the embrace of sleep
because I am too busy thinking
about you and the burn
Dearest Father,
From my first breath to my first day of school
You were there for them both.
You held my hand and kissed my cheek,
And did what you could
To protect me from the harsh world.
Dear me,
You, with all your crevices and caves are still
the man in the glass, everyday he stares into
your eyes with expectation of you fulfilling
Dear Mi Amor,
All it took was a pie
And two little girls playing way up high
Every day was a day our friendship grew
And little by little we did too
Sunrise to Sunset
Dear Grandmother,
You were supposed to protect me and wipe my tears when I cried.
Yes, you did this but all as you lied.
You taught me not to trust:
Five baby birds, alone in a nest.
Friends due to birth and location.
Five baby birds, hormones and hatred manifest,
With any contact leaning towards altercation.
Dear Mom,
I hate you,
I hate you because I miss you, even though I never learned who you were as a person.
To my mother
I imagine that before my mother was a woman, she must have been a girl.
It's an odd thing, this imagining.
My mother was once an unfinished human,
Dear Husband,
You say we are a team and that our hardship days will end soon.
The harder we work together, the better our future.
To my Dad, my best friend,
I can’t even pretend that all this happened,
I just want to bend and contort until my body says no-
My mind is full of what if's, maybe's, and so’s.
Dearest Amanda,
In our darkest hour my mind replays,
a memory:
My eyes are pulled to where the road seems to bend,
where the trees are not green,
where the long river ends.
Your deep red feathers contribute length to your shape,
But it's more than physical features that add to my gape.
Morning "I'm awake!" calls and late night "No bedtime!" squeaks
Dear so-called family,
You know who you are,
We share the same father
And the same type of blood.
The last time we spoke
Was during dad’s funeral,
“Don’t worry” You said,
Dear Reader,
here's a poem about home. i hope you enjoy.
Rushing cars, aging scars.
Honking horns and corner stores.
People to and fro, not even a single hello?
Text and call, bump and scowl.
Dear Daisy
I think about kissing you
I wonder if you think about it too
We were waiting outside to go dancing I was high and
They calim
To be your family
But still
They neglect you
And tell you
They don't want you
They may claim
To be your family
But my love
They are not
Look here
I wanted so much for you.
I wanted you to learn how to walk before anything else so that you could always rely on your feet as foundation to hold you up during times of desperation.
Dear brother,
It was vague like a dim moonlight in sunrise,
Your attempts to avoid those dark temptations,
Chasing you left and right to what’s unwise,
Leading you to a certain damnation.
Dear Family,
I am doing this all for you
And you probably don't even know
Because I always keep pushing through
And never let my emotions show.
Dear Maitu, As you have not come into this world And you never will I wanted to write to you and tell you Of the world you will never experience. I am you aunt, the cool one. You brought so much joy and heartache to your family.
Dear Dad,
Thank you for the guidance,
the careful considerations,
the many years of love.
Thank you for the encouragement
when everything seemed difficult.
Thank you for the support
Dysfunctional Family
Let me introduce you to a family
They're one of a kind.
You learn to love and respect them once you get a look at their dysfunctional minds.
Let's meet dysfunctional dad.
dear dad,
you look at me
when i am a woman,
pretty pink dress
clung like a leech
sucking content
from my skin.
Google Translate ‘yaya’ from Filipino to English:
governess, nurse, maid (show less translations)
i cannot remember the first day i met you,
Dear staring stranger,
I am who I am
I am the product of two best friends
I am who I am
I am the daughter of a military man
Dear Sister,
The first time we met
You were 5
He was 7
I was 1
There were two sets of parents
One for y’all
One for me
Full sets, 2 in each
Dear Ms. Yolanda,
You know I care about you right?
Well, I do. You are my family and I will always love you.
But we need to talk. I wish you would start living already.
A letter to the Universe
The first bell, it rang at 8:05
The first day when he stepped his feet on the Holy ground
United States, the land of opportunity
Dear Mom and Dad,
It took me a while.
I know you've waited patiently.
I know you went to bed every night,
hoping,
praying.
It took me a while.
February 2, 2017
Dear Person Whose Life I Tried to Make Perfect,
Throughout my life I've met so few,
who ever were as kind to me,
as was my clever old Παππούς (papoo)
a strong yet gentle man was he.
His eyes they shone so dark and brown,
No wonder then why Grandma fell
Dear Dad,
People will say that you can´t be my dad.
That giving you the title is the worst idea I ever had.
¨ He is not blood. ¨ they say,
¨ What has he done for you anyway?¨
To the man who took the most precious thing a young girl could have...
You cut me so deep inside that I may never heal properly from this.
All I wanted to do was just cry my heart out for how much pain I was in.
MOTHER
By: Demily Ruelas
Mother, is the one that is with you from the very start.
Mother, the one who kisses your boo boos when you have gotten hurt.
Dear Mr. Chavez or should I say Dad?
Such great high school memories, we both had.
You made me lunch each morning, every single day.
"I don't eat that", instead of, "Thank you", I'd say.
Since I was little you gave me your time
I never thought much of it
I always thought you would be there no matter what
I took that for granted
Dear Mom...
I don’t even know where to start with you these days. How are you? It feels weird to say that.
Do you wonder how I’m doing, too?
I’m 25 now,
A woman. Last time you saw me I was a girl.
We’ve lived in two different houses
both of which
we were alone
just us
and no one would even know
someone else
Dearest Mom and Dad,
I am so sorry
Sorry about my naivety as a young child
Constantly, aimlessly wandering about with your knowledge
The multiple times I scared you
The many encounters with towering strangers
bend the bruises
mend the stains,
go ahead and break the chains,
wait outside the wrong track door,
hear the voices, not good for
anymore.
break the bones,
like all souls show,
She looks at meand squints her eyes.Can she see me? Maybe.Her eyes open widebut when she wanted to see the world,her eyes lied.Abuelita it’s me, I’m here!I’m standing right in front of her,
Dear Mom,
I know I stopped talking.
I know it hurt you.
but what I DID say,
it was all true.
I know I hurt you,
but one thing's for sure.
What you did,
it hurt me more.
GRADUATION POEM
By: Eric Fraley
Here today
Here we sit
Class of 2017
Amongst our friends
Our fellow classmates
I am dirty feet dancing in the jungle
I shower in my mother countries water with my neighbors
A naked body is my friends and I because Jesus isn't born for another century
I am enjoying the heat that blackens my skin
Well daughter, I'll tell you...
Your dreams are rivers
Calm, straight forward
Most of the time.
Sometimes you meet rapids,
Falling down hard like waterfalls,
Dreams are tricky things
Listen up, kid,
and listen up good.
My brother and I may only be 1 year apart,
but damn right I'll protect him at all costs,
so you better watch out.
The first time my brother mentions
Dear Neighbor.
My family isn't from around here.
I did not grow up in these coastal neighborhoods.
It's not like your family.
With your nice dog
and your kind husband
and your quiet sons.
To whomever decides to read it:
I don’t know him well. I never will.
I’ve heard of him before, through the others
They speak highly of him:
A friend, a brother, a son, a loved one
He called me family. He told me family is forever and so were we. He told me no one will ever love you as much as I do. I believed the pretty lies and was a pretty girl. I kept him happy and lost myself in the process.
dear father who is absent but not absent enough,
you usually leave between eleven and twelve
coincidentally those are the ages i first began to doubt us
i put myself in danger
Dear Mother,
Dear, Oh Dear Mother,
Yes it is Me your Daughter
I have never meant what has happened
Dear Mother
Letters to the Streets Of Gold
Once, I wrote a letter.
Plastered on the marble-slab-smooth surface
Of a helium infused spaceship,
The letter soared on the wings of a red balloon.
Dear Dad,
I look back on the days
When you showed me all of your love
Showed me all of your care
When I thought you just acted tough
Always left your side fast
Dear Ma,
The eleventh of March
Nineteen seventy-nine
Baby born at this time
Little foot with an arch;
Her dark green eyes glistened
As she looked at her mom
Pat held her in her palm
Dear Betrayer,
Sometimes I sit around and think
About how everyone has a focus
One day I could just fly away
And my loved ones wouldn’t even notice
Or maybe they would start to see
Dear Mom,
What’s it like in Heaven?
I can sense you standing side by side
With a God we never believed in.
You’ve never seen your halo;
Abigail SullivanPart 1: A Letter to Cerebral Ameloid Angiopathy.
Out of nowhere, you chose my dad as a potential victim to interrogate.
We were all born into a familyRelatives and siblingsWhen we commit we submit to our family
What if you were born to be
in the treeOn the broken branchThat fell so easily it's hard to believe
To Brandon How do I be an older sister to you?
How do I teach you about the cruel world?
What do I do when that innocent spark leaves your eyes
and you start to realize not everyone sees eye to eye.
I remember every piece and every bit like it was yesterday
Hurt me to my soul hearing bullets cought you 'round the way
Stayed on my toes for some hours, yeah I had to pray
Dear Dad, I miss the day on your birthday when we'd make cupcakes with your face on it
The days we'd play catch outside in the garage
The days we'd play call of duty with my brothers
Dear Brother,
Maybe they want you to be manly,
the perfect masculine masterpiece
They will probably want you to be normal
Yes
I know
I know
You aren’t so little anymore, I
Understand
I understand more than you can
Ever realize
When they told meYou had gone away,I didn't thinkThey meant forever. I thought you wereOn vacation,And I was jealousYou didn't bring me. But even now thatI understand whatThey said,I still wish IHad gone too.
1999 was the year it all started
I was born
Sick and kept away
No one seemed to know where
2002 was the year it all ended
I was taken away
The playground withers and grows old.
Its aging wood is taken over by the sun.
I remember when the kids would play at night;
My mother and I would watch together.
Look at how it flies, the time.
Dear my protector,
Satheric, Satheric.
With feathers so sleek like a silent owl in flight,
The comforting hum of your voice, kept me asleep all night.
As I knew there was nothing to fright.
Dear Dad,
Are you upset with me, because I grew up wrong?
Are you upset that I am Mentally ill?
You haven't spoken to me in so long.
But I love you, still.
Dear Dad..
You're like a broken advice vending machine
All advice is free and it's always a two for one offer sometimes even three
Dear Papi,
On January 8th you were given a little bouncing baby girl that has so much growing to do.
I'm sorry you will not be there to see that.
Sweet, sweet girl, don’t lose that heart
Even though sometimes, things will fall apart.
Value your daddy and all the sacrifices he will make
You don’t yet understand all he’ll end up doing for your sake.
Dear twenty-seventeen
there's a lot of things you showed me
like how time can move so slowly
then get faster than you'd like
there's a lot of things that happened
like my highschool days at home
I see you in my sleep,
there, you’re still alive,
Refusing to accept you’re gone,
is the only way I survive,
I reveal all my stories,
You were supposed to be full of love,
and there for me whenever I needed you.
If I had a monster under my bed,
you were supposed to be my knight in shining armour.
But instead you were the monster,
When I was little, you were the best.
I remember how we used to sing karaoke before bed.
When I was little, we always played Crash Bandicoot.
To my dear sister Ciara,
So This My Tribute To You
Blonde was her hair,
And pale was her color,
She stood about 5’4,
I'm the type of person who finishes all their homework on a Friday night so they can enjoy their Saturday. I no longer procrastinate. Some call me an overachiever and others call me a nerd. I'm a bit of both.
Dear Future Self,
Do you remember the beat
The thumping of feet
Up and down the halls
In and out of classrooms
Dear Pompa,
We miss you down here. I didn’t know it was possible to miss someone’s silence, but I do.
Life has kinda been a jungle to me kinda like living in one or something
Wondering why my father, never came back after his hunt
Always haunted me
Would sneak up on me
While my back was turned
My dear brothers and sisters,
A father’s love is like no other.
He loves you and he respects you
And though you might forget that sometimes,
Dear Family Tree,
I saw you breaking branch by branch,
bearing neither fruit nor leaf; there
was nothing I could do but watch
until I couldn’t bear to see anymore.
Goodbye Tatay*
Dear Tatay,
I still find myself talking about you in present tense.
It’s been twelve years since I flew from Manila,
I wish when I picked up the bags I was aware of the permanence.
Dear Mom,
Thank you for my blonde hair and for giving me life,
but I guess I must thank Father for my pale green eyes and constant need to repeat myself.
Thank you for loving me,
Dearest J,
You were the third person I saw in this world
You were my irritating other half
You pushed me down
So I pushed back
I pushed better
Long live my Father
Who is the wisdom in life's eye
Who upon his shoulders rest
Who is never willing to die
Long live my Father
Who upon a chariot was born
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank You.
For all that you do.
I know I can be difficult,
But thank you for your patience.
I am so eternally grateful to have you both.
Heaven wafts through the house
Smoked brisket, mac n' cheese,
Mom's homemade cookies
Ava excitedly talks to me
About Achievement Hunter
Those crazy guys are at it again
Dear Past Self,
I know what you’re expecting me to say.
That it’s going to get easier and don’t give up.
Or maybe
That this is only the bottom of the mountain
And you have much further to climb.
You tested my patience,
my unofficial commitment,
you tested my ability to actually love someone,
or feel at all.
Dear Older Woman in the Grocery Store,
I am your cashier.
I scan your cookies, your cakes, your medications;
I make polite conversation, delicately choosing my words
As you delicately chose and scribbled each item
Dear Mom,
I notice you.
I notice the wrinkles that grew on your face,
the back pain when you walk up the stairs,
Dear Father,
I never meant to bother,
But I couldn't help but notice the piercing holler.
I never meant to bother,
But I couldn't help but notice you weren't acting proper.
I never meant to bother,
Dear Grandma,
Two years have come and gone. It is difficult to believe it has been so long.
It may feel as though you were just here, but it has been a couple of years.
Dear Grandpa,
Doc said your lungs were black
Probably from those sticks you put to your lips
We warned you and so did the packages
But you chose to ignore us
A life with you is a life worth livingEven at your worstyou still made me feel betterEvery moment with youis a moment worth reliving,For better or worseYou are the only love of my life.
It has almost been six years since we last talked.
Time sure does fly, I still remember the day mine and your life changed forever
As if it happened yesterday
You lost your ability to move.
Tedrick.
Theodore.
Tommy.
The three names your mother and I
Narrowed down.
See the world might not have known of your existence
But to your mother and I
great uncle:I would like tothank you forTea.
It is asimpleitem, yetcomplex in mymind,Tea.
To my ambition,
To my dreams.
At first, you popped into my mind
Like a grape from a vine,
Whilst I watched Youtube videos of
Dear Mother,
Hello, I just wanted to say you aren't a mother.
I mean a mother couldnt do what you did to me could she?
You left me in the streets so you can get high.
dear youth,
if you’re lucky enough to know
a great-grandmother sweet as mine
sit, listen, and speak up--
declaring “large straight” from time to time.
Young girl, 13
You just know you’re playing your cards right
Your parents don’t know
That you snuck out last night
Swore you were just protecting your friend
Dear Uncle Riki,
Only when it’s black as dark as the past can sometimes be
Until the lead cracks and bark burns when we will finally see
Words left behind that act as marks of your memory
Dear Grandma,
It’s been roughly a year and a half since you left,
Mom was never the same.
Uncle still sits in your room from time to time and tries to drink away the pain.
Dementia is stealing you, Worse is grandma’s view. You were so tall, Now we fear a fall. We feared the test, You were not at your best. Once our light, Now, not so bright. We lie, So not to cry. Many stay away, To our dismay.
Dear Evan,
It's been 3 years and 4 months since the last time I saw you.
Many things changed, I grew older, I changed as a person, I made new friends.
I met Amazing people and I wish you have done the same
I am always in the passenger seat.
You can drive me wherever,
But there is nothing I can do.
If I protest,
I still can't drive.
If I try to drive,
I crash.
There once was a lady
who had three beautiful daughters
And she loved each very much,
she said.
she raised them in a world of strife
Communist China was a mess
So she ran away to a safer place
I found you there – you were still warm, but we knew you were cold
Sometimes I see you but I know you aren’t there
Your hands smelled like smoke, but that was more permanent than you were
Dear mom and Dad,
I am troubled by the thought of how much y’all work to support me.
I try my best to support myself but in the end, you guys carry the weight.
I’m scared I’ll disappoint Y'all
Dear Dad,I believe that, at my creation, God deemed you my father.
How else could a man be so delicately crafted for my upbringing?
10/6/16
My Dearest Grandson,
I know that writing letters may be relics of the past,
and sending emails online are more convenient and fast,
but I couldn't help but write one since I have your new address,
At this point last year
My family was a wreck
(no pun intended).
My brother had got hit
By a car flying down the road
This little girl, staring you in the face.
Why, she used to be yours.
But this little girl, staring you dead in the face,
When I was a baby my momma built me a paper house.
It wasn’t the strongest thing around, but she said,
Dear Christmas Decorations,
Year after year, your gold-wrapped traditions engulf this small home.
On the window sill sit dainty figurines
We knew that our parents' divorce was coming
Before they had my sister and I sit at the table
I knew before they told us, heartbeats drumming
I knew to prepare myself for the 'divorced child' label
On the outside looking in..
Hate to tell ya but you aren’t much of a friend!
A friend is someone you can depend on,
You’ll learn what you’ve lost once it’s gone.
Ever just want to write down how you feel,
But the way you feel just doesn’t seem real.
How can one be so happy yet feel so bad,
It’s like my luck tends to be so awful I sometimes feel sad.
I can’t believe it’s almost been two years since I’ve seen your beautiful face.
We went through so much together over the years.
We saw many hardships, and we cried many tears.
Hey there dad do you remember me?
I’m your daughter, the one you raised but never come and see.
I remember when I was growing up you would’ve never left my side.
Dear Father,
You taught me how to turn my fear into anger at a young age
Taught speaking caused more hurt in the end
Maybe that’s why I was so quiet in school
My Daughter Dearest,
I hope your life has been different than mine
Without worry, misfortune, or grief
I hope love, joy, and you are entwined
Dear fluffy, brown, recliner
You sit in the corner of the room I used to share with my sister
But now she’s gone
The room is quiet
But there’s room for you
I guess it was a sort of trade-off
Are you aware that the ground you step on is a golden path for me to followAnd every door you walk through is a diamond-encrusted gate.
1step 2 steps 3, 4, 5...
i had to make sure that i was still alive
something bothered my foot
it messed with my soul
it hurts more to see a monster cry
i did it the thing that helped me survive
Hearing the news, I stopped cold,
barely dared to breathe in your absence
They shipped you off to be with your brothers,
just eighteen,
in the unknown land of Kandahar
where you would learn to fight
My entire life, there is one thing that was drilled into my miserable brain.
“Bottling emotions is wrong.
But let me make something clear.
To the woman who has an eventful life-
One of eleven kids, a crazy Roman Catholic family
A woman who always had to fight
Who can still play ball like no bodys business
-the skill that was your ticket out (almost)
I had a sister
She was a hero
She saved my life
She is my jesus
She died just so I can live
I never asked for this
But she thought this will be the best of me
Another new place;
Another new road.
Another new school;
Another new home.
Each move just the last.
Pack up your clothes;
Pack up your shoes.
Pack up your books;
2017 but still feels like I'm stuck in a day dream.
I try to be me and refrain from the pain and gluttony I see.
Truth comes but chooses to never talk to me.
So lies linger laying heavy holds on my hated heart.
Houston, Texas is the sex trafficking capital of the United States.
The average age of female victims that are first captured is 12-14 years old
Though I'm in great pain, you're supposed to be there for me...
You birthed me, out of pain... you're supposed to be there for me
It shouldn't be blamed on me as to why I can't be good like everybody else.
Constance—You don’t contradict your name.You are constant in your wavering waysYou wave like reeds in the dry summer air—If the winds reeked of tobacco, and the reeds werewithered and frail
Were you too misinformed to see clearly,Of how they were destroying your own soul?You opened your mind to them so simply,As if there was not a blood-l
Late at night the door gradually creeks open wearily shedding undesirable light.
The unknowingly mocking scratches on the lifeless cold floor.
Dear Grandpa Reuben,
I know we never met
And know that we never may
But I want you to know this:
You’ve always been an inspiration
And a guiding light.
Even if you were gone before I was born
Dear Grandfather I Never Met,
I look up at the photo of you and my mother
that dangles on an aging white painted wall
roughly six feet from a worn sandy brown carpet
in the hallway of my home.
Dear Daddy,
Do you remember that day out on Tiana Bay?
I was four years old,
Big brown eyes, twig legs, and abounding joy.
We went on the boat,
Sixteen years went by
I'm waiting for you to come
I read to myself every night
I cried as nightfall came.
We're standing eye to eye
I'm not waiting for you
I have no reason to cry
Your love for me was so powerful and everlasting,
It’s so strong that even though you’re not here anymore,
I still feel it lingering around in my soul,
In the warmth of the brilliant, early morning sun,
comes a shadow only I can see
marinating in its holy scent
the delicate gradations in between.
It is a virus, a pathogen particular to you, but, as well,
Dear Mr. Biological Father,
As a young child, all I ever wanted was a real dad.
All of the dads in the movies played ball and ran around in the yard with their kids.
To Missense
I only write letters to family
though estranged,
that you still are,
after all
You’ve run in the blood
Wind
Evening chill
A shiver
Food is that of the smallest mice would eat
The dream
Shelter
Somewhere nice
Impossible
Times of us fading away
Times when some could not move on
Hi, my name is Kai and I am gender-fluid.
Well, that's not what my birth certificate says
But it's who I am nowadays.
I enjoy living in my own fantasies.
A place in my mind where I can be anything.
Why don't they just shut up?
They don't know a single thing.
They have no clue they are my problem.
I want to stay away from every single one of them.
I don't care if they are "family"
These war-torn calloused hands of mine,
scarred and bruised and filled with memories.
That scar on the soft spot of my palm?
A Letter to an Absent Father
Dear father- or rather to the man
Who simply donated DNA.
I'm not sure if I can call you "Dad"
Anymore because a father is
Here stands a boy who doesn't know who he'll become
He stands a boy playing underneath the sun,
Underneath the sun that shines warmth down on him
Dear parents,
I want to exaplain myself the best way I can,
but most of the time I don't have a plan.
I want to succeed, you see,
when they tell me I can't.
Is it possible to defy the odds,
Dear College,
I've heard a lot about you.
People say you're great, a real relationship,
so much better than high school.
But I'm scared.
Really scared.
If you appeared daily in the majority of my life
why does it feel as if I’ve lived ten without you?
Drowning in the tears of each of the last three years
How absurd it seems to be writing you a letter
Dear Mom,
1. You dropped seeds of rosebush from your tongue and let me grow in the warm
cave of your love. You were the light I grew towards.
To My Mother:
You have hurt me,
You have raised me,
You have loved me,
You have frustrated me,
You have taught me,
My beloved mother,
My caring mother,
You love and you love,
I hope you know
that within our hearts
the ones you gave us
through birth and nurture
that even though we
did not have fancy vacations
or expensive materials
that with your love
Mother,
Let me tell you about two children of my own.
I've had them for awhile, and I'm surprised you haven't noticed.
I have devils in my pocket.
Two little devils.
They snag crumbs from my plate,
Dear Death
You come in frightening ways
You take people in lighting bolt way's
It happen's so fast
I am afraid you will take someone from me
It could be anyone
I am afraid of catching depression
Dear Sister,
I would ask how you are
But I can guess from your pattern
It’ll be the same as always
You’re never satisfied
Even though opportunities are there.
I’m graduating soon
Little one don't even try
To rid yourself of sin
Little one just live your life
Sweet child of the nephilim
Little one please keep in mind
The way you treat your fellow kin
Little one be fair and kind
Breathe in...
Breathe out...
Swallow the threatening tears down.
They have no place here now.
Breathe in...
Breathe out...
Inhale past the tightness and knots inside.
Too much to take, too much to give
Too aware to die, too aware to live.
Too white, too black, too inbetween.
Too loud, too quiet, too asleep to dream.
Too good, too bad, too broken to try.
Remembrance dark, a shadows faceA name, my name,“Jason Grey,”That name,A bitter tasteRolling off my tongueWho is he?I just don’t know
A nuisance, a loud crying baby,
I can’t express how annoyed you made me,
But I was young and I didn’t know,
That you were a blessing in disguise before you had even grown,
A shoulder to cry on,
As we grow old...
We are supposed to listen to what we are told.
The wise & the bold,
Told us something that we should all take & hold.
I remember when I heard the news.
It was hard for me to follow.
I remember when I went to see you,
My mind was still and hollow.
The day you entered my life
I know we won’t have any strife
Our family: Dad, child, wife
But that is just a big fyffe
A lie just to give you hope
Daddy don’t need to elope
Love is that one emotion that gets you through a rough day,
Is knowing that no matter what may happen someone has your back.
Love is sweat covering your palms,
Dear Future Husband,
I didn't know you were looking for something, easier to swallow
But For years I watched my father walk over women
Because I love you
Everytime I see your smile
My heart melts straight into goo.
I’ll do my best to cheer you up when you are blue
Dad brings sweatshirts back
from his business trips –
souvenirs of places I’ve never been.
When I move away for school,
I wear them like hugs,
his fabric arms embracing me
We don’t get to choose our siblings, but if we could, I’d choose you.
Why?
Because I love you.
I’ll always be by your side,
And lend you my shoulder when you cry, because I love you.
The memories that we make, I hold dear to me.
They are stories, I like to believe
That I will read when I ache for normality.
They are tales of my home,
A place that is filled with heart-warming smiles
One heart beats fast.
He knocks on the door,
flowers in hand,
knuckles clenched and white.
because i love you --
we talk
about the hurt: you wouldn't say I love you, because they didn't, and I acted like HIM
we talk
and find out: miscommunication, the intent was lacking where the action was the same
Even though we never have enough money, I tell you we do, all because
I love you,
Even though I despise going to my job, I work from 3 to the dead of night, all because
I love you,
My parents are LOVE. They argue, they fuss and downright disagree with each other, often. LOVE is not seeing eye to eye. They like different movies but every once in awhile they find one together.
Blood shed of thousands just for millions.
The torturous battle cry of machinery.
The weeping calls of the beloved in one's ear.
This is war.
Dear Father,
Thank you for being my fatherBecause fathers should provide
They should hold your hand and want to danceAnd be present in your life
From that warm feeling in your chest
to the "text me when you get home safe"
to the person who brings out your best
Fom the "I'm so proud of you"
to all the butterflies in your belly
Sometimes I can't fucking stand noise,
Every smack of your lips,
Every breath you take,
All amplified in my head like 20 speakers stacked on top of each other,
Speak
Ugly empty silence in my chest
You painful knot of bitterness
Full of regret and accusation
Speak
Each part inside me that dies
How many lifes does it take for one to show unconditional love?
No one will really know the answer so take I don't take what I have now for granted.
Because I love you,
I look you deep in the eyes
I hold my head up high,
When I'm standing by your side
Because I love you,
I laugh all the time,
I can be myself
And I never have to hide
I talk
When you
Don’t have the words,
Because I love you.
I listen
When you
Have news to share,
Because I love you.
I smile
When you
Lack the strength to,
Have you forgotten my worth and escaped from my elegance?
Its seeming my china has lost all our relevance.
Do I not shine like the bulbs illuminating your stove?
I’m near, yet lonesome; I’m a deeply secluded cove.
My mom is a thousand ticking bombs
Wrapped recklessly
In coarse,
Black,
South pacific skin.
Pervaded by the thick stench of marlboro reds,
They built me up,
And knocked me down,
Over
And over
And over
And over.
A cycle of trying to impress,
The first time i heard the words ´i love you´
was also the first time i saw my mother cry
the way this person told me´i love you´
made it sound as if they were telling the truth
Your addiction to affliction is creating a friction,
The constriction like a prescription to your mental condition.
But there's a restriction to our level of submission
Bright Lights Dark Nights
Flash Flash Flash
randoms everywhere
paparazzi taking up my dear air
Listen, this is why I love you
not because of money
not because of favors
not because I have to
but because I am you
I am a product of you, Mom
you are my mother, my best friend
Every time we communicateThere is no positivityThere's things that you put downThat I think are greatConversations are dullThey drain meWhile the fill you upTear me downWhile they bring you upShatter my heartWhile they toughen yours upI can't take
Because I love you; She said to me.
Because I loved her; She lied to me.
Because She hates me; She hurt me.
Because I love her; I cried.
Because I love you; I lied.
Because I loved her; I hide.
A subject in a million stories /The catalyst to a thousand wars /A man and a woman deep in love /But I don't call that love. /Love is not at first sight /Lust is /Love is not a shot through the heart /Desire is /Love is not on and off /Not hot a
I’m writing this poem about you
Because I love you
But everything you do for me
Is because you love me
Thank you for being my friend
Thank you for being there for me
Thank you for being kind
You do not deserve to be mocked.
You are worth more than that.
People do not get to take your success from you.
You earned that.
“Carpe Diem” is a phrase that I am
introducing to you in the hope that you
will remember what it means and why it
matters.
I brought you into this world.
I gave you a home, food, and guidance.
Our Love was like that of paper.
In the beginning it was
Weak and susceptible to tear.
But as our bond grew stronger,
Our paper folded,
Still vulnerable but unbreakable.
Because I love you,
we will have small arguments
that we will learn from.
Because I love you,
you will not strike me,
you will stroke my cheek instead.
Because I love you,
I ask you, what does it mean to Love?
“That feeling that makes you smile whenever you see me?”
Relationships and Love are
Passion
The light in the dark that surrounds me
To look at my flaws and love me anyways
My friends, my family, those forever beside me
I love you because...
Love is the conjoining force that adorns the souls,
Love is the pendulum swing of reciprocity.
It is the balancing act of Harmony that follows an “ I do”.
It is the laughter lunging from the mouths of best friends.
I no longer think that a relationship is good
I no longer see marriage as my goal
I no can no longer want love in my life
Thanks Dad.
I thought you guys had a fantastic relationship
I’ll never give up on you,
So I’ll let you fall on your face.
I’ll let you learn from your mistakes,
Feel disgraced for your own sake.
Love is a concept that is hard to describe
Love is not depending on someone
Love is not a parasitic relationship
Love that is true is mutualism
No time,
no time at all
none to read meaningless words,
none to spare for a wayward thought
no seconds to give to listen
not a moment to waste,
but I've found that time has no value
Because I love you,
I tell you goodnight every night.
Because I love you,
I tell you silly jokes just to see you smile.
Because I love you,
I share my art and my day with you.
I’m the spontaneous
COMBUSTION
Of a happy
But mad
Ugly but
Pretty
Stubborn
But cooperative
Because I love you
I will always tell you so
I never want you to forget
You warm my heart and make me whole
Because I love you
I will wake up with you when you’re sick
37.1 trillion cells
23 pairs of chromosomes
46 chromosomes total
4 stories
The pigment of my skin, a reminder of the humid city my family came from.
Spoken
Communicated
Listen
Comforted
Focused
Responded
Stopped
Stopped
Stopped
You dare say 'I don't know what pain is',
Yet, dear family, you've been fooled by yours truly.
Family isn’t confined to 6 lettersIt’s all encompassingPieced together with blood and timeAnd I findThat the one’s who want to stayWill.
Emotions.
Pain. It hurts, it hurts. Make it stop. Please, make it stop.
Family. Together. Happiness found with each other. Good.
Fighting.
Why do we fight?
Three Simple Words
Created Upon The Lords
Have Such Meaning
For Such a Robust Feeling
Mom Dad Sister Brother
If It's Not One Thing It's Another
Relationship With The Other
In this life, we are taught to feel as though
we need to be filled to continue to flow.
The words of our loved ones can
encourage our growth,
but what happens when that
isn't necessarily so?
here is what real love is
real love is taking action when not asked
taking up for those who fall short
speaking for those who can't
real love is
when my father cleans for my mother
Love is not just romance over and over, it's also a bond of friendship working together.
No matter if the experience gets tough, we work to understand each other and grow closer.
Linda Hayden
Maple Leaf
Marmalade colored trees blazed against the
cold, whirling skies overhead.
I picked up a maple leaf that showed itself
I will always love you,
I will love you with an unconditional love.
And because I so deeply love you,
I will always try to give you the world.
When we are young, we tend to believe
Everything that people tell us.
We do not form a sense of understanding;
We let people let us
L o v e was domestic violence
L o v e was emotional abuse
L o v e was choosing him over me
L o v e was staying because you've already invested in so much time
L o v e was miserable
L o v e was pain
Before, I was in love with a boy
He kissed me when he wanted
And reminded me how beautiful I was
“Because I love you,” he would tell me
Your eyes drew me in.
Your personality made me stay.
Last time I was hurt,
But something about you was different.
I wish to paint your carcass black,
Show you all the dark thoughts I've ever had.
I wish to tear you limb from limb,
Use my anger
To show you the pain I'm in.
My father's hands are popped and cracked like the canyons that he made his home.
Traveling from the cities of Chicago to the empty deserts of Arizona
His hands have seen it all.
Because I love you, you do not need to be anything more
Your quirks, routines, and pet peeves are all endearing
I love you so much that I forgive every wrong thing you do. I don't question
you anymore. You remind me you love me but your actions sometimes
contradict your words. I love you that's why I don't stay mad at you.
I am your princess, aren’t I?
Isn’t that what you always say?
So why do you put the bottle before me?
Before your little princess?
I don’t take most insults personally
They hold no weight
Slip down my back
Like rain drops
Leaving me only momentarily damp
And then I forget
Every time you look up at me towering over you,
Your almond shaped eyes seem to grow larger on your tiny face.
Like soulful puddles of warm chocolate,
They sparkle with a sort of knowing innocence.
Every time you tag me in a post I want to rip out my eyes.
You always take pictures which is great when those pictures aren't of me.
You see, when I see a picture of myself
Dear Mom,
We've been through alot together,
When you and Dad broke up a was still a baby,
All I know was my blanket and pacifier,
It starts with an inkling
A whisper of a secret that turns into a shout in your brain
As the voice learns how vocal chords work better together
Even when they are all raw from restraining
I'd be lying if I said there is nothing I'd ever want
Can't hide this frustration, it's talent is to haunt
Here are some things I will never ever get
No matter how hard I try, life won't ever let
I asked my mama,
Why must we go?
She held my small hand and gave it a meek squeeze.
"For however long the nights are still cold, and our empty stomachs continue falling asleep, we won't exist anymore.
Pray, and a message you’ll receive,
Sitting unconvinced of eternal love and devotion,
Abandoned in a confinement of grief,
Weary of further exploration into this emotion;
Because I'm not pretty I don't post pictures online
Because I'm not confident I don''t feel comfortable outside
Because I'm not straight I feel worthless inside
Because I'm not social no one hears my cries
Growing up,
my grandmother’s house was a second home to me.
Greeted by the smell of lavender and sweet peas,
she provided a safe haven
I feel like i'm being strangled
Just like what you did to my sister
I was five and on the staircase crying
She was sixteen with your hands around her neck
And the battle begins... He strikes from every angle...He sneaks in through them doors of... lust and desire.And every time you're weak, angry hungry or tired...HE FIRES! Liar....
Mop the floors,
Dust the shelves,
Stay indoors,
Keep to yourselves,
We can yell,
No throwing anything breakable,
I wish I could take you from your pain.
I wish I could draw you a door
So you could open it and leave,
But paper doors are as thin as the notion.
And we are two paper boats being set alight
My family is constantly asking,
How many girls,
And how many boys,
I plan on having when I’m older and married.
Orange clouds
Lazily rolling across summer skies
Cousin’s laughter chases away
The darkness of another year gone
Reminds me that this isn’t the end of one age
I am not what I am meant to be
I’m aware
Yes, I know- A girl’s nails are meant
To be colorful and sleek
Not bitten down by anxiety and picked half to death
Thinking of a future child
one that's non-biological.
One that might have been
once loved by another mother.
Maybe not.
Maybe they'll never know her.
Maybe they will have
I worry over your future
And fear for your college life
I wonder how you will make it without me
Then, I remember you will make it
If only because you are my
Days turn into months
And months into years
As I patiently wait for your return.
Just thinking,
Where could you have gone?
Gone like the wind.
You left me here waiting,
Just waiting.
The clock shall always be the enemy,
With his hands of weaponry,
Time stamped in history,
With actions of misery.
Tick tock goes the clock,
The clock shall always be the enemy,
With his hands of weaponry,
Time stamped in history,
With actions of misery.
Tick tock goes the clock,
I had you when you were naive
"You belong to me" that's all I ever said
How could I not love you ? You are a beautiful soul just like your dad.
Father is angry
brother is crazy.
Mama is worried
but sister is perky.
Arguing constantly
everyone hates me.
Or I don't seem to matter anyways.
Time is ticking away
and in the blink of an eye everything has changed.
Those friends you once knew
each on their own path
so that when you meet it is
"Hey long time no see."
Because I am a young adult I will reach out to you whenever you are in need.
Because I am kind, I will give you endless mercy.
Because I am a rose who grew from concrete, I will empathize with you.
Because I love you...
I'll support your decisions,
Stand by you during your transitions,
Be on your side in the hardest times,
Give you hugs even when midnight chimes,
Even silence is ecstasyYour heartbeat in my ear, a steady drum.Monumental or minimal calamitiesUntil my breathing levels,your fingers comb my hair. Your hand in mine, a rushed societal defianceBut you are unabashedly in love.Fierce pride in your
Dear Sapphire Angel
Our lives changed so quickly
With that hateful, horrible disease.
The cancer struck you hard and fast,
Mom, why did you have to leave us?
You were gone, and we were left,
Days turn into months
And months into years
As I patiently wait for your return.
Just thinking,
Where could you have gone.
Gone like the wind.
You left me her waiting,
Just waiting.
Because I love you
I will cry in your presence
I will not think twice about giving you a hug
I will thank you for everything you've done to change my life
I will tell you that I love you
I love you Dad
Yes, the love is nakedNaked enough that You can look through itTo the soul and body
It is like a naked babyA baby, when it is bornEven if it is nakedIt is beautifulAnd as pure as a baby soul
A family that was never been together,
Everything was so other favor,Anger, sadness and pain altogether,In the heart of a child whom never felt it before.
Growing older in a loving commune,
My mother and father with me forever,
Support is bound within a sister,
Family tightens as loved ones fade,
and enjoy each other throughout time,
I have to be better. I have brothers and sisters who are watching. I get tired and weary and depressed because I can't save everyone from hunger and poverty, But my head must hang high because people are watching me. No one sees the tears.
Nevertheless he divorced his companion
The small branch wept and wept
Oh he was in such blanch
Small branch wished the broken pieces were not kept
On a stormy night lightning struck the small branch’s heart
Those we love don't go away
They walk beside us each and everyday.
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
So loved, so missed, so very dear.
Your life was a blessing Your memory a treasure,
Once upon a time...
There was a young couple with too many kids:
Poor Isaac, Miss Sue, and sadly, young Sid.
The three of them had never enough to eat.
Momma didn't know what to do or who to meet.
Spot her across the room
Smile, look away
Allow a minute or two to pass
Make sure she’s still there
love is patient,
it is also kind
it can be hopeful and sometimes scary,
but it can also be evil
it is selfless, maybe selfish
love is an experience
it can be everything you ever hoped it would be
I Cut You Out Of My Life,
And the JOY routed in that LIBERATION is remarkable!
I Cut You Out Of My Life,
And the clarity that brings to me was previously unimaginable!
I Cut You Out Of My Life,
You don't hear about the times I rejected my friends,
In fact brothers, for time with my mother
And family
But you still question my loyalty, question my trust.
How can you think all I see is dust?
My heart is weak my soul is deep with words I can't speak but would u listen understand or even believe so I prefer to show u in actions take a jorouny of my thoughts so when walls are broken then words are spoken .
Pale green stare
Frizzy orange golden hair
Outside looking in
And still you love and care
I'm sorry you're out there
I wish she would have cared
I'll take you with me
And we can both live there
Pinnocchio was the first, Geppetto and Geppetta's Happy Accident
No one talks about Geppetta that much anymore
'Cuz she doesn't come around that much anymore
She was a good Wife and a good Mom
When I was just a little child
I began to see
I had a special family
Who is always there for me.
A family that stands by you
No matter what you've done;
Who picks you up and dries your tears
I stood there frozen, looking down upon. Your eyes still closed, I looked towards your mom. This is ours? I asked. The doctor and nurse laughed. How could we create, an Angel, a Queen?
The choker around my neck might as well symbolize a collar.
Connected to a leash that holds be back.
I stare out of windows and whine about wanting to see the outside world.
As suffocating as the sea. Like a billion waves crashing...down...down...down. Like a riptide pulling you in ever direction, yet going nowhere at all. Suspend in time within the ever silent Tide's. Breathing you in just to spit you back out.
Goodbye my Angels oh where did you go? Goodbye my Angels so little we know. Goodbye my Angels I sit and I stare. Goodbye my Angels Daddy's still here. Goodbye my Angels your departure so soon. Goodbye my Angels I wish somebody knew....
"Grounded, you can't go out!"
I heard, he didn't have to shout.
"You can't go to the prom!"
I think, he should take that up with mom.
Dad slammed the door shut, off to work
Sleeping Beauty slept her life away.
Dreaming of a day where she could just go away
Eternally.
Finally awoke after a long needed slumber.
firstly you were my best friend.
secondly you were my brother.
now we have grown apart, but friends we will always be.
i can't wait to meet my new sister, her name is sarah.
Three rooms,
Three people -
Family:
Mommy, daddy, me.
We are as one
Not enemies.
But that's what they don't see.
We sit behind closed doors
Each in a different room.
My Strawberry Cheesecake with a Milkshake
The inexplicable display of perfection that occurs when you smile and
I am a wall.
No matter how hard you try
you can not break through this wall.
My emotions are cinder blocks
After all the noise.
The sounds, the television
The lights.
The things I use to block out my mind.
There is a calm.
Here in this house, my parents house.
For all intense and purposes a museum.
He Loves You By Zarinah Alarcon
When he
Retweets your tweets on twitter
Likes your pictures on instagram
And reads your story on Snapchat
My family always there for me
There only one call away.
When I'm down and under stress,
They only dress me up.
When I win a lottery,
They only cheer me on.
When I'm frustrated,
They only calm me down.
Little flower.
Planted in the concrete, you tried to grow.
It's not your fault.
There are one hundred million people trying just like you.
Crying, weeping, praying..
Please know you are more then they made you.
“I don’t want to be a princess!”
No I don’t want to be one if it means I can’t be with her.
I pause for a moment
checking my pulse, just for kicks
Drums set the pace that my heart readily follows
Momma tries to discuss the farmer’s market
but relents
Past ( Reminiscing ) Yo this a story of my past I could reminisce on that
My path was stack with million dollar on my back
Immortality could be a curse and a living joke You couldn’t believe in the tales told by the old folks Since I was a kid, I dream about living an Immortal life Not just any immortal life, but a life to still see my wife 20 years from the other sid
I am cold with three blankets on
There is frostbite gripping at my toes as I pull them in close
The first reminds me of the time the power went out
It’s amazing how you have the ability to cut me down and bring me to my highest of highs,
In a single sentence, you have this uncanny ability to remind me how small I am.
His father died when he was 16
He never even told his father he loved him
The thought haunted his mind
Every day of each of the years to come
So he shut everyone out
He kept up his walls
My house smells of bleach and burnt pancakes.
The sound of my parents screaming at each other
echoes through the off-white halls.
My brother skulks in the corner
I've taken many things for granted
Being alive is one of them
I'm an early 20s-year-old college student
fighting signs of ADD, anxiety, and depression
I've self-harmed, picked at my skin
Our Nation Closing my eyesI ponder who I am when thinking back To the Fourth of July.American flag in my tiny hand While in the other liesA picture of my in uniform. My mother showcases our sign That I helped made which says “
The story begins long ago,
A new world they called it,
Ready for civilization.
Like a diamond in the dark,
Its heart began to pump the blood
Of freedom.
Freedom from
And freedom to,
when my family gets here
I'm gonna call you back
when my family gets here
I will play with Elmo and watch frozen
play hide and seek and tag down the hallway
sing songs and watch their eyes
1. Don't run with scissors because you will end up harming yourself. And I don't want you to become like me. Harming yourself more than others ever could.
I am from made up games with the neighborhood boys
from polly pockets and popsicles
I am from the backyards of suburban America
Mother America
I am did feed thy milketh
Her breasts were consumed with youth.
A preliminary smile that inspired a nation yet to be conceived.
My America is red;
Cherry lemonade by the side of a pool
In the summer of my childhood
Lips stained with sugary popsicles and fresh watermelon.
It is red like Coca Cola;
The kind from glass bottles
every year for as long as i can remember
my mom has tried to grow a rose bush.
key word tried.
Pain is the feeling I get when I think of you,
You’re gone and you left us behind.
I can’t help but think about what you would be doing,
My head aloft, eyes cold
prepared to leave whatever damage I have to
For a brief second, invincibility washes over and tinges everything gray
I can transcend those who tether me to the earth
A teddy bear
Soft and cute
We all had one as a little kid
Or even as an adult
Nothing wrong with that
And sometimes
We had a big teddy bear with a slightly smaller teddy bear
If you were to ask me a year ago,
where I thought I'd be.
I would say "dead" or "gone"
Never would I have
imagined myself here.
In this very room, surrounded by
everyone who I hold dear.
I remember when my grandmother used to bathe me in her pink granite 90s bathtub
She would pick me up a cup, laced with BPA, and fill it with lukewarm water
Never too hot, for it might harm the child
I see my 9 year old sister with her face glued to a tablet.
And I can't help but question technology.
It has its perks.
But is it worth it?
I see couples staring at their phones instead of each other.
Please forgive me for what I have done,
This weight on my chest weighs a ton.
The life I have I fearfully regret,
But what I've done I'll never forget.
My arms are scarred here and there,
Disscussion,
Can't we just talk?
Round table
no intimidation
from whom I was Born,
Blood shared,
Bones grown,
Umbilical Cord.
Can't we just tal-
Intimidation.
Raised Voices
Can I try to escape from
All my nightmares and demons
Soon this era will be done
The truth of time is too blunt
To not cut like a sharp knife
There's nothing else to get me through the day,Than smothering my lips over your cute face,So soft and innocent I just want another taste,Of moments with you that take your breath away;
“We love you no matter what.”“I’ll never support gay marriage.”“We’re always so proud of you.”“That lifestyle is a crime against God.”“As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters”... Contradiction.
You never listened
You never cared
I was missing
Some heart repairs
You showed me the door
which I would walk through
With my heart fully sore
but it didn't matter to you
Mommy, look at me, look what I can do.Say any word and I'll spell it, I'm smart just like you.
I'm sorry I was bad. You hate me? Is that true?I promise I'll be better, Mommy, tell me what to do.
America the free
But are we really free?
Striving to contain a positive image
Looking into the mirror
Not many like what they see
Remain a healthy mindset is what I strive to do
America is free
Free of equal rights that women have
but still cant decide what happens to our bodies
Freedom to vote
but get judged for who you did
Free to be the mixing pot
My baby-blue
Buttoned up Jersey.
Neck burnt with hard
Work, in the sun my ball cap
Has its most useful duty.
The Rawlings glove is not
Forgotten, like the tickets that were
Out of the mere solace there springs forth a silence
cold hearts plunge in it's beautiful interludes
A beacon of light for a hurting world in need
sorted Lavender grace upon the Peyton Place
What we were then is not what we are now
For changes were made, that were good and bad.
What I don’t understand is exactly how
1997-2002:
[No memories]
late 2003, one hour south of Switzerland:
Dad smashed my Gameboy.
He told me the screen looked better as a sunset.
I’m only seven, but
he’s a snake these days
slithering around
an anaconda
he suffocates me
I wish you were here
you’d stop him
evil eyes, skulls & crossbones
tombs unknown
fallen in swift desolation
the mockery is torn
And there we were deteriorating.
Where were you when we were degenerating.
And here you lack some empathy.
And our corrupt hearts are worsening, regressing.
Go ahead and mourn with other people.
The man next to me.
Usually in a camo uniform.
Or a blue jacket.
He has tags around his neck.
A shaven clean face.
And the American flag painted on his shoulder.
I look at him.
it's not a one time shopping event
at your local seven eleven
bible, glasses, pen & book
take a deep breath
another look
we search for truth out of a garbage can
A New York Minute
Within a solemn pew
one can forgive their neighbor
Shut the stereo down sound the alarm
Vast illumination
A Paradox Through A Willow
green, blue, white, grey & black
working to hard today can give you a heart attack
every one on their daily routine, from the kids going to school, to the trees making the earth green, all of a sudden the stool beside me started shaking, after a second or two i felt the earth quaking, the noise made by the earthquake was li
through space and time we created a rhyme
in solace one can relinquish
a promise that was made in the dark
A lone blade of grass
to confide in the human heart
through the breeze we sense trees
There is a place where anger dwells
far in the pit of hell
Smile is contagious so pass yours on
to frolic in the ambiance of a song
gone are the days of modest touch
in twentieth century world in a rush
Torn
beneath the earth there is a frost
there is heads in are streets that need to be taught
Lines being formed
sides being chosen
Light of illumination
How you had fought so hard and fierce
Share a friendship that lasts forever
I for one can attest to the love of a sister's bond
Sisters may argue and fight
Through all of that is a love that
Exists for lifetimes. For a sister is a friend you
Ten was the first lie. “I’m not doing that crap, I’d never lie to you.”
Nine was the next fight. Slamming doors, throwing things, and hitting each other.
tired soldiers
giving up?
it's not over
so keep your chin up
breath deeply;
calm yourself
it's not always easy
make this one count
find peace;
no matter how fleeting
A personal piñata
To bring to a breaking point
As the piñata cracks
Hands grab and the shell is left empty Grades Emotions Love It is snatched from the broken halves Hard work is pointless Piñata are replaceable M.M
I hope
I hope
I hope
That someday
I will not be afraid
No
I hope
That I will be afraid but able
I came out to you on a school day
I gave you that final part of me
And I can hear it in your voice as you spit out your words:
"Disgusting." "Disgraceful." "Horrid."
I'm a disappointment to the family,
Some where in this universe is an answer truly.
A question we all diverge as a result of our undoing.
But this life is a test that we barely shine to admit.
The colors we display on a map of old cold hatred.
I can see the grass grow higher
-Oh how must this life come easy
To grow as the wind blows
-If only it was as swift to rest in peace
The old farm stood alone and still.
A car made gravel fly.
Elise braked and shut the door.
“I’m wrecked, why even try?”
I’m from sunlight shining,
Birds singing in early afternoon.
The fortress beneath sheltering pine trees,
Narrow paths I’ve walked a thousand times.
Growing up with my mom, hardly ever had a father figure.It was like I was the only one who ever saw the bigger picture.I grew up in New York with my mom in an apartment.My dad was a handy man who worked on anything from ceiling to floor carpet.I w
Life and death
both in front of me
In an instant I can see through
sixty-nine years
I can see your mother
and your father
So much joy they must have had
the day that you entered the world
Change is old
It's an eternal idea
To imagine a year in the life
Oh what growth to behold
I'm becoming a wife
To my true love
I'm a student
To reach my potential
An employee
I hear her scream
I hear her tiny footsteps in the hallow way
Her shallow breathing quickening my heart
She is an empty shell of the person I knew
Her soft skin that used to soothe me is abused by her confusion
Shallow glimpses,An idyllic panorama.Fields of Elysium, here on earth -As far as the eye can strain.As wide as the voice can throw.
Turn back the clock and head back to the very start.The very first page, when I still had no broken heart.When all was right in the world and I was still his little girl.When I was still naive and I still believed in me. Roads take us away, we pic
you’ve shouted at meyou’ve put me down when i needed you to be there for mei called you my group of friendsnow, you can’t stand the fact that i don’t like what you like
I stood upon the platform once of the public trains
The day was dark and gloomy as if it were about to rain
People rushed all around running this way and that
2016 was a piñata full of cheap candy.
All around, everyone was chirping dale, dale, dale.
Drive-bys.
Ya le diste uno.
Crooked landlords.
Ya le diste dos.
Three years, we are still together
You change my world
Bring happiness and joy
that I can never forget
O' Thorn, you are amazing
I love you and the furry skin you have
Click goes the shutter,
Flash goes the light,
She tells you, "Don't blink!"
But you just might.
HE CHOSE HER
DIDN'T CHOOSE ME
A VERY ANGRY WOMAN
WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME?
I LOVED HIM
THROUGH THE YEARS
HE CAUSED ME PAIN
HE CAUSED ME TEARS.
HE LEFT ME WHEN
Where I'm From by Ryan G.
The ground is where I'm from, born out if the dust and dirt.
I am from my family, and their laughter and love.
Cleanliness important since birth
Ingrained in his head since he was a kid
Friday morning palms overhead
Leaves are looking a little long
Traces of dirt find their way to the ground
I sift through stones in a wooden box alongside
my sister. It’s sticky August, vacation.
The “Indian Store” smells like incense and leather,
The changes I see
were only meant to be.
God has a plan,
always told, but not a big fan.
Young naïve, no understanding
of what I should do.
Reassured was I,
that everything was fine.
We all begin as lumps of clay
Shapeless
Colorless
Full of potential
I was a small lump
But I knew what I could do
I knew I had so much to offer
And with that thought, I grew
There's a ring in the air
A whoosh of the wind breeze taking you away from your computer's' ting ting
and a reminder bell in my brain clanking
"finish me Serafina"
finish
before
you fail
Someone asked me who I was a year ago
I said a happy, nice girl.
Someone asked me who I am today
I said a depressed, distant girl.
Someone asked me why that is
Hey, remember the days,
Food displays and September birthdays,
Serving paper noodles and meatball mâchés?
Our creations were unparalleled,
Unmatched, nonpareil.
If I died, I’d cry
But if I didn’t, then I’d never be alive
I think I’m sad sometimes
But other times I think that I’m just lying
I like to sing out loud about death
And feeling bad, and never being their yet
the weatherman always lies.
Friends were supposed to bring the sun
but took it to another part of town
his brain leakeS
Then could barely seek
Although his child spoke
Nothing but a cry for his life
father Don’t leave
Unless you’re forgetting me
A broken head and broken soul
Struggling to make sense.
The past two months took a tole
I feel my body on defense.
As I look to the ones close,
They don't know how to help.
My mom thinks she knows
I couldn’t tell you what I thought at the beginning of this year
Every word people said were just words that…
Bounced off my ear
I graduated high school with a 4.0
Easy for me, everyone expected me to
Words cut deep when their spoken at the right time,
I just feel bad for the ones that don't come out in time,
Like, I love you and appreciate all that you do,
But now life goes on and we all really miss you,
Never Did I expect my life to change
I wish it was all dream and that nothing was true
Reality came and it broke each of us
Was my dad really diagnosed with Dementia?
It couldn't be true! why him?
Never Did I expect my life to change
I wish it was all dream and that nothing was true
Reality came and it broke each of us
Was my dad really diagnosed with Dementia?
It couldn't be true! why him?
To the woman who loved me long before I was born,
To the woman who held my heart long before it had formed,
To the woman who was left sleepless from dusk until dawn,
With weakness upon weakness for nine months long,
The impossible has happened and now I am impossibly numb.
The bitter sting of an empty core, I wanted more. More warmth more sun, more love, hope.
And I want more still.
Who was I back then?
I was young
I was stupid
I was unaware
I'm not who I was back then
Now I am aware of what all surrounds me
Now I know who stands beside me
The new year calls for change
The new year calls for better
Physically, mentally, eternally
Living a never-ending battle
365 unpredictable days gone
Change
Measured in what?
In seconds/minutes/months/years/who we are
Versus who we were
Versus how long it has been
To dream or not to dream; that is the question.
Would it be best to live the life of a puppet,
studying hard, following rules, doing everything based on a schedule,
In the last year I got married to the love of my life.
In getting her, I received two.
For a daughter came with my new wife.
And soon we will be adding another girl too.
A year ago, having three girls wasn't the plan.
This poem from beginning to end
Is all of me, now and then.
My Past indescribable as it can be
Was not so sad you see.
In memory of my mother who is still alive, I snapshot her face from the side, the front,the back of her head even, aiming at the shrieking grays edged out ofgreased up parts, though she swats
4114
May I speak to Amanda Willard please?
Click
4114
May I speak to Amanda Willard please?
Just a moment.
I can’t live without love
And not have that one emotional hugthat u can’t let go of
That would make things right
Mother you promised me
With pinkies and wallahi’s and everything in between
You promised we would be free
Every day I wake up wanting to flee
With soundtracks of bombs and screams foreseen
A letter to mi abuela,
I love you.
Even if you hate that I say it in English sometimes, it still carries the rich rivers of tamarindo & mango juice.
Your favorite.
A toast to the New Year, the three of us here,
The three muskateers, and together we are strong,
Our bond is forever, our cause greater when we belong
Brace, for winter is upon us, anticipate the loss,
Never know the pain,
of not know if tomorrow,
will come.
Seeing death every day.
Drug overdoses to Cardiac Arrest
She grows up
She's not the same as she was first born
she grew bigger than I had imagined
She's more taller
and has a beautiful stance whenever she aligns her feet underneath
the doorway of my room
A broken home
A suburban school
How can I fit in
They treat us like fools
The father split from mother
One is not like the other
They love me unconditionally
Best friends
we spend hours upon hours
listening
talking
laughing.
You and me it'll always be.
Always.
Such a loose term.
One day changed it all
Best friends
we spend hours upon hours
listening
talking
laughing.
You and me it'll always be.
Always.
Such a loose term.
One day changed it all
The words echoed in my head."Mommy has breast cancer." Tears.Here and there they fell, yet always in secret.The helplessness consumed me.A picture of death branded into my mind.This lasted for weeksand weeksand weeks.Grades fell.I stopped eating.
Brother: Sister
was i never enough?
to keep you smiling
when things got tough?
Mother:Father
was i never enough?
no not good enough.
to feel you love
The countdown states 699 days.It has been 699 days since he died,since I recieved a phone call.
Family isn't just blood.Family is not the relativesThat he'd see from time to time.It is not the family that he hardly talked to.
Walking in the door, his little feet patter.
He runs across the hallway, screaming your name.
You stretch out your arms, and he jumps in.
Baby oil, his mother's purfume, and a hint of lemon--
Love is such a broad term
Heart ache
Heart break
Heartburn
So many of the people in this world are filled with love,
As the whole family gathers,
In the living room square.
A room west from the piano,
But right next to the stairs.
As the chilly wind blows,
Against the window seal.
It's the burning wood I smell,
2016
Leap year
The year to finally achieve my goals
BOOM
Trapped in darkness
Your safety net and rock just got diagnosed
He has cancer
You fall in a hole
He will recover.
CALL 911
5…4…3…2…1…The ball is down2015 is in the rearview mirrorWelcome 2016“New Year, New Me”The meaningless phraseThis time is differentThis time, it will be a new Me
Mom lights a candle
A diya, a lamp
I have to choose
Red or blue
Voices of reason
Larger, louder
The Christmas spirit is in the air
What a joy it is for everyone
Families gather around the tree
And have so much fun
So jovial and jubilant
Of a delightful mood
Everyone is in such a frivolous manner
Blood bonds make us strong
But they also weaken us
No matter how distant the song
You can always hear the buzz
When joined together families can be destructive
They can get in fights, and argue
So much has transpired in under
365 days.
My life seemed to change every
24 hours.
On the third month, I grew in age by
1 year.
Caught between one life and the next,
the ground cracks beneath my feet, singing.
Throw yourself, it croons, ageless volcanoes
humming up through jagged earth.
My heart breaks, tugging me forward,
My 2016 started off great
He was home, even if it was late.
Supposed to be back last July,
But that was before they thought he would die.
He's been in and out for the past three years,
What's that I hear
The finals has came to a halt
No more studying
A rest for my utter taught
A time for peace and thinking
A break from it all
A time for fun and cooking
Be able to consider
You hang around the living room
And lay around the bedroom.
And you run through small, tiny, microscopic parts of my body,
8 years can fly by like a passing train,
They can be full of happiness and sun,
Or they can be full of depression and rain
Sometimes your thoughts can be overrun,
My mom once said true love comes in all types of ways
If it is true love, it will last until the end of your days
A father, a cousin, a lover, a friend, a sibling or even your own mother
I often find myself wondering,
If there is something more out there,
For me,
For us,
But then I remember,
That we all die,
When I was little I loved pink
Pink was the color of princesses and love
Pink was the color I was supposed to love
Pink was the color every girl should love
Every girl should want princesses and love
I am thankful all those people saying I am not good enough, even though I know I am at my best.
I am thankful my father who callled me worthless if I didn't join a program even though I was going for engineering.
Tears in your eyes you ask me "Should I have left him the first time?"
The car is silent.
You found the pictures on his computer
You are scared silent.
Criticized constantly by your dad
Always comparing you to your brother,
He tears you down and makes you sad
It was in her younger years,
When she saw her parents fears.
Her sister would be gone,
Then the police would appear.
It isn't often that we sit down and think of the good,
The bad is always so pertinent.
It would be lovely, if everyone could,
Sit down and and think of what's important.
Im thankful for my family, and my friends.
Every Day I Wake,
Their Smiles Keep My Heart From Ache,
Even Though My Life Quakes.
Write what you know, they say.
Write what you know. What do I know?
I don't know how to trust (you can thank my dad for that)
I don't know how to seperate dreams from reality
The pain started in his head, bouncing between his ears like a bullet richocheting through a tunnel.
Soon enough the pain slithered down his throat and into his lungs, clinging and growing like a fungus.
I didn't used to feel this cold. I was the kind of kid that kept summer within them. I went barefoot through the snow, I wore shorts late into the fall. Never brought a coat. That was before I met you.
September 19. A friendship began.
October 31. An unbreakable clan.
December 25. Gift exchanges and cheers
February 14. A new atmosphere.
March 18. Eyes on the prize.
April 20. Not so wise.
We live in a world where we allow Facebook to run and control every situation we face.Even in our relationships we ran to Facebook to relay shit. When we in our feelings of course let's get on Facebook and see how we relate t
Four years ago was Mom's last Thanksgiving.Just one year later, she was no longer living.I wasn't as thankful for her as I should've been.Back in 2012, I didn't know that she'd never be celebra
In this house, we eat supper as a family, no elbows on the table,
But remember, keep your emotions neutral, that way you won’t be called mentally unstable,
I remember the day like it was yestserday
Asleep in deep dreams when my mom woke me
To tell me what happen
The day my whole life changed from under me
In a 5th of a second my world came crashing down
NOTE: Before I continue, I want to infom my audience that my poem was written after seeing my father for the first time in 9 years...
What would you change?
A blind society blessed with vision through knowledge
While screens worldwide buzz and ink splashes on paper
Spreading gossiping,
Hateful,
The Most Important Thing To Me-
Thats Easy, Its Family-
Always There For Me-
Protecting Me From Insanity
But I always knew of the pain in my clan,
Of the burden that sat on the shoulders of my blood.
I learned to walk on thin ice
Never felt she was mine to feel
gentleness does not come easy to me.tendernessnever sprung spontaneouslyinto my wildfire soul.
Shana Aubrey Harris born two days after ole Punxsutawney i.e. the Doctor Phil -
You are my sunshine,
My grandmother’s voice
is hushed by the foam of the waves.
Her fingers delicately reposition
a ringlet of hazelnut behind my ear.
All of them asking about you
Give birth to the sun the day
asked about you
When the evening
Reflected the light of the moon from your window
asked about you
The birds, which you left them with thirsty
don't try My Darling
The fruits of my tree doesn't fall
Hasn’t aftertaste
Wind and rain stripped distance
Deadline to my passion
Distance is did not saturate
Remain in my memory only the eyes your lips...
The family safe was opened
With a key that I had found
I saw a doll without a face
I threw it on the ground
Family, family is strong.
Family ties, nothing can last as long.
Some might say family is in the way.
But being alone is the price they pay.
Love that will never go.
Love that will always show.
Grandfather,
If I can call you that,
Would you have loved me as a child of your child?
That is what I am.
You left my mother so many times,
Wounded a part of her spirit she doesn’t like to show,
Dad singing praises to the King.
Slightly off key.
A sweet smell rises with the sun.
Mom's cooking's done.
A light, chirpy "Don't forget to pray!"
See Sosa in my doorway.
Ty and Me.Instantly connected.No matter how scary life may have been,We stick through to the end.Just Ty and Me.
Thanksgiving Day
I slip in and out of dreams.
I drift into darkness, lightness, and finally into the crisp glow of daylight.
The
Way the seeds grow
When seeds fall from a plant
Does it gaze upon that plant
As a ray of sunshine
That will guide its way,
A product of immigrants chasing the American Dream
Country full of racism and hate, it’s not all glamour and gleam
Witnessed dad beating on mom, can still hear her cry and scream
Mom was ready to move out with the kids
Its hard to write a short poemAbout things that make me happyI wrote a two page poem and thought"Its too long and too sappy."I had to be selective Like picking out a mateSo here are about ten things
A white blanket covers the soft ground,
Fire crackles its vibrant heat into the frigid air
Stocking hang above, waiting to be filled
Sweet smells wafts from the kitchen
because i am who you look to
when the world is crumbling around us
see who made it,
Your Big Brother
because i've promised everything, to everyone
because all at once my heart starts to swim
Get up get up lets greet the day
Gyrating and Vibrating the music gets to me
Sound waves in my soul bringing back memories
Looking forward to family gatherings
We loved one another, the flowers our mother planted in the yard, the feel of the sun touching our skin, the tight hugs our younger siblings gave, the familiar cries of the young ones, the way our youngest sister slept in our arms, the s
Whenever I am feeling down,
I just sit and look around.
I think about what I have seen,
and what I have done.
I am not worthy,
I don´t deserve your mercy.
I have fallen again, and again,
A close friend in heart and blood
Who helps me clean the mud
The mud of life, of tress
When I am in a mess
Through six years younger
Wasn’t it just night outside?
I can feel the sun.
Somehow I find myself again
splayed on the couch
SVU still muted on the screen.
Every morning starts like this,
in blurred disarray
my family
I blindly put one foot infront of the other for
my brother we cover eachother
my mother her lover is
my father who pushes me further
they nurture me like I am Ashton Kutcher
Several souls around me -- some lost and some broken.
Drowing in thin air.
Their shirts drenched with the liquid courage that falls from their eyes.
Moving through the motions, blindly stumbling through time.
Several souls around me -- some lost and some broken.
Drowing in thin air.
Their shirts drenched with the liquid courage that falls from their eyes.
Moving through the motions, blindly stumbling through time.
If I am lost in a storm of doubts or a cloud of fear, call Lindsey.
If I cannot find the will to go on, get Maggie.
If I am in need of light or laughter, text Isabelle or Michelle.
We sit around the table
While the fire dances in the air
Silence filled the room like a swimming pool filled with water
Eyes connecting
Hands grip tightly on one another waiting for something to be spoken
The backyard cookouts, the family dinners and Sunday gametime with them keep me in a calm frame of mind All the times I felt like I was in the dark my kin-folk brought me back to light, the smiles on their faces have the power to strike my heart.W
I could tell you that the amber sunset
Is enough for my eyes to pry themselves awake
Every morning,
Could tell you that the saccharine coos of birds stretching their wings
I rise not for the sole purpose of
Having some place to be- which I do,
But rather, because I want to.
Many things in this house are broken
this family is not one of them.
The stove door is off the hinge,
the lights are dim,
and we need propane.
Mom is well though,
and Sisters off flying planes.
Through the silence I hear the screams
A picture of a perfect family lying in a broken frame
A lifetime of happiness
A lifetime of lies
"If possible I never would have married him"
I can't make a decision, without my parents telling me I'm
Wrong.
I've almost lost my best friend over a boy. I'm
Confused.
Who am I anymore? I'm
Lost.
Rain - is the world's way of crying
Snow - is the world's way of cleansing its life.
Sun - is the world's way of showing happiness.
Earthquakes -are the world's way of shouting.
I have a family.
I have a home.
You can try to break me down,
but I'm never alone.
I have a family.
I have a home.
I may not look it,
but I can hold my own.
Dear brother of mine,
Don't look down.
All in given time.
Some days you'll be fine,
Others you'll feel bound,
Dear brother of mine.
Like His blood turns into wine,
During the times I’m feeling blue
I look around for things to do
To keep myself occupied
And dwell on the brighter side
Of the aspects in life
To get through my strife
I listen to music and sing a song
i wonder what the others feelwhen drinking wine or grape juice.it's strange, i know--it tastes to melike comfort, love, identity--the fruit of the vine, warm chanukkah nights,
What motivates me to get out of bed
Is really kind of cliché.
I do it for his darling face
And his smiling brown eyes.
Yes, it is for a boy.
But while for some girls the boy is a lover
Them
Anthony Flores
I am the product of society.
I will fill the shoes that they want me to.
A fake smile for a job that I hate. Wow,
I'm ten minutes late. Now,
You will wish to have called just once more
To have heard their voice once more
To have held their hand when it wasn’t cold
To have hugged them tighter the last time you saw them
I yawn and stretch out on the couch
Rubbing at my eyes, colours exploding in a burst
‘Today’ my mother says, triumphant, ‘we are bottling peaches’.
When I ask why, my mother tells me that it is ‘our tradition’
As though I have bottled peaches before.
I have never bottled peaches before.
They talk to me.
The decapitated heads are
sprinkled around my feet.
Each with their jaw closed tight,
waiting for the opportunity
to speak.
I woke up in a squalid room. My head is aching and I can't remember anything from the night before. I'd taken too much oxycoden, because I tried to lessen the pain of my life that has gone to shit.
If I were to complain,
whine, or moan
Would it make a difference?
Would there be a point?
Does matter if I say
My life may have been better
Had things gone this way
Or that way?
Taking in each deep breath in slowly without a miss,
Letting my stress dance away in an espresso bliss.
Forgetting all the negatives that turn skies melancholy,
Watching as my sorrows melt in a mocha swirl's melody.
In 2013, we heard she had cancer,
Unfortunately, there was no answer.
However, her life was so rich and so pure,
we knew that we had to find her a cure.
We started looking, "We have to find something,"
Family are blossoming flowers,
so slow to floret and quick to decompose
They are snug like the yellow sun and
Impressing like the rows of colored green plants
Familia
Brownies
"Brownies" was the topic, she gave to me that day.
T’was difficult to ponder a poem to start that way
COOKIES
Cookies are my favorite stuff
But making them can be really rough.
You mix the flour, and make the dough;
It takes an hour, which goes... so... slow.
Heart heavy, shoulders drooped, I walk through the grey streets, on my way to you.
I dragged my feet through the door, and you turn to me, arms as warm and ready as the cup of tea you made me, your love a kaleidoscope of color.
I love my little home.
But I don’t get paid for loving it.
I take care of it everyday, how come no one visits me?
Is this little house only for me?
I love my friends, all of them.
I open the door and you're there,
you can always make me smile and lick the sadness away,
you wag your tail and I know you care,
you're a true friend and family that will stay,
whenever I feel sick or down,
Gracious as the mother could feast her eyes upon something so preciousBut as the father was apathetic of the thought of fatherhood the vehement thought of engendering didn't precipitate a rush of bloodAnd before the daughter was conceived he disow
I have grown to hate my grandfather.
I have grown to hate my grandfather.
I have grown to hate his smile.
I have grown to hate his smile that used to greet me with such kindness and authority.
Fresh oranges and a sunset to match
The gap between his teeth, only visible when he laughs and
freckles the that speckle the tip of his nose.
We call them sun kisses.
elbows
Would you like to eat some elbows,
in the summertime?
The story’s told that pepper and salt
makes them taste real fine.
They say to munch them on the left
To my 8 year old brother who calls me ugly. What is beautiful to you? Let me guess Girls with long hair As long as it passes their shoulders you don't careSkinny Caramel skin As soft as silk Face with makeup and all A girl with no flaws May I tell
You look at the toy that sits on the shelf and it stares back
All you want is that little bear and you tell your mom, "I'll pay you back!"
She says "No" as she pulls you away
She tells you "Maybe another day!"
His little fingers grip my fingers.
Oh so small.
His high pitched laughs that I hear from another room
Comforts me like a warm blanket in the cool months.
It runs through his veins,He tries to produce it, but he's body does not allow it.He needs the transfusion and he takes the transfusion because he knows it is for his own good.I'm scared.I don't want him to know.
Different kinds of tired
All day at the beach sleepy
My wet hands on your warm skin
Salty hair knotting under sugary scented shampoo
Bed sheet tides pulling and pushing against our stomachs
Disrespected
Demeaned
Talked down to
Ignored
Internal screaming every time you talk to me
You ruined my life!
Childhood
Credit
Happiness
Love
Human fucking decency
I wish there were a planet
where we could just grow things.
Who's we?
It's you and me.
Giving back to
creation
in it's
finest
quality.
Flowers
growing
tall
I can speak
I can stare
I can try to comfort
Try to imagine
I still have yet to comprahend
A choice that was made
A choice I have thought of many times
I was the first,
the first of 8 kids.
I want to sell the rest off.
So start sending in the bids.
Of brothers, I have 4. Of sisters, only 3.
But sometimes I think my mum regrets,
6 torn cardboard walls hold distant memories- hah, more like serrated puzzle pieces with razor sharp edges, stabbing one another yet fitting perfectly - yet willingly accepting the nerve wrenching pain and sudden discoloration of their o
The day you entered my life/ I know we won't have any strife/ Our family: Dad, child, wife/ But taht is just a big fyffe// A lie just to give you hope/ Daddy don't need to elope/So please baby don't go mope/My chance of love is a slope// Baby do n
I am antique malls and dusty dishes
I am front porch pickers and moonshine sippers
I am light up sketchers and spongy pineapple dwellers
I am young mistakes and a family disgrace
I am dogwood trees and honey bees
I'm stuck.
I'm stuck in the middle.
In the middle of a fight I never wanted part of.
A fight that shouldn't involve me, but it does.
I hear the yelling and threats and oral abuse.
Feet dangle inches above
Tantalizingly taunting
They strive to graze the bicycle’s pedals,
Just as my hands strive to emerge
From the lemon yellow dress
You handed down to me.
To whoever dates my baby sister
I have been waiting for you
My sister is a diamond among pebbles
She's kind
She’s smart
somehow you've changed everything,
with this simple letter.
You've brought me down from highs
and cured me from my deepest lows.
One day I will tell you my whole story
and you will accept me into your arms,
My mother is made of stardust,
Glimmering and ethereal
In a way that no other human has ever been.
She is as formless and free-willed
As the sun across the water;
Slave to none but herself
Mom was only twenty-eight when she moved in this house in 1977,And she lived here until she moved to Sneedville, Tennessee in 2011.Mom was beautiful at twenty-eight and she was still beautiful at sixty-four.
Love thy brother as he’s familywill never be one of my philosophiesyou are the worstthe hate I’ve writtenon the newly painted pink wallsof my bedroom where my pillow lays
I never thought this day will come,
It never crossed my mind to say it.
But at long last it did, and it was worth to remember.
They always come and go, but you will stay forever,
Life was put into me and in an overtime instance, I was hooked.
Not one soul could take away the love I had for you.
Your smile. My smile. We internally matched. Were one. Whole.
It was wonderful to have a mother who was so great.If you hadn't died, today you would've turned sixty-eight.When you became ill and died, everything went sour.
I stagger through the gate and my daughter comes running,
“Daddy! Daddy!” she screams running into my waiting arms.
I lift her,
I throw her up in the air,
I see her flying,
I want to break her fall,
There is no end to the circle I live in.
I attempt to trace back my steps,
but my resistance is met by force.
Around and around I go:
Stuck within the rotation- my existence is characterized by one of two states:
That bright day bursting with promise,
That bright morning beautified by golden sunrays,
When my heart is light,
When I walk with my head held high,
To me, that’s a good day.
I come home early like you said I should,
But you stare at me like I intrude.
This is my home too mother.
So stop treating me like I am a bother.
Why do you forget that I am just a kid?
Erica and Carlos, a couple in love.
The day they become the Morales, a moment of pure bliss.
Vows are exchanged, the air occupied by doves.
Rings that symbolize a love, care, and admiration, it all sealed with a kiss.
A needle: a small, thin object
with a sharp point that mends
our open wounds.
Sewing needles are polished
and used by seamstresses
to keep our clothes
stitched and tailored.
Yo te quiero, Abuelita!
The smell of freshly baked tortillas
Drifts through the small home
Old and well-worn chairs are scattered
Throughout the living room
I don't belong in my family,
that is how I see it.
I don't belong in my family,
I know that they don't see it.
The thing came in,
adopted at two.
I know he is family,
he is my family too.
This man wants to be in my life, but I don't know him. Yes, the blood that is in him, is in me, but I don't know him. What’s your favorite cereal? What’s your favorite color? Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Fathers day was a few weeks ago but the reality is many famlies are missing fathers. So I wrote a poem about it.
I have an illness.
I have an illness you cannot see.
I have an illness you cannot see that is terminal.
I forgive.
I forgive you when you warn me.
I should have been more grateful.
He bangs the door in my face in protest.
Why do I hurt them that I’m meant to protect?
All I see in his eyes is detest.
No love left to detect.
The best part of my day is dawn.
I feel the least pain then; but then I hear footfalls,
“Clung clung clung” down the hallway.
My pain approaches; the commencement of terror.
The music is blazing.
It makes my father smile.
We listen to it every day
As we drive another mile.
My sister writes a stanza.
It reminds me of my father.
I am not
Autistic and Dyslexic.
The doctor said, he said it was okay
but my friends, my friends stayed away.
Our mother, our mother stayed
but has ever since
faded, faded away.
I have my mother’s smile and ears.
When I am with my mother I am often told look like her.
We laugh and talk and are about the same height.
She looks like me, but older then I.
I look like her, but taller than she.
I might forget the days we woud fuss,
But I'll never forget the day you left us.
A knot in my throat and tears in my eyes,
Soon enough you flew away like a butterfly.
Jasey Rae
My fingers have been scribbling the fine lead on my paper
Back and forth back and forth
In efforts to try and mold out the exact words from my brain
A is for air force. It’s Captain Briggs in the jet. The toughest and proudest man that you’ve ever met.
B is for ball, “why can’t you catch?” Dad grumbled as I shaped my small hands for the next.
Tears stream down a stone cold face
A heart beats
A heart wants
Love, to not love
Two conflicting states in a small body
It hurts
Hot flushed cheeks
A lump in my throat
Mommy's eyes look sad, but she is laughing.
Daddy's upstairs he is napping.
We sit at dinner waiting alone.
The next second is always unknown.
Daddy wakes up and everything goes quiet.
You are a man.
You are a man that with a woman created a family, but also destroyed it.
You are a father.
You are a father who helped us learned to play sports, but cared more to be the "all-star" yourself.
Walking Closely in Brotherhood
By: Alesiya Walker
Only God can create peaceful unity,
the raindrop
that splatters
on the kitchen
counter means
there is a leak
in the roof again
my mother takes
an extra shift at
night my father
It's nice to have people who stick by your side. Who care for you. Who love you. Who hug you. Who teach you. Told you stories and tuck you in at night.
The intern reminds me to sanitize,so I stick my hand under the machine, and foamdrips out. Fingers meet palms, then part.The ethanol slaughters strains of bacteria,which will reclaim my hands in a few minutes more.
Can I Sense What the Physical Eye Cannot Detect ?
By: Alesiya Walker
When a heart pleads for love,
The books my Grandpa read,
The words my Grandma wrote,
The things my Mother said,
The voice my Father spoke.
A song without a melody,
A gentle hand on tears,
A rythmn like a symphony,
The books my Grandpa read,
The words my Grandma wrote,
The things my Mother said,
The voice my Father spoke.
A song without a melody,
A gentle hand on tears,
A rythmn like a symphony,
Six years old and I’m standing at the edge
Of the counter, standing on a chair, my feet
Raised to the tip toes, peering into the bowl
In front of me, the wooden spoon in my hands
I am my father's son,
Or I was anyway before I started tenth grade.
The day I found out I just wanted run,
None of my friends could understand how heavy everything weighed.
Sitting by myself
Daddy’s crying in the corner
Mommy left us behind
But I have to be a strong little soldier
Feeling abandoned not just by her
But by the tears I try to hide
I know that there’s a clearing’s reprieve
for weary travelers:
ones with honey thoughts,
those like geodes,
us like patient coal.
I’ve never ever seen that lake
but I hear
sad tasteless chicken
white plastic dinners
eating alone
all off doing our own thing
what happened ot the youth
and happiness?
I guess we grew out of it
the world is different
One step to the left and,
Already dead
I pull-poked the wonderings out of my head.
They slimed and they slithered
Into the pool
To recreate moments of frivolous drool
That deemed little merit
This place is hollow
Musty lamps ignite the room
The only thing to fill up space
Is noise of eating
chewing on bread
On the day my sibling chose the rope
A woman came to the door
After dad cut him down
I listened to his chest
There was no beat
Voices in the dark
Madness, that defiant spark
Words, Rhythm, Poetry, Rhyme
Escape, Express
The Truth is mine.
My speech on paper,
The world unkind,
Speak out with thunder
In the dark you see light -
I see the flames.
That's not the Sun burning -
This heat has no name.
The kitchen's on fire,
so I run out the door.
You stop in the middle
You won't get married to him.
Not yet, at least.
I probably won't either, but that's only because you're both cheaters.
But for now, I'm glad I ruined your chance with him.
By the way, you're a terrible cook
Thank you, Mother
The greatest gift you have given me are my sisters and my brothers
How many times have you lied to protect us?
A day didn't pass by that when we didn't make a fuss
I've aged recently,
I learned how to appreciate my family more and more, day by day.
They help me with school, how to keep my life together, and teach me many necessary to unnecessary things.
Dear Dad,
I am not emotionally charged right now, so I figure it would be a good time to start this.
Anxiety is irrational Nana, but you can't understand can you?
I cool my impatience like an ice cube on my tongue, remembering she's no longer young.
I hail from a tribe of giants.
Men AND women each grand
In size and heart and mind.
Titans who built the world up
And gave it greatness.
I hail from a clan of giants.
Four brothers-
Blood and tears pour from my tiny body.
Bike behind me, I run into your comforting arms.
I let you tend my wounds, both real and fake,
Watching your calloused hands dance as you worked.
A heart of love is pure and kind.
It knows no evil ways.
It's jealous not, nor proud in mind.
It's patience never fails.
A heart of love will suffer long
And bear all peircing pain.
Looking into his eyes, cold, empty full of lies. Who was this man standing before me in this disguise? I've seen that look one too many times. I wish I never was a disappointment. But this man gave up on me a long time ago.
Waking up the clock reads half past noon. Looking outside I feel a pang of gloom. I think of the day we got yelled at for not hearing our parents call us more than just a few times. We didn't know. We were too busy playing in the snow.
Sitting at a family brunch
Trying to escape the grooling questions.
How are you getting ready for the ACT?
What were your scores for the PSAT?
From the first coherent sentence,
there have been ink-stained hands
leaving prints on select souls and few regrets
using points and keys to paint the walls with the colors of joy and anguish
Just as that moment of bliss
Found first thing in the morning -
Before reality breaks over the mind -
Soothes closed eyes and
Barely stirring spirits,
So childhood comforts
Bones that know not what
I really am trying. So very very hard.
But the pain from the past makes life in the present feel so hard.
The stressors of today, call back the ghosts of times past.
And I really do not know how much longer I can last.
They’re fighting again,
I think they’re going to kill each other.
She’s screaming for them not to,
She’s on the floor, but they won’t listen.
“Wounded pride is not conductive to apologies”
My identity is mixed and matched
from the roles I play.
I learn something new from each and every one
About them and myself and
The perception of the world
from the stage.
I'm not just a
Once my heart was full of petty things,
Like dolls with tufts of hair and wedding rings,
Today my heart is empty and hollow,
For the rest of my life, filled with sorrow,
People do not understand why
Specimen D was born in the City of Angels,
His family from a third world country
Torn apart by migration.
A bright colored larvae eats its shell away.
Stanzas in a notebook.
My mother’s way of expressing emotion.
This is one of the things I’ve inherited, a written way to show my devotion.
I can find notebooks full of poems in my mother’s room.
School, eat, sleep, repeat
“Mommy, can I go and play with Jenna?”
“No, you must study and never cheat.”
School, eat, sleep, repeat
“Mother, can I have a cookie?”
The time has come
Most are glad to be free
I on the other hand ignore the thought of being on my own
I can't handle living by myself
Knowing I will not be able to run down the hall when I have a nigtmare
You say you love me,
And you say you care,
But how can I believe you
When you're never there?
I never see you anymore;
You're never at any of my events.
You're supposed to care about me!
Bright flourescents filling up the Friday night sky,
as the big red ball that was high has now left the sky
Sweat beads roll down down your face
There is a special feeling to this place
I get the call
It feels as if I have walked smack into a wall
The tears begin to fall
I am going through the motions
Not understanding such notions
This brings back so much pain
We all get offeneded
This is due to wounds that were never fully mended
There is no such place on Earth where something cannot hurt us
So why do we continue to fuss
My heart longs for those who are hurt
Read between the lines they said
Sit next to her when she’s lonely they said
Split the cash
But make sure she gets none they said
My life is quite strange,
I honestly don’t know why,
I’m sad nowadays,
It’s not like I’m hit,
They don’t starve me or hurt me,
It’s me who hurts me,
I don’t see my worth,
When I was a young girl
Is when I first noticed
My bashfulness got in the way
I had so many thoughts that swirled in kalediscopes and
So many dreams that were swinging high above the trees
I hate wiener dogs
I don't care what you say
My uncle had one
And that dog was gay
With his ugly wiener face
And his long wiener body
His long wiener toe nails
My mother is special.
That’s what they say
When they drag me away
From that shiny white room
And I ask if I may
Eager to be in a woman's arms and her in mine
Making each other smile, I'll make her smile so wide
And when she smiles, it will make my whole day shine
Moments of feeling love from a beautiful soul
When I was younger, I hated you. I hated you for leaving, for going to serve the
people instead of staying with us, for putting your country before your family. I
The once was a little boy
His heart was devoid of joy
For he was fighting a war at home
His father would beat him to the bone
So that young boy picked up a mighty sword
As I wait for the rain
To wash me clean
I lean on my car
And I start to daydream.
I dream of Jenny
My beautiful wife
How her deep blue eyes
No longer held life
FLORIDA, COCA-COLA, A TYPEWRITER
I moved to Florida because I wanted to write a book.
I moved to Florida because I wanted to drink Coca-Cola on the beach and write a good book.
The Father awakened from a hibernation.
The Father cooked grits and eggs.
The Father cooked grits and eggs.
The Father awakened from a jubilation.
The Father awakened to a situation.
She's dead and gone
and resting in peace.
Heart and legacy passed on,
but her soul will never decease.
Lived a life cleaner than ever,
she will be missed.
Never met a young girl so clever,
Don't you know
that I listen to both of you
bitch about each other.
Bitch at each other.
Don't you think I know
what all is going on.
Living in it.
Constantly reminding me.
How do you expect a young girl to trust you when you have broken that trust?
How do you expect me to trust you after you left?
Why do the people who hurt you, tell you to trust them?
The water puts out the fire,
love cleanses the pain.
The light glows out the dark,
the sun shines before the moon.
No matter what path you walk into,
when ever your feeling happy or sad,
The early morning found us
sitting on your
tattered, burgundy, mattress cover.
Me, focused and writing.
You, scatterbrained and distracted.
You reminded me of our lives at seven.
She works tirelessly through the afternoon.
Forces down the sweet nectar of
fresh blossom, honey stomach full and thick.
She burrows her head in the hive,
suffocated by the freckled cells,
I have a story
A story of powerA story of cultureA story of familyA story of resistance
Standing here, surrounded by my belongings
I wonder:
If the fires blazed high
And my room was to touch its lights
What would I take with me?
If I was ever caught in a tempest or drought
I know something I can't live without
Not my phone, since it's likely to die
Not my laptop, or my favorite apple pie
My father's bear hugs are all I really need
"Love is disastrous.", daddy said.
Though he is the one destroying it
"Love is abusive.", daddy said.
Though he is the one who's hurting
And here we leave, we leave you with your unhappy lives, your unhappy eyes, and your unhappy gossip.
And As I wonder how amazing my life will be, you will too. Only worry about me and not you.
You told me to never give up on my dreams.
To reach for them,
To learn from them,
To embrace them,
When it seems that no one is there for me,
And when ev’rything appears to go wrong,
They always come as the people to be
Without her I’d have nobody to murmur jokes to
At the grocery store
While confused shoppers wonder why we’re giggling
You were taken from your own home
To get us through this holiday.
I know that must be bothersome,
But accept you are here to stay.
Suffocated in lights of white,
And weighted down with memories.
She’s my best friend,
The one who I will always defend.
And although she’s been around awhile,
Nobody’s got a better smile.
A life of hardship and struggle,
I am young, impulsive, wide-eyed, and green,
a sapling wondering which way to grow.
Still needing some support, somewhere to lean,
staked to stand tall when the strong winds do blow.
Nonno liked to ramble.
A fast paced almost jog that was impossible to follow.
Never noticing those once rapt listeners dozing off in their
chairs as he reminisced.
If I was on an island
With nothing but sea
All I would want
would be a memory
of my family.
My wonderful dad,
who works to support,
who can make you laugh and smile
Our family was never traditional
I am the youngest
But mentally, I am the oldest out of everyone
Other than you
A friend of similar age can be the best choice
if stranded on an island
There for you for longer than many family members, especially if they're older
Able to relate
Able to bond
Able to have fights:
I’m tempted to say oxygen
Were most critical to my survival,
Like a smart-alec,
But it only keeps
Me alive,
Continuing a process
His Breath
Began.
I might claim that
All I need,
One thing, just one thing
How does one choose?
Deciding despite all the
Distractions, the noise, the chaos.
"Damn, what a fam,"
I say to myself
As I admire our picture on the shelf
Ask anyone of us
We'll tell you that we're the best
I lay in bed looking up at the ceiling.
Thinking.
Blinking.
Everything is going through my head like Nascar.
Faster than that in fact.
Thinking.
Blinking.
Wondering why it happened to me.
You wake up one day, with your normal routine,
Get dressed, brush teeth, it’s a regular scene.
But this day isn’t just a regular day,
Something is missing, something I won’t say.
It's 2 a.m., I have an exam.
My heart beats through my chest.
I'm in tears; can't get any rest.
I dial the number for Pam.
Mother's phone rings
someone answers, unfamilar.
I must have the wong number.
Let's dance under the moonlight
Sing under the stars
Climb up the mountains
And make the world ours
Let's run under the ocean
If I were stuck on an island, what would I bring?A person, an idea, or maybe a thing.Stuck on an island, what do I do?I will count on my mom to help me get through.
When I was born you weren’t there
An angel sent me to you, my dear
Came in my life with your heart open
Many words of wisdom you’ve spoken
Time flies I’m three
Pandora's box contains one thing. It is
the only thing I need. But I will need
to set it free to give hope to my
family.
Without you I would be lost.
I know its been tough lately
I've been driving you crazy,
But I think you need to know
I see you working hard
The way your feet hurt when you come home.
For everything you have done
All the love and support you have given me
My constant motivation
I wouldn’t be where I am without you.
The Love of Family
The support
The belonging
The comfort
The safety
The Love of Family
If I could ever talk to a star,
I'd ask it about my brother.
I'm sure it would tell me he isn't far,
Or tell me he's with his mother.
If I could talk to a cloud,
As I sit here,Pondering what I would take,On a deserted island,For my life's sake.I can think but of one necessity,For me to survive,My brother is who I'd choose.We are lethal when together,
As I sit here,Pondering what I would take,On a deserted island,For my life's sake.I can think but of one necessity,For me to survive,My brother is who I'd choose.We are lethal when together,
Hidden Beauty
|~Taylor Freeman~|
Losing someone is extremely difficult.
But when they are close to someone so young that’s the worst.
Our father was killed in war;
I heard a prayer today
By Father Pedro Arrupe
About love
Part of it read:
“Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.”
I have never been stranded on a deserted island, butI've seen others go. Many a friend has walked alongThat infamous way so broken and winding, off to distant shores.They walk, then run, then swim, to a land
I sit, feeling the burn throughout my bicep
Some spots, I wince from the pain
The constant humming of the machine has embedded in my brain
Much like the ink being embedded in my arm
A gift is given. Fruit is cultivatedBy the one we loveAnd sweet caring motivationAnd sometimes temptationBut love is always there when we Want it but not need it
The croaking of the stairs
Woke me up,
Told me you were awake.
I bounced in your lap,
All giggles and smiles
As you flipped through
Black and white pages.
We bet on the horses,
If I had to be deserted Upon an island shore And was forced to give up something That I couldn't have anymore. I would tell them they could have anything My money, my house, my car The object that I need the most In the northern skies, I need my w
Someone I can’t live without
Lives close to my heart, close to my mind, close to me.
She is my mother.
The woman who brought me into this world of ours.
I miss you guys, More and more each day.
I wish, I wish it didn't have to be this way.
Remember those days where we just sat and smile for a while.
Nothing but smiles and laughs.
And now I weep nothing but tears.
Sitting in the car attached to the cart while grocery shopping with your mother
Being carried from the couch to your bed by your father after you've accidently fallen asleep watching The Little Mermaid
again
What is War? Another word,
That creates despair in the world.
Men take, their last breath,
And head to their death.
What is War?
The heartbreaks,
That it makes.
Oh dad,
Where did you go?
You were here and then you disappeared suddenly,
Dad, why did you have to go?
Why couldn't you stay with me,
and be a part of my life forever?
My life is a series of tasks,
Some are for me and some are for them.
Every once in a while someone asks,
"Don't you ever get tired every now and again?
Having to do these things for others
I can't live without breakfast tacos.son más que solamente tacos.
breakfast tacos are sustenance for me as cuddles are to babies.they're mom.
they're family.they're dad.
The dark eyes,
the quipped comments and scoffs
the slender fingers and round face.
What can’t you live without?
Her face flashes immediately in your mind.
Her smile, her laugh.
We walk by thousands every day,
every week,
every year.
Yet we choose a select group to see every day,
every week,
every year.
Some tall
others small
But always the same every day,
All I need is hope.
Hope that my brother of 23
will be able to wash out the color
of our father's favorite shirt he wore
like the color that washed out of his face
as he lay dying
My best friend,
memories are kept with me.
Why’d it have to end?
My successes I send,
flying free.
My best friend.
The One Thing I Cannot Live Without
Like a backbone, they are there for my support
Even when we disagree
They defend me like a fort
I am not solitary.
I require the love of others, as do we all
to be happy.
I need occasional attention;
I need encouragement;
I need to be reassured, and hugged,
and appreciated.
"Remember my darling - you always have each other."
I couldn't tell if it was true or not,
my soft brown-green eyes were always searching for someone else
that didn't look like me.
I am from white baking flower,
From Tide and crayons
I am from the cool green grass in the backyard
Soaking in the morning dew.
I am from the lilac bushes lining the yard,
What I need to suceed on an island,
Is my dearest mother.
Mother make me food please.
Mother make my bed please.
Mother help me find a job please.
I know you aren't my maid, mommy dearest.
It was love
At first site
So vulnerable
So resilient
So powerful
She has my eyes
She has his smile
She is rain
On parched earth
She has his wild temper
All I need is love,
all I need is family.
Nothing but the above,
who return it readily.
With open arms and
warm hearts, I am Home.
Home is not a city,
Home is not a place.
H20
By Bethany Hughes
Water.
On a deserted island;
water would be necessary to drink,
to survive.
Water.
Flowing throughout my body,
through yours,
Family,
We can't live with it or without it
It's the one constant in our life, yet it always changes
We push away in times of comfort, and come towards in times of distress
Without family, we are nothing
My Mother's Day gift was Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
They say it was the chemotherapy and radiation treatment that saved my life.
But they're wrong.
It was the meals that were brought to my shocked family
You are the sun
And I am the moon
And I think it is beautiful
That you set each and everyday
To watch me dance among the stars
And glimmer in the night sky
Using your light
All I need on an island is you
If I somehow could bring you to life
Because my life hasn’t been quite the same, it’s been blue
And to see you again would be nice
If I was stranded on a island
The one thing I simply couldn't live without is
My family
God, friends, and my girlfriend are all considered my family
I can't bear the fact that people around the world are;
Can't you hear me,
give me achance,
hear my screaming,
I'm begging you now.
When did this happen?
It happened so fast,
one night you're winning,
the next one you're smashed.
A steam engine never stopping
The beat that is forever dropping
My father that will never stop working
For me.
A hand that is never shaking
A sheild that is under no circumstances breaking
There are 7 billion people in this world; billion, not million. In that 7 billion people, I hold one close and dear to my heart. I hold her closer than a child held their favorite teddy bear.
If not the man
then the thought of him
if not the thought of him
then his words
his words in your head reminding you who you are and who you ought to be.
Born of your tears,
you nestled my head close to your breast.
Swaddled in your skin,
you pushed me to rise above and showed me to stand.
Risen from your eyes,
What I want
is my family.
Some may call me a baby.
A genie may give me a quirked eyebrow
And repeat-
You can wish for one single thing.
But I would reply-
Young forever at heart
Can never be brought down
Will always be there for you from the start,
And the first one to adjust our frown.
Ready to clean off the tears,
I wish I could have this woman for years.
My sister is called Tanya
I don't think I can live without her
She gives me advice
Especially when I feel I'm under
I support her
She supports me
I can't imagine life without
Forget the ones who have left you behind because we are the ones who are here to remain
All of us will surround you with the affection you deserve to embrace
The bestfriend we all wished we had
to tell secrets all good and bad
She is the reason I still live
Anything for her, I will give
My little sister how mean she can be
I can never imagine her leaving me
She is there when I fall,
She'll always be there when I call
She takes away my fear,
Oh Mother Dear.
I couldn't survive without her,
She's my angel I am sure.
I love having her near,
Family sticks with you through thick and thin
Even when you kick the tin
They will support you the very end
Weather you lose or win
One for all and all for one
Till we get the job done
I've played with songs,
I've played with words,
I've tried to make my feelings heard.
In all my life I've never dealt
With being so speechless from what I've felt.
No songs,
No words,
The second
The minute
The hour had finally come.
Having moved from county to county
and then country to country. I jumped
around doing as you had always said.
On the Island deserted there are many rocks, I’m sure
But none of them is this one.
This one isn’t from the Island.
This one I already had.
In the moments of doubt and uncertainty leapt off your tongue and spilled over into the thin air resulting in the warmest embraces and the wisest words exchanged allowing you to fall gently asleep in your darling fairy room lying your little head
If I could only bring one thing
it would be this one
old
orange
soft
checkered
Blanket that was given to me
when I was
young
new
small
precocious
I don't need any one thing in this world,
I don't need a what, or a where, or a how.
What I need is a who and who I need is you.
For the 19 years of my life you have kept me going,
What is the one thing I can’t live without?
This I can tell you, I‘ll tell you no doubt.
This doesn’t weigh much, of this I am sure.
It’s very useful, and this thing can cure
If deserted, who would I be
Without the one beside me?
Who raised me as I am,
Taught me the difference between jelly and jam.
Who let me bounce on his head,
And tucked me tightly to bed.
No I am not a mother ; But I do have a child
No I have never given birth ; But he has called me mother
Comforting and crying when his life began to get wild
I am my brothers keeper.
One thing I absolutely need,
Is he who leads.
My father leads many,
And without him many would be lost.
What is great is that we can talk to him at no cost.
Without him our hearts would no longer be full,
It’s more than a bloodlineIt’s more than a kinshipIt’s more than the people in your houseIt’s more than a relationship that you hold close to your heart It’s the people you want in your lifeit’s the people that you would take a bullet forit’s the
I’ve never wanted lots of stuff
or fancy diamond rings.
I always think that’s too much fluff,
too many needless things.
Loving, caring, nice
The best people in my life,
Friends may come and go,
Family is forever.
Can't live without them,
Cheer me up when I am blue,
Scold me when I'm bad,
When I was a baby I looked at you as if you were the sky
I grew a little and looked at you like a princess
I grew a little more and discovered that you were a queen
You were just my brother
Every morning as I'd get out of bed
Mom and Dad in the kitchen holding coffee mugs as they shake their heads
"We've tried everything we could"
"The rehab hasn't done any good"
If I were lost on an island
Stranded all alone
I would not ask for food
Or even my phone
I would ask for my mother
Because she’s all I need.
We argue every day.
We argue until walls fall down,
Until the neighbors from downstairs look up at us
And say the next day “Please don’t slam the door. We hear you.”
The little good luck charm
Small and Cute
Loud and Annoying
Funny and Wild
Scary and Demanding
Caring and Loving
I worry everyday for this good luck charm
What if it disapears?
Forget the people who praise you,when you are shining and glorious.
I am from Sweet Tea
from coke and pepsi
I am from the Big yellow house
Tall,Bright
It felt just like home
I am from the yellow roses,
In the dim suburban townhouse in which I stay,there’s a photograph of my extended family,smiling together on my grandpa’s lawn on Kelley’s Island. I visit there every summer, and that trimmed grass has never changed.The mini-golf course hasn’t cha
Were I traped with no escape,
And the odds were stacked against,
My solice would come within.
A heart of gold can hold
All the warmth you need.
And the heart inside my loved ones
Four hundred twenty-six ambassadors
Kids who want to change the world, one by one
To the world we are simply amateurs
But our futures shine bright like the sun
No one perceives the impact that HOBY has
Want and need. Simple words, but refer to greed.
What is it that you want? Money? Friends? Family? Solitude?
What is it that you need? Money? Friends? Family? Solitude?
I don't want to say you're all I need.That I can't live without you.
That when we fall asleepI match my inhale to yours.
I want to say that I exist on my own.That I can standwithout your arms around me.
Dear Mom,
I am sorry for those things I said
I did not mean them
I don't know why they even left my head.
Dear Mom,
I know I can be a pain
I know I drive you crazy
Her, it was all her doing.
The memories still fresh and brewing,
Those days where she would say "it will be alright"
Those nights when she would hold me tight
No one could ever feel that unconditional love
I was still a child when you took your lies,
And slid them between my fourth and fifth ribs.
I cried that night,
And for the first time I didn’t wish you were there to hold me.
I still see echoes of you,
Christina Rossetti said it best when
She said, “There is no friend like a sister
In calm or stormy weather;” it’s true, I
Think, so sit down and relax, dear list’ner,
As I describe my kind and brave sister.
Forget everything you have told me
About the world; I now know
The truth. I can see
How afraid you are, how low
Even you had to stoop to show
Rebels and deviants your fee.
Maybe I had a chance to run
All I ever needed was you
All you had to do was tell me the truth
Instead of doing all of that you put me through
I was suppose to be someone you loved
But yet you placed someone else above me
Ask me what, or who, I need to survive. Go ahead.
I cant remember the first time she held me,
I cant count how many times she has told me she loved me.
Stranded on an island? The one million dollar question, what would I need?
Many would say my phone, t.v, tablet, their whole room I would choose different
I have always been told that I am different and that is alright
All I Need
All I need in life is his warm hug,
and for whenever I get scared,
to squash that creepy bug.
All I need is for him to cheer at every game,
Music dances around their flesh.
Lips part to laugh and smile.
Warmth spreads throughout their bodies.
Malicious fear is taken away.
I’ve been alone before.It’s harder than it seeems.
There is one way tofight the loneliness.
All I Needis my sister.
She is my best-friend,always there.Understands me.Makes me laugh.
I've heard once that DNA doesn't make a family and that love does
Now, I'm starting to believe it's true
Though I am living life peacefully and happily
I need u
Sometimes when I wake up
Stranded on an island with your family
One would think you'd be annoyed, rather than filled with glee
But unlike most, you find your peace
Surrounded by love ones and the sea.
I often wondered why my parents never realized
That I felt pain everytime they argued and fought
The resentment I felt when I had to constantly watch my youngest brother
All I need in life is neither family or fame
All that I need is actually something unusual for a person my age
Now you may be thinking, is it a Bible or maybe even a love?
It is neither of these things,
‘Tis warm and welcoming, a glow of a
Low-burning fire, the light into which we step.
Familiar, long-distant voices greet us;
Embrace we arms in a gesture well-known.
We were best friends till the end, but the end was too soon.
He said it would be okay, but that was a lie he couldn't control.
I remember it like it was yesterday, to be six years ago.
I have a great dad.
He taught me good things
Things I can do well
Things I didn't know about
One day at a time
To treat others like myself
Life isn't always necessarily predictable
The next logical step, now that I’m on a deserted island, is to kill myself.
Plunge into the water and sink onto part of a marine shelf.
After all, how long can I last here?
You are my fix, my remedy
Your scent fills my lungs and makes my heart beat faster with excitement
The thrill of feeling your texture between my fingertips, sometimes rough,
sometimes smooth
Two eggs, one body. Hold a bond.
A bond - so unbreakable, stronger than steel and beyond.
The bond of two twins is like one beating heart,
Ventricle needs atria to both do its part.
What is family. To me, familly is all.
Family is what keeps you up and running,
Family is what supports you and loves you no matter what.
Withought family, my love is lost,
Withought family, my hope is lost.
Oh say can you see
The graves lining up day by day,
Of thousands of men and women who decided to lay
Their lives down together for the ultimate sacrifice?
Your smile is so radiant it brings happiness to the blind
And when you turn around, mmm i love that behind
Your frequent change in hair has me on my feet
Your fashion is so creative no one can defeat
It's labored breathing and breaking heartsIt's not know where tostart with goodbyesIt's teardrops and achy chestsIt's losing the only reasonyou had left.It's sick daysand sick leaves
I don't need a big mansion
Nor a lot of money
I don't need fancy clothes
Nor a brand new car
I don't need fame
Nor the glory of it
All I need is love
Whether it's family
A soulmate
My grandma is so close to my heart.
Without her, my life would be such a change.
I have loved her since the start,
If I didn't have her, my life would be strange.
My grandma helps me stay strong.
When I am alone
Quite often I'm thrown
Violently into a mood
By my pensive attitude
I think of my past
The time that has passed
Never.
Never give up on me.
I'm like a tree, budding in my love for thee
First, I will not know
For my limbs had not yet been free
From their canopy of leaves
Then when I do, I'll be uncertain,
Midnight terrors
I experienced it all on my own
Waiting for acknowledgement
Till Every bit of my existence seized to exist.
I still love that him though.. I can't even explain that shit
I need them.
I yearn for them.
I, at times, ache for them.
Them, being my memories.
At times, I start to think I've forgotten.
That I've lost them.
A burden becomes a bond
With four neglected words, but
“Can I help you ma’am/sir”
Were lost in this fast paced world
We don’t take the time to ask because
38 people to love.
76 hands to hold.
One million dreams to dream.
38 hugs to give.
76 eyes to dry.
One million prayers to send.
All I need is that smile on your face…
Since the day you came…
I’ve been in a new and different place.
You’ve taught me patience …
You’ve taught me grace…
They say
That two is company, and three's a crowd
I don't quite feel the same.
No matter the amount, good friends are priceless,
Whether wild or tame.
My lifelines are my friends and family.
She's got a fat ass and thick thighs
She's not anything,
and she got nothing from her mother
She's never been straight up and down
boys say she's good for her chest
She's not like her sisters
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" A question frequently asked by many. Growing up I've had everything a young child could ask for. I had a stable home, a mom, a dad, and endless amounts of toys.
As clear and bright as early morning sky,
With color bluer than a tropic sea.
My heart was captured by those bright blue eyes,
How lovely was the gaze they gifted me.
Those baby blues get dimmer every day,
Pops, you watch too much TV.
I feel convinced that I have now become a faceless memory,
That only photographs will bring short-term remembrances of me.
Pops,
Hardworking, caring, beautiful, and strong. 4 words to describe you in a poem but millions to describe in my heart. Nothing in the world could ever tear us and our relationship apart. Not just my mom but my best friend.
How quickly the time does fly,
But how long it seems in our hearts.
We live out our lives like we always have,
Except now there's a kind of emptiness we need to fill.
It never gets any easier,
Little feet scrambling across hard wood floors Pitter patter of fingers across computer keys Haunting notes of a bow across viola strings Laughing notes of a song to each other across empty space Fresh cookies being carried across the kitchen to s
I never thought that I would have a friend like you
You make me feel complete
I’m surprised we get along
Because we are so different
We pick each other up
All I need is the love of my God
For He will keep me safe and secure
From the hands of the arrogant
That thrive from the devil’s hand
His kindness will keep me warm
You say Rebellious
I say I am finally growing a pair
You say attitude
I say I’m finally standing up for myself
You have taught me to stand up for myself
This isn't me
I am out here
I am not here
This body
I don't know
Whose it is
He came in daylight
He came as a friend
He came as a game
That I didn't know
I thrive for your love
I thrive for those blue eyes just like mine to show me I belong.
I thrive for you to see my hurt
I thrive for you ro know...
Your sweet smile,
The way you kindly spoke,
Will forever be in memory.
Your kind eyes,
The way the passion in them rose,
For the girl whose laughter filled the room,
And the boy with the eyes, so brilliantly blue,
In the silent graves and the darkest tomb,
We in the starlight remember you.
We remember the way she splashed in the pool,
Love is amazing, It is profound
it is what makes us real
we all love and hurt
we live to Learn love
we live to feel,
Dear mom, I couldn’t tell you
All the times I’ve been upset
You shrink my laundry, eat my food
And get the floor all wet
My folks and I are quite weird;Crazy for the wild.We're always after danger,Never anything mild.
As I sit here and stare
and ask why I do not care
the thoughts of good times and fun
experiencing the warm sun
I look at my phone
but do not cry that I am alone.
Through this tiny screen
Whenever you call
whatever you need
I'm there in a flash,
But who's there for me?
My mom, some say?
I mean, you could be right.
I just want to thank God
My father is in my life.
Whenever you call
whatever you need
I'm there in a flash,
But who's there for me?
My mom, some say?
I mean, you could be right.
I just want to thank God
My father is in my life.
Shivers, up and down your back
Such a gaze makes your mind go slack
The bitter cold of catching that one's eye
Worse than an outright lie
It's just the wind
It's not like you have sinned
My Little Kingdom
I lived with my mother and father
In the blossoming country of England
The air was always crisp and soft
Growing up the only child was;
Lonely.
No one to play dolls with
No one to argue with; it was just:
All I need is a chance to be heard and understood,
Not to be the mistake child who everyone talks about.
Not to be making six-digits and have nothing to spend it on.
Not to be living your dreams for you.
My family is the woods.
My dad is the dirt,
giving us a solid foundation to grow in.
My mom is the tallest tree,
overseeing everything that occurs.
My brother is the opposite bank of the creek,
What is there to say when the world's gone astray?
What's there to fight when the government leans right?
What reason to cry when all rivers run dry?
What's worth the pain once I've gone insane?
It's worth the love
You may ask me what I need,
and I could say food.
I could say the neccesities.
I could even say the love of my life, but I will not.
The thing that means the most to me, the thing I could not bare to see go,
THE ONE AND ONLY
The one and only is whom my life depends on.
I cant breathe without my family
life existence wouldn't remain constant
the sun wont rise and the moon wont set
Family is everyting.
They provide comfort after a rough day,
a love that will always stay.
They are the reason we grow into adults,
because they correct us of our faults.
I am
A Sister
A Best Friend,
Family.
I am the Oldest.
I am the Middle.
I am the Youngest.
I breathe in
Board Games,
Books,
Movies.
Off the horizon,
The island is seen off,
Off the course from other lands,
Before becoming apart,
Before becoming isolated.
I see to this day,
I live on that island,
Nights like these are what I cherish the most
The unmade bed, the lull of the outdoors
Light seeping trough the blinds
An ambient glow casts over you face
A face so peaceful and content
Mama wasnt gonna raise no fool,
Mama wanted her baby girl
to develops In to a pretty young lady
and then flourish into a beautiful woman.
Because mama wasn't gonna let her baby girl
"When the city falls asleep
Your promise you do keep
To guide our silent footsteps
Give us limits to test
Till our bodies are put to rest
Set down in a grave
Silently we lay
In the early hours,
Morning of a late summer day,
The fog hung softly in yellow light,
A moist dew hung on the window sill,
I am your safety
I am your food
I am your comfort
I am your peace
I am your Mom
I am tired
I am hungry
I am worried
I am stressed
I am concerned
I am comparing
My Nana is a horse sweet, passive, and social.
My mom is like a lion strong, fierce, and a fighter with great anger.
My big brother is an Otter caring, calm, and playful.
you were there for me, you were there for my mother
you were there for your nine grandchildren, you were there for your brother
I'm being so selfish, I'm not the only one with problems not the only one going thru it, not the only one whose depressed, &' they tell me not to drink but somehow I still just want to do it, some people I knew died last year, and even though
A woman
Tall, intelligent, and free
Not only took care of herself
But took care of me
Eighteen kids
And a legacy left behind
A woman
Tall, intelligent, and free
Not only took care of herself
But took care of me
Eighteen kids
And a legacy left behind
It is painful, you seeTo watch as the peopleI grew up with and underChangeBlur from who they wereAnd not often for the betterIt feels as if my family is a landmassThat is breaking apart
It started when i was 5.
The feelings.
Now as a kid, a cute one at that,
i knew i couldn't be choosing between one parent or the next
its just that,
my dad buys me the things i see on TV
When a loved one dies people say, “They’re watching over you”
Truth is, from the beginning, you always were.
You were there for me, through and through.
You protected me, and cared for me, as my life became a blur.
I'm sorry
I'm sorry that I have ever cursed at you
I'm sorry that I have made you cry
I'm sorry for every black eye you gave me
I'm sorry for every time I said "Please, Stop, No."
To me, family is everything.
If it wasn't for them,
I would have accomplished not one thing;
such as getting through Chem.
Or handling tough situations,
when I didn't know what to do.
To me, family is everything.
If it wasn't for them,
I would have accomplished not one thing;
such as getting through Chem.
Or handling tough situations,
when I didn't know what to do.
They're a whole,
But seem one.
I need them more than the moon hugs its stars.
If life was stranded
and not a soul was in sight,
I would need them by my side.
My family is my life,
My reason for existence,
The reason I want to strive and achieve,
I could do without food or water,
or the little necessities,
My father was a monster of a man.
Self proclaimed king -
built his throne on his children's sorrows,
and there were many.
It seems like, we were always crying back then -
To live without you would be like living without water.
I thirst for your love almost every hour.
When I look into your eyes I see how green the earth is.
But it’s your smile that makes my love deepen.
will They find the body?
will She care?
Finally.
I can't get the smell out of my head
The lights dance, faltering
like they did over the shattered glass
They didn't come in a package
I wasnt given a choice
They welcomed my with open arms
They brought me into this world with pure hearts
The breath of life could be the gift of life
In a time of desprate need
In a time of sadness and despair
In a time, when I felt lonley, as if no one was there
In a time when I had anxiety, having nothing but insecurity to spare
All I need is family
The people that lift me up
loving me no matter their struggle
Instilling in me my worth
All I need is to see their smiles
To fill my heart with joy
I was one year oldCould barely see my toesthrough the fat thighs
I was barely three years oldCouldn't even see myselfthrough the mirror above the sink.
home is built
upon wood
and cracked
hearts with
doors slamming
like gunshots
and the dining room
tables has been split
home is a funeral
in my chest
“Get out you whore,” I hear piercing through my peace.
The lies I hear are no less painful than I feared
Night after night came where I could only fight or flight
I need them. They cared for me, so I should do the same in return.
They've raised me to become this human being that I am today.
I am greatful for whom I've become, and I look forward to becoming a better person.
I am grateful for all those years I had with you
For all those days I didn’t whine and cry
I was just five
I thought you were too cool
They always tell me how if I had known you,
I would have loved you.
At Christmas parties, someone always
clears their throat and raises their glass and says,
"To Alice."
I was born in December of 96
A winter baby indeed
I am left handed, so strange as being the first girl to mommy
Three big brothers a father and a momma, but never a full house
So to prosper was a must
The day I walked by you, I knew what a shame I had puzzled my piece into. Nothing but,"Don't look at me, look the other way" reluctantly ringing in the drums of my ears, echoing back vibrations of guilt, shame, and pitty that Mary herself
I have a person in mind while I write this poem
She battled cancer for years and at first she won
But like the return of a storm and the vengeance of a brother,
when it came around again it overcame and overtook her.
I dream of you.
Standing next to a car with leather seats that became too hot in the summer.
With eyes, golden as the embers in a fire
With arms, hugging me tightly
With lips. that kissedmy forehead when I was sick
Question the world around you of the truth
Be the one to ask, be the brave
It is stemmed in your youth
That you are meant to be in this cave
The truth is what to seek
Don’t listen – you aren’t weak
Dynasties decay
Legacies decay
Influences decay
The elderly decay
The adults decay
The infants decay
The countries decay
The cities decay
Communities decay
“I love you more than the sky.” You told me that every day as a kid. “You’re fat. You’re attention seeking.” You told me this every night as a kid while you scolded me and grabbed my arm, but I doubt you remember.
the obligation to one’s family
is a curious thing that I do question
an unsaid contract you take happily
or otherwise you better not mention
When you told me it was just a kiss I believed you
When you told me you'd be gentle I believed you,
but my sister's life told me different
The pain in her eyes told me that what I was going through,
I was four when you
first became sad.
Mom says that’s why you
came to live with us.
The doctors call it depression.
Dear Mama, the beauty of your soul is wonderment to my wondering self.
When I was tender, I fall from walks.
I stumbled in sickness and I cried,
but you came around and said; "my child, my child! Don't cry, don't cry!
Sweet songs,
sifting.
Hold on,
hope’s in you.
Dear child,
keep your lips widely speaking.
Honey,
please smile.
In the corner sits my daughter,Her skin dry and lips chapped<br>She begs those who walk by for water<br>The people walk by, their responses are apt<br>No says one woman, we need some for us<br>Although my daughter cries, an
The feeling of jubilation resonated over me
My heart was content and satisfied with glee
Until one day I realized that my world had ended and he had passed away
My grandfather
My best friend
I’m tired of the fighting and I’m tired of the war
I’m sick of the fire that always beholds in front of our faces
I wish for us to be free
I wish for us to let go
80 proof poured down his throat.
A captain on the bottle…
Demon water in his body
Perception muddled
Judgment kaput
Steps turned to stumbles.
Three in the morning
What's the point of a thought if all you do is yell?
I can't even hear myself think
I don't like the song the cupboards make
Can you stop making life sound like hell?
You were once so beautiful,
We were once so close
But this is not who i once loved
And is instead a tortured ghost
Just a shell that's been cracked
And on the verge of perish
Family will always be there for each other
Family will always have each others back
These statements have bound feet
Years fall behind with patience wasted
And the young don’t see through the broken glass
Only until the climax of guilt from being blind to it
But we do accept the dwelling after the wasted years climax
My mother was a white womanbut a woman, all the same.
For years, I never thought much of white womenIn fact, I didn’t think of them much.
There are stories all over the world
To be approximate about 7 billion
These stories come in all shapes and genres
Some short
Others long
Some adventurous
Others sad and moving
“Sniffle-sniffle”
Went little James
On a rainy Friday eve
One part sick
Two parts sad
With nothing to relieve
He teared up
With eyes red
And all day did pain and pine
This special day has swiftly greeted you once againAnother year rolling in like waves is about to beginYet, no matter the time that passes-from year to hourI will always be in awe of your exceptional creative power
It is that time of year once moreTo share thoughts on a special dayFor a person who is special to the coreAnd defines "Dad" in every possible way,Words cannot describe all that is done
I often wondered how far my ocean would goReaching the edge of a shore; waves rolling slowIn this ocean I crept only inches in this sea of blueCrawling from blackness, the salt stinging my view
You are our grandparents.
related? No. Family? Yes.
Mr. Larry and Ms. Red, even though we call you that
You are our family, thats a fact
Always there for us when we are down, never do we see you frown...
I've got a sister
Riley is her name
And I'm quite inclined
To think she's insane
She jumps on the couches
And sings in the rain
But I love her all the same
I've got a sister
In a little town close to homeI found the grave of twelveNone were old enough to bear a weight of woeBut none were young enough to shame
There was a dream I once had as a child, about a city of lights covered in white- where the skies were red, and the ocean was oil. A place where the ground was cold; hard to walk upon, and even harder to sow.
little man are you there
little man can you hear me cry
little man can you hear my cold heart beating
little man
little man can you feel the tears stinging my face
Everyone has a different label for it
When you finally hit the breaking point
When you become so angered
You can't control it
My family refers to ours
As red
We call it red
Because that is all
you say those words to me that cut through my heart like a knife.
It's not just once, hundreds of times you plunge the knife into my already lacerated heart.
Tears stream down my face I'm screaming
"MOTHER, I LOVE YOU."
Darling daughter...
I know it's too late to save you now
But I sit back and ask myself how
Am I supposed to see
When you always hid it from me?
You should have...
Seen through my lies
It smelled and reminded me of old forgotten Sundays' as I picked up that book full of wrinking yellow pages.
Long dark tunnels were taken as needed to get there.
Me, I don't know what to call myselfI've heard plenty of ideasIndependent, crazy, smart, talkative I am a seventeen year old girlI'm a girl with a history full of ups and downsI'm a girl with a family who's been pushed to the limitsI'm a girl wh
Can’t seem to find a pack because she feels left out.
Can’t seem to fit in because people say “No!”
Tasia Jewel
2 November 2015
I Am: Story of Me
I am 3 years old
Surrounded by the love of my family
A feeling of unity
I am happy
I am 7 years old
You watch me but I know its cause you love me.
I wish I could have gotten to know you better
But we connect in spirit
Mama cries every night for you
I’m addicted to a person
Who’s addicted to a drug
That played a mean trick
and no longer makes him numb.
“I’ll be right back,” he says.
I look at him and nod
"Who Am I?"
A Question I now ask myself daily.
Am I the girl who smiles at random strangers?
Am I the girl who hands the homeless a sandwich?
Or am I the girl who is lost?
There she stands
On a precipice—the steepest in her mind,
Overlooking wrong and right;
What is true, what is false;
What can help, what can hurt
Blacken Berries
Black OF Barry
Back in Various Thoughts of the Last Name Hunter a sequence
Share these, Share These Pictures on Instagram
I am the scars my parents put on me as a child. From the abuse mentally and physically. Little did they know they scarred me sociologically too.
Pause, I am your equal.
I can't grasp what people say,
at least they fit in their skins!
They put me on a pedestal, they hang me up with rusty pins.
In the frames hung in the halls is me with my poster grins.
I am a king.
I will reach my potential. No matter how hard I try, I will never find all.
My limit is in-fathomed, unreachable. It makes me wonder why we lie, "I will never be, will never see, my kingdom."
If I don't know where I'm from, you ask, how will I know where I'm going?
Fair enough.
Here's my best answer:
I am from a little boy crying because I turned his amoeba of green paint into a t-rex.
Loud sirens! I am scared. Police officers! I am four. Grabbing me! I am cold. What's happening? I am so tired. "A house is not always a home" I am somewhere... New clothes! I am warm. New toys! I am happy. New family! I am safe.
-Tuayla
Compassionate, bubbly, loving, creative
First and only child to Alex and Laurimar
Likes dancing, drawing, and my favorite activity of all the beach
My little brother, Issac
Flip, bounce, flip, bounce, flip
Repetitive patterns of play
No voice
No awareness of mom
No fighting with sister
Trapped in his own mind
No hello
No goodbye
Mother,
I knew it.
I knew you were the one to tell me
I wasn’t good enough.
It was not my teacher from fourth grade or
The mysterious boy I fell in love with when I was sixteen.
It was you.
I’m From Cherished Memories
By: Bryanna Rivera
I am from a house painted blue,
Like the bright sky itself.
And shutters bright white,
Men are seen often strength and dogmaticism that know no bounds
All men, however, are not always the same as each other
Some remain calm, cool, and collected
Life is a gift we should not take,Love from the heart we should not break.Memories, there are so many,And people we know, well, I know plenty.Our purpose here, I do believe,Is to give our gifts, not to recieve.
Hello Charles. I'm not going to call you grandpa becayse I've never met you, and I haven't always heard the best things about you. But if I could, I would give you the chance to explain yourself.
"Your mom is missing I've called the police
They're looking for her now" (frozen, i stand, a naked man in the snow
i hear the shaking in his voice)
My mom is a fighter
She is always saying
"Things will get better"
She laughs and smiles
Calls me pretty and smart
She works hard to give me things
She works hard to feed me
She cleans all day
I remember facing your house, and thinking ¨Should I visit her?¨
Like the fool I was, I thought, ¨I'll see her again.¨
And so without a second thought, I got in the car and drove off.
If only I had known...
I was told my mom saw ugly faces
when she looked at a mirror.
But I could never understand
how such a thing was possible.
Until I saw ugly faces on the mirror myself.
I am a product,
a creation.
I am made by love, by hate, by accident...
Raised by their ideals
Shaped to their perfections
Taught, molded, given my instructions.
As the cool wind blew briskly through the barren forest a single head of fire bounced down t
I am writing to let you know that my time has come and gone.
That like a shooting star I was only visible for a second, the space between
me and you was
light years
I wanted to let you know of all the things
And now you're gone,
Just like a petal torn off a flower after a gust of strong wind.
The wind of life carried you away while you were still sweet.. Goodbye.
Your aroma still lingers, lavender.
The sport of soccer is,
A team sport
It doesn't matter if you are tall or short
With it you have more support
Constantly in pain
My own thoughts driving me insane
Life is just a drain
But the misery is only in my brain
A family that is perfection
Offers me protection
I am the infection
I began on a rainy, cold fall night.
I was an ‘accident.’
The shaking hands and rage encompassed shock of my mother.
The free money and sedentary existence of my father.
Long, curly, black hair--
better than mine.
Dark brown eyes,
but--
we look alike.
Book after book--
time flies by.
We don't read the same,
but--
we think alike.
All I see are memories of your silohoutte
I remember the day you left
Like it was yesterday
You said you couldn't resist her
And Ma and I
Couldn't overlook the fact that
Everytime you came home
When I read my old poetry
it's like I've stepped into a time machine.
Memories that used to haunt me,
feelings that tied me to the past.
I see scenes of hysteria, longing,
and abandonement.
You're tired so very tired
Fix my thoughts, for they aren't always pure.
Fix my fuse so it's never ending.
Fix my voice so it is never loud with my frustration.
Fix my eyes so they do not blur.
I want to say thank you. Thank you to the ones that have treated me poorly. That have taken my past and pointed it at my throat like a sharpened knife. We all make mistakes...
My sweet sister
She took care of me in my early years
Loving me, teaching me, caring for me
One day everything changed
'Sister, don't be scared'
Alone in a foreign land
Inexperienced she was
't u dare blow me a kiss and call me loser.
I'm trying to be mad at u but now I'm smiling at a text.
U say, 'u can't be mad at me'
And I say, 'why's that?'
I am from lilac bushesGrowing tall and full like small treesBlooming a beautiful purple in the springAnd filling the yard with a wonderful scentThat can comfort me even now,Even on my worst days
When memory calls upon me
I sit to remember
Joyous or Melancholy
Awake or in slumber
The sights I have seen
The things I have known
The people I’ve loved
Even though some are gone
Carry your family like
burlap sacks of rice
Gather your history with
calloused palms like cotton
Prick the tips of
your fingers
on the splintered pine
of your family tree
I used to believe in a close happy family
But now I've been awakened and feel so alone
I always dreamt of staying together
But I never dreamt of departing our ways
We sit here to hide from the heat:
Mom, my older sis, my younger sis, and me.
I am Tillar
I am named after a small town in southern Arkansas that means so much to my family
I am my grandmother's sweat tea and banana pudding
I am my daddy's brown hair and green eyes
I am Choctaw and Cherokee
Me :noun
a. family member: 1. a loving sister who talks too much, 2. a devoted daughter who is full of questions;
I found that we were raised in an abandoned city torn apart by the pessimists who were famished by lack of dreams and the impoverished who sold their hearts to fear.
I wonder what what it's like to be a superhero,
They all say I'm the head honcho,
They remind me I'm the last of my line,
I realize that they have reasons I don't,
They dictate my world with their won'ts,
I was thinking that everything were sorted. Thinking i knew the end of the story.
Well think again, my prediction was wrong.
Oh, how wrong i was. You have no idea.
Wish i hadn't gotten so near.
*I have exceeded expectations and yet still i fall down.
People will leave you and you'll think that's fine.
follow me, soon you'll be all mine.
when you try and get rid of me you will realise there's no hope.
*All's it take's it that one small thing to bring you back down to earth.
To suddenly start thinking what your life has been worth.
Did you achieve many of your goal's?
or any of your plan's in life?
*In my own world id'e be made out of playdo'h, and the colour purple id'e be. The place i can learn to be me, start to be me... I have something no one else has, my inner light.
The colour purple i think id'e like.
It's so frustrating. While i'm here slowly suffocating. Quickly getting even more bitter. There's still time to fix this. There's just time to fix it, FIX IT. Get a grip, put your brain in gear and shift it.
*It's time to un screw this fantasised head of mine, wouldn't ya say?There ain't no one else to blame.If through all the sunny day's, all's i see is rain. It's time that my higher self showed itself. Made an appearance, wouldn't ya say.?
* I try and convince myself it's fine.
The problem's ain't
getting any bigger. Who are you trying
to kidd?
ya kidder.
You got ya finger pressed on the trigger.
Im the one holding
the gun.?
This is me... Drinking beer to make sure i don't see clear. Will you forgive me Mom.? Staying indoor's. No i don't have any flaw's. Taking "Shit" drinking even more you bet. Will you forgive me Mom? Forgive me.? Please Forgive me for my Sins.
*Yet again feeling so,so confused, as well as my arm's being battered and bruised. Listening to my music my mind drift's away. Trapped playing What's left of my memory's. Here i live,here i stay. Confusion and hate day after day.
*my Only Friend*
I was the only one that really understood,
when everyone else left,
i gave you the gift of not giving a f***.
I made you feel strong,
wen infact you were weak.
i helped you to disconnect,
* SMILE....*.
*Just don't get it.
Don't think i ever will.
Sick of going over the same shit.
In my head that is...
Most thing's i have forgiven,
Many thing's i have forgotten.
*YOU LISTENED...
to me moan,whine,talk about nothing.
Everything.
My worry's. My hope's. You DIDN'T kick me
when i was down,
or when my smile was upside down.
You could see i was on self destruct mode.
*YOU LISTENED...
to me moan,whine,talk about nothing.
Everything.
My worry's. My hope's. You DIDN'T kick me
when i was down,
or when my smile was upside down.
You could see i was on self destruct mode.
No, my parents do not fight.
No, my grades aren't bad.
No, my family's wallets aren't tight.
No, I do not appear to be sad.
No, I am not called ugly or fat.
She gazed across the baren lands,
a rusted key lay in her hands,
a salted tear slipped down her face,
she sat on the balcony, crumpling her lace.
Alone she sat hour after hour,
Hey little brother, I watched you grow before my very eyes
I tried to protect you and your little heart from the lies
I think back to when you were 5 and my tears flow
The things that were going on, how could you know?
It was there,
Always there.
In the long studio,
In the one room apartment,
In the new house,
In the green living room.
It was always there.
In the second spring
A perfect family
But only to the eye
When you come into their lives
That perfect family has very dark lies
But o'no one pays close attention
As I walked along the dusky dark road, the English winter this particular year was torturous to say the least. The icy wind whipping against the coat I thought would be my comfort from the cold. My face felt frozen and void of all sensation.
I am from croquettas de jamon,
From guava and cheese.
I am from sandy beaches heated by the bright, burning sun
(Beating, glistening, warming my skin, tasting like freedom)
she brought me into this world, 19 and unsure. she is a queen among royals.
now I am 19 and unsure, and if I had a child of my own i would be stuck in a much deeper hole than I am right now.
When you told me, I began to cry
Tears came running down my eyes
I couldn't stop them from seeping through
he hands of Time seem at rest,
but with a simple, steady beat they move
toward an eternity unknown
to the world.
Orange blossoms used to be the sweetest scent
and grew to make me happy.
My grandma used to have a tree in her yard
and every morning I awoke to the sweet aroma
with my feet in dew soaked grass.
Life is short, but life has offerings.
So many offerings, that so many don’t learn to take.
From a young age I was offered beauty and pain.
The pain wasn’t a choice, but the beauty was.
I received a phone call from my father
Explaining that it was all too real
And all too sudden
This man he spoke of did not sound like the uncle, his brother I knew
Family, memories, nights full of laughs
Parties with cookies you split into halfs
Fireworks, memories, running on docks
Changing in bathrooms, forgetting your socks
Isnt it awesome that youre alive?
That youre wide awake and breathing.
That youre talking laughing and walking.
Isnt it awesome that you have a place called home?
That youre not on the streets
When life gets hard, I think with my eyes closed
"What if I weren't black, is that the pigment i would've chose?"
Side-by-side
dressed alike
double takes
"Are you two twins?"
My little shadow
almost as old as I am
you look up to me
but you have no idea how much
I look up to you.
She traveled for days, in a maze with no direction destined for an escape from depression driven by disaffection
By fate she felt a connection
They ran until he was cuffed into oppression
Later she had a baby on the way
Gratitute towards life overwhelms me
I go about my day in optimism and curiousity
Productivity is the fuel
I've known you since the beginning of time,
We were once so little and fragile.
Now that we use to only make a dime,
Peace of Mind is
Sunday morning neo-soul.
Brown skin; Limbs and lips
Puckering to sing.
The smell of a mother's love
Caressing everybody.
As a breeze flows through the open window
even with all this time
you've been on my mind
mama
some nights I fall asleep
drenched in sweat from
this vicious nightmare
a daughters weep
waking up with tears as I lay
Too many last nights were promised to be the last time,
But didn't it feel good?
Too many small lights freckles the frame of my face,
And I would do it again.
Too many times I have overslept,
Her words were never heard
they were never spoken.
She created her own language
through her eyes, her vibrant sapphire eyes.
We grew up together, her and I...
and yet she never really grew up,
My Grandma’s Strength
Your days span almost a century,
Reaching back into misty foreign times
Now only a few have seen that
Which your eyes have witnessed
Harder times, simpler times
¿Dónde está papá, el final del libro de cuentos?[1]
The weathered one—The one that cascades a waterfall of shimmery glitter,
Don't let anyone put you down, don't let anyone hurt you.
Don't just lay ther and take it. Stand up. FIGHT IT!
just some advice my dad gives.
Father, a teacher, helper, protecter, giver- you are all these things and more
I could go on forever and ever, but mostly you care for me
Everything is Awesome but My Mom Is Better
I find it funny how this is based off of a kid’s movie
You may find this poem funny and a little moving
Now just like most my mother is awesome but she is better
His plump infant belly melds into my soft belly with it's silvery stretch marks(flashes of fish in a pond.)
Our breathing syncs
together. Each day after the first marks a step farther
that he moves
Hand to cheek
Whispering streams
Flicked away with solidarity
My father lives
Thanks rooted to his soul
Fragility pinned to his heart
2/3 cut away from his stomach
I have daddy problem
I wake up fatherless like
Every other African American
Child out there.
Most kids
know where there father is.
Miracles happen every single day, in every single way.
I am no stranger to these miracles, that I have received along the way.
I am proud to be strong, passionate, and Pure.
What would I do without my “Mack”
An essay, or poem-probably her fave
It’s just her thing, she’s got a knack
One stone,
Two people,
Three heart felt words,
Come together to start a story.
Four parents watch their kids grow up,
Five minutes of vows lead to,
Six words that seal the deal,
How was your day; why aren’t you speaking; you always have those headphones in; you have such a pretty face, but you need to lose weight; why don’t you go to the gym; I don’t want to take you to the gym; you’re lazy, all you do is sleep; clean yo
I didn't believe.
What happens when you die?
Is there a heaven and hell or am I living a lie?
I didn't believe.
You see stuff on the news.
You figure none of those things can possibly happen to you.
Darkness.
That is all I used to see in this world we live in.
Darkness,
The total absence of life,
Of joy,
Of love
Of awesomeness.
Then I met someone,
My sister is a silver screen starletImpossibly far awayand a stranger despite familiarity.She is a spectacle,nothing more than whispers.Her decisions are her own,but judgement still rules her.
Nothing means more to me than my life,
Nothing means more to me than my family,
Nothing means more to me than my sister,
Nothing means more to me than my parents,
Nothing means more to me than my father,
They whistled from the backyard until us little ones
Came trouncing through the woods
Covered in sap and ticks, scrapes and red cheeks.
We rolled down the big hill at top speeds
Just to feel our ears pop,
I saw my girl come home; giggling and bubbly.
My girl loved me right away.
She loved to kiss my nose, and she loved to crawl with me.
I'd make her laugh everyday for hours.
To the worrisome little girl I was:
Things will fall into place.It’ll take time.Tears will be cried.But things will fit together again,Even if they’re all broken now.
Violence would have saved me.
A thought I struggle to comprehend.
It were the words that degraded me, broke me down,
they wrapped around my neck.
"Piece of shit"
"worthless"
"a mistake"
I remember the time I first saw my mother cry.
Her soft blue eyes were puddled with red.
Family and friends.
They help you through the hard times.
They make life awesome
The rain, the thunder
the dirt and grass beneath my feet
The swoosh of my hand as I shoo
the fly that interrupts me as I
lick the barbecue sauce off my fingers
on that sunny Fourth of July
I have always lived with strangers in my home.
The agony of not having a true family is greatly disturbing.
You see, demons terrorize my household.
As the days pass,
each one harder than the last,
Not a single day passes,
in which my mind relaxes,
You're running through it all day,
my throat still clenches,
before every word I say.
Now that you're gone,
I sit here and wait,
You've been away too long,
I'm still expecting to hear you come in late.
In the middle of the night,
you tend to cross my mind,
Pot Luck Papa
My dad brings odd things to the table.
The contents of which, are appropriate for fable.
Succulent shrimp and other crustaceans delight.
While odd concoctions bubble, giving children a fright.
you aremy placewithoutmadnesseven withall theearthquakesanddisasterson theinsideandoutsideyoufeel likethe wayhome
Family sits around the fire,
faces covered in pain.
I look up at the sky,
to see acid rain.
It's taking her down,
angel crown being stolen,
crown.
There is no fun in funeral.
So what's a family? Is the representation of it exaggerated on T.v.? I thought family was supposed have each other backs, but then why do I not feel your hands up against my back?
In the faded sky, heavy and gray
Early in the life of a new July day
A mother before her time had given birth
And a happy baby boy embraced the earth
Premature yet daring
The baby grew into a child
Four trees grew in a clearing
A weeping willow
An oak
A dogwood
And a sapling.
A stranger planted the sapling
Will you smile for me
little one?
Will you twirl around
in that tutu
I bought off Etsy?
Will you sing your lullaby
to me
so loud it wakes the cat
from her nap?
She was luckier than most.
Most kids whose dads were like hers
Lost track of them for months,
Maybe years,
Maybe forever.
But to a girl
Whose life
Always included
The Grammar Nazi that is me
Really wants to go through that letter with a red pen.
Your thoughts are missing capital letters,
An apostrophe here, a period there.
Your thoughts come tumbling out one-by-one
Imagine you were young again.
Your parents told you to go to sleep.
You would never listen.
you stayed up.
Just.
To imagine.
They say
that insanity is repeating the same thing and expecting different results
that if you're crazy, they'll lock you away
and more
among other cliches
they say
I belong to the circus,
a dynamic family
where our tent is loud
and full of light.
Jay is the clown,
putting others first
with earnest eyes
and bizarre antics
Our clan is crumbling
behind closed doors
sealed with pride
and locked by sorrow,
seen by all
yet known by none.
The walls are glass
but windows opaque
reflect suspicion
Why do I make people my top priority? I work my ass off to please. It is weird how they don't care with ease. You push, fight, and scratch your way into their hearts just for some one to fake love you.
I used to be a fan of bliss
Used to be a daily habit smoking on that cannibus
I used to be a fan of it
I blew it so heavly I used to just fan the piff
Mary Jane and I used to fly, I was her man to kiss
Mother
Says she cares
That she'd have stopped it
"If I would have just told her when it was happening"
(I was five)
But then says
He moved here for people like me
From an old place called Italy
But never lost sight of his family
And wanted them to see what he had
He didn’t want them to be sad
He had a son
Only one
I don't understand
What do your words mean?
I'd like to think I know you better than to believe that it's what it sounds like
You've been irresponsible for some time now
You live on cigarrettes and coffee, with a tad bit of sugar. If I didn't know better, I swear you were a thispo blog.
Dad comes home
eye like abandoned, concrete buildings
He tracks his day in
muddy footprints on the floor
How do you spell exhaustion?
He sits down to unscramle a game in the paper
My bones were feeble
My breath had weathered
My voice can be heard as a bare, cracked whisper
And I listen at how fragile we are...
For which my lungs, they were thirsty for air
These people be looking at me like I'm crazy
Like the shit I been doing ain't the right shit maybe
Maybe I'm loosing my mind
I haven't been feeling right lately
Like all these demons inside been tryna step out on me
Dangling of a cliff,
Fifty feet in the air
Holding on to your rope-
You can’t make me let go
Cracked, weathered, pig-skinned tools
affectionately craft
softest, supple, virgin-hands of suede.
Desert: my mountains,
sky scrapers: your zenith.
Let innocence climb high,
1 mississippi, 2 mississippi, 3 mississippi, 4 mississippi, 5 mississippi.
I just wasted 5 seconds of my life.
6 mississippi, 7 mississippi, 8 mississippi, 9 mississippi, 10 mississippi.
17 years young still don’t know who I am
17 years young I still don’t understand
Without the music, the pictures, the friends
I still try hard to make a trend
I just got to comprehend
I said I care about you,
So why did I soon forget about you,
I know promise you wouldn’t forget you,
So why does it feel like I broke my promise to you?
Accorfing to my makers, my mom and my dad,
I am a blessing,most beautifully made
They asked God for me and their dream came true.
A little girl that was all they wanted.
I am a girl, that's how I was born.
I am an athlete, a girl ATHLETE that is me.
I work hard everyday training and studying starting in the morn.
I don't want you so involved in my life
What choices I make are my own right
You can get mad and angry
But its your reputation on the line, not mine.
Watch over me whether I want you to our not,
Brother, oh Brother
A role model.
Not because he introduced me to things like rap, alcohol, and women.
why,
at the age of five do I ask myself "why"?
Why does my dad tell me he has to go away for a long time?
Why am I the only one left?
Why does my mom speand so much time alone with her friends instead of me?
A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE
ONLY ADJUSTING TO THE INCREASING CHANCE TO BE
NOT ACCEPTING OTHERS PLANS FOR ME
UNADJUSTED TO FINER CURRENCY
IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE IT
BUT I CAN NOT DIE
My pictures have been fake for years
My eyes don't sparkle like they used to
I try to drown out my mind with music and drinks
My heart and soul don’t quite work right
I'm hurting on the inside
“Just pull your hair up like this,
let the world see your pretty face
Just smile baby girl,
life is just an endless race
Don’t you cry when you fall to the ground
Always alone but surrounded, reminded of ties and bounded
Can't hear what they're sayin', continue to keep on prayin'
Faith remains my soul will lead me, to what I'm supposed to be
Because I have imperfect Spanish,
I am never Mexican enough to those who speak better than me
Because I have imperfect English,
I am always too Mexican for those who speak better than me
In the moment, no answers were shown
But looking back, I should’ve known
Deep down something shifted, that wasn’t quite right
I didn’t even want to write this poemI wasn’t sure what was the pointTo pour your heart into somethingWhen there’s always someone better out thereSomeone better at accurate alliteration
Fresh new curls wrapped tight like metal coils.
Skin rubbed raw, lavender soap staining her pores.
Teeth scrubbed clean, once, twice, three times just to be sure.
Crisp white shoes.
Once upon a time five pennies began their journey.
Thought to be alone, really in perfect company.
You see these pennies were worth more than just five cents.
To have,
Two halves of a family,
Things can become as torn as they are worded.
Through longing and disappointment,
I would never want any of them to be unhappy.
Through the half that makes me feel at home,
So you found out
Well, how do you feel?
Me?
I feel vulnerable
Anxious
Confused
Judged
Hurt
Angry
Destroyed
This was a side of me that you weren't ready for
My name is Namirah and I am known as the middle child.
When people meet me they certainly don’t know I can be wild.
So I've never been one for these poems and things
Writitng has never been a strong suit of mine
But I'm sick of holding back
Being the big kid, the smart kid, the one my parents never worried about
Who am I?
My name is Seraiah Jean Cook
But what does that mean?
I'm more than a name
I'm just a girl in this world trying to be sane
My life hasn't been the best
As a kid I danced on the livingroom carpet. The beat filled me inside and made me feel alive. The frenzy growing and hungry and ready to explode in a rhythmic symphony of movement.
Bombs everywhere, missiles left and right, clenching my gun in my hand so tight. Side versus side, so scared but I will never show it, America the Brave, proud and heroic.
I did not wake up like this, yet I am flawless.
It was harder than I could have imagined
(still is, sometimes).
I have a strength forged through perseverance
Rooftop sightseeing,
while the sun goes down.
Makes my heart starts to ponder,
as the bird reaches it's high,
and the breeze of the wind embraces me,
then makes me feel the essence of positivity.
I sit here
Reading
Thinking
Typing
I smell the comforting scent of fire and ash
Looking up from the computer on my lap my eyes catch the fire
Crackling playfully, bright orange in the hearth
Truth lies in the words we speak
Truth lies in the words we hear
Truth hides when lies are told
How are you just going to get up and leave like that?
You're only seventeen, what are you gonna do with yourself now?
You went from a child who tried in school to a girl smoking pot just to feel cool.
Yet me walk in your shoes so I can soften them up so your feet don't touch the hard ground you step on.
Once again I am afraid to face this day
The day you left without returning
Not flawless
Perfectly flawed instead
I'm beyond myself
That's more that can be said
I like my teeth
My perfect skin
My long blode hair
But that's nothing
I love me
for me...
One is already almost four,
Counting and spelling all on her own.
She likes trucks and dress-up,
Her favorite animal’s a cow.
Her tough personality is starting to show.
The other is almost two,
I am from a small house with many people,
The sound of birds and smell of food.
Toys all around and bikes scattered on the ground.
Sitting at a full table and dreaming of a new life.
Your pissing me off because everytime you open your mouth I pray you say something stupid but instead I am met with your artistic views and original ideals and it dissapoints me that you can say something so beautiful.
One time, I said I was anxious.
My uncle laughed at me and told me I had nothing to be anxious about.
Family.
One time, when my mom found out I was gay,
Mom, you do not have OCD because you like clean sideboard.You are neat and I congratulate youbut you do not have OCD until your head is filled with a montage of shattering plates,bursting lightbulbs,smashing vases,
You ever think to yourself what could I do different?
Someone like you I bet you don't even consider it
This is my brother and I.
See? We are young.
We look like saints,
wearing neck pillows
on our heads,
his red, mine blue.
Our hands are in
a prayer formation,
I am from Teddy, the brown nosed
secret keeper,
from the heart of my impeccable savior.
I am from the impossibly high imperial
castle that protected me from countless
encounters with “el loco”.
Who's wild and crazy
A girl who's set free
someone who listens but can talk to those in need
He'll beat you with secrets
He'll be drunk off lies
You'd be a fool to fall into his trap
I know I cannot control you
Your life is yours to live
Experiment with your set of boys in
Rolling out of bed
Thoughts clouding my head
Wishing I could take back the things that i've said
Don't remind me of the cold stares, At times I cant regonize the person in the mirror
Rolling out of bed
Thoughts clouding my head
Wishing I could take back the things that i've said
Don't remind me of the cold stares, At times I cant regonize the person in the mirror
I have often found myself to be closed.
Afraid of the world, afraid of what I don't know.
To be 100% I'm never really open,
not understanding my own feelings,
dreams or even hopes.
Without warning, it erupts.
Like a storm it takes us by surprise,
the torrent encases the strongest of wills.
We watch as our lives are torn away without want.
Screaming
scratching
clawing
“Momma can you please braid my hair?”
a ritual request with each daily fading of light from the window
I have always wanted to write a poem for my father,
but have been unable to decide on a topic.
Should I write about his stern face, his ever-furrowed brow?
Should I write about the lessons he gave my brother and I
Tati who has wings like a blanket
and asks who loves him
who is wind and a rock and a shoulder
who is a trailblazer and an alarm clock
whose hair is like the breath of a kite,
What is money without those you love
Everyone wants grip allow me to be the glove
You wonder why the stars get coked up
While there are people struggling to get coated up
Dear Mom,
I'm still alive
I know you wont believe me
As I call
Across the sea
But here I am
I see you
In the static
sitting in the dark
I know you think Im crazy
Daddy dearest, I hide behind your cloak and giggle as we play. You teach me to swim, to hunt, to ride, and to be far more than just any girl.
Her morning turned worse
And inside every detail would seem to radiate change
Like oiled chrome paint with unexpected comfort
The driver glimpsed ahead,
Steering down, the expanding ride,
We are a messed up generation
We hurt the ones that love us the most
and love the people that couldn't give two shits about us
Time has warped my view as to what the word "love" really means
Some of us confuse it
I am a normal girl hiding behind a secret that i only trust a few with.
I am a country girl that likes to get down and dirty,but i am a little shy.
Do you remember the first time we met
You showed me Love that I'll never forget
As time went by me and you got real close
Bleached hair, sleeveless shirt,legs covered with a not-long-enough skirt.She’s bad, that girl.Rotten to core.You don’t have to get to know her,just look at what she wore
Throughout my years,
I've been broken down
and I've been built up.
I've loved
and I've lost.
I've changed others
and I have changed.
I've drank
and I've smoked.
I've cried
Sitting under the Christmas tree,
Watching reindeer grazing in shade,
Red fruit and green leaves glowing from far,
Waiting for Santa clause,
Come and fetch give to kids,
Looking through my perilous soul
I see nothing but a toll
Is this me I see in this photo
Or just a way to fit in with a motto
Nothing ever seems the same
With filters getting all the fame
I am the boy named Koid
The boy who loves the world around him
the tv he watches,
the video games he plays,
the family he loves,
the boy goes online a lot, he finds a whole universe.
I am a pile of leaves waiting to be affected by the winds of time;
Scared of what the future holds.
I lay here calm and collected, my emotions trapped inside;
Bursting at the seems, my sanity is wavering.
At about a certain age,
Probably around eight years old,
Almost every boy will want their own wallet.
Not much thought goes into it,
Not until the arrival at the store,
Some people smoke weed to distract their mind how they feel,cause they don't wanna see the truth, but soon they'll notice it hit's hard and real.A lot of the time this is just for fun,
my father met my mother on the train tracksleading out of Hackensack, New Jersey. she was clad in blue and embossed with blisters;he was wearing a black sweater and had a stumbling tongue.
my brother has broad shoulders and a straight back.
he is a pillar of stone and a slab of concrete,
the way he marches around the house.
he has hair the consistency of canvas and his laugh
Want to hold your hand,
It's right there for me to grab,
I feel close to you,
I'd hate to see you go, don't.
I am from colonial style homes,
From Sunday morning church and Bible study Wednesdays.
I am from the fall leaves on the driveway.
(Various oranges, glowing,
It tasted like apple spice pie.)
I've lived in one house my entire life.
The memories vibrating in the flesh of the walls.
Fear in the eyes of many,
Loved ones lost,
Many hurt from the disaster,
With no home or shelter ,
Lives begin to change upside down,
Tears flowing down the faces of people all over towns,
Art,
Abandoned and angry.
Alleys and attackers.
Alone,
Alone,
Alone.
Art,
Abandoned and angry.
Avalanches and alligators.
Alone,
Alone,
Alone.
One white kid in the whole neighborhood
All my friends spoke Spanish but still I knew the truth
That every one of us wants the same exact thing
To find a safe haven and to have a family
I remember my mother stating,"Im pregnant!" with such excitement only to come to realize that outr "father" had different plans for that baby.
Strangers that had a past.
Enemies that had a bond.
Two seperateminds, two seperate hearts.
Trying
Failing
Hurting
The force grows stronger
But it never touches.
Civil War of the heart.
I was fifteen before I realized that no one could ever love me as much as I loved me
And a revelation of poetic, creative, fertile ideas were released inside of me
I don’t know if I’ll be remembered
As a great anything or a terrible something
More likely I’ll be forgotten in time
Reduced to great-great-great grandma
And a footnote in my family's history
This girl has a messed up family
TOO MUCH COLOGNE is full of secrets
SHOES has trust issues
BLACK bites
and BOOKS isolates herself.
This girl is someone extraordinary
She is a flame
"Look in the mirror and tell yourself you're beautiful' .
I'd repeat it. Look in the mirror and say " I love you".
I'd try , but nothing would come out . I'd go mute.
I spent most of my life trying to hide myself.
Family…
The definition of it: is a group of persons who came from the same ancestor
Sadly though no one wants a family anymore
From the generation that has now been born
love is nothing to pease
war is death to us all
between god an angels the war is small
to us love is all
peace inposible
war always untll we are dmned
etween devils and god we're left for dust
Break away from everything.
Are you aware of whom you are?
Remember when you were little and you knew
Exactly what you wanted in life?
Is it true what everyone say
I'm shy ,quite, lonely,sad
Or is it just they don't know
I am way more I am a girl that
Is strong that been though a lot
But still bouncing back
I come from a closeness of brotherhood,
Someone who hid my toys,
and broke my dolls
Someone who punked me,
but never let me be punked
Someone who fought me,
yet stood by my side.
When I first laid eyes on your goregous caramel skin, round brown eyes, and cheeky smile
I nearly fainted
And so did my parents
I could not keep this love a secret
I would not have it
Do you think she knows?
The way she moves,
Giggling-groveling-grooving
She cares too much of who approves.
Do you think she knows?
How she makes the world turn,
Living-loving-leaping,
Dad says to mom, I need a ride to the pharmacy
The car is too hot, maybe we should walk.
I’m left to watch my brothers and sisters discuss
teenage melancholy rumors and cigarettes.
You wear a mask like me.
We can both see it,
But neither of us have the courage to say it.
You always go above and beyond for me:
You sacrificed your time
To relieve my pain
Monday through Friday I race the sun awake. Shower, makeup, give my hair a shake. I dress for an interview, yet it’s my every day apparel.
I’m not who you think me to be;
I’m not a sweet innocent girl,
waiting or searching for love.
I’m not a delicate little flower,
waiting to bloom.
Enough, because you both have raised me better
Enough, because you are both leaving me dry
In tears and in pain,
That do not ever leave me.
Enough, because I trying, I have never paused
When your emotions are bottled up,
Sealed away beneath the depths of your heart
And past your soul,
It makes you feel saddened,
No one has ever tried to search that deep
To find what you really are,
I’m
Broken up inside and I
Can’t tell you what’s
Wrong but I will
Try to let you see.
You’d
Hate me so much because I’m
Not what you dreamed and I
Am so sorry but you
No dad.
I'm not like brother,
nor like sister.
I don't get 4.0's,
or lots of friends.
I'm not a model,
or Ms. Perfect.
I am a person.
I am YOUR daughter.
I am me.
Eighteen years of backstage passes
Sleepless nights spent looking after the home
Faked smiles while out,
bottled tears while alone
Thank you five,
thank you places—
don’t break curtain,
crack that imaginative fourth wall
where the boys must be chasing you;
aren’t they lining up at your door?
“We know”,
This is what happens when I speak my mind.
"All you do is complain all the time."
This is why I can't be me.
Because, you see, to me, my life is just not complete.
I am from cells, built together to make my mother’s uterus,
If I wasn’t supposed to come out, then how did I,
What’s said is done for you
I have no control over me
What’s said, what’s said
I have no life of mine
Dreams dreamt, time passes
All I’ve done is to please you
No life for me but to serve you
Outcast is a word used to delineate the misfit,
in a family where failure was tradition,
and education never the requirement.
"Wifie"
You make me sick
Saying it cutesy
As if it lessens the bounded meaning
I'll hide behind a smile
Pretending I understand
When in al honesty,
I just want to push you away
built in a time when children knew better
his hands not yet weathered
the cabin in the woods
stayed standing
often stirred awake by the purity
of child’s laughter
Traveling companionless through the dark snow
Lonely as a ghost wondering around
A black chasing shadow continues to follow
A huge treasure that can never be found
Loud laughs can be heard from far away
don't tell me things about myself
that i know are lies
don't say that i am not good enough
when i know the truth
don't say that i am ugly
when i can see clearly
As I looked into his eyes
I was just a child, his child
He was JUST my daddy.
My daddy that was in glossy pictures clothed in Camoflauge.
A cry echos as a childs first breath is taken in this world
the joy in his mother
the pride in his father
There are so many great things to live for,
When the leaves turn into the shades of fall,
When sounds of the ocean sweeps on the shore,
When one waits for an exciting phone call.
My mom would not get up,
My dad was never home,
My brother was only four years older,
My grandmother was my guardian Angel,
My aunt was my saving grace,
Don't you see what is happening?
Don't you see the emptyness?
Don't you see cold stare?
Don't you see the pain...
Zero love to turn to,
Zero understanding to retreat.
How heavy was I for 9 months?
Was I a bothersome lodger?
Did I ruin your sleeping pattern?
Through my kicks and summersaults?
As a toddler I ran around
You chase and caught me with tickles
Stifling sounds of a chair colliding with the adjacent wall send vibrations throughout my room.
My sore feet walk over the cobblestone and all
I can see my dream ahead as I take one step at a time.
London's bridge came falling down.
While others drowned, over the edge I climbed.
Dear Brother
You’ve teased me,
Loved me,
Tormented me,
And taught me.
You’ve made me cry,
Laugh,
Yell and scream,
and smile,
All in the same day.
I hated you,
I am seventeen
and my family is the definition
of crazy.
The only thing that conceals it
is the old white walls of my old gray house.
A newborns teeth
are more permanent
A knife to my chest
Or a gun to my head
as i breathe my last breath
though im already dead
Who cares if i die
Or is this just satans lies
its myself i despise
All these tears i done cried
Weak, Worthless, Insignificant, Useless, Unwanted, Dejected.
That is what I felt inside, looking at me from the outside.
Some say I’m weak because I don’t do what everybody does,
What uplifts me?
Such a simple question
But difficult to answer
What does it mean?
"What inspires me?
You always looked at the bright side,
Even on the gloomiest days.
You taught me to adjust to the tide,
Yet, stand firm in my ways.
I have two nieces:
Hayden and Anabel,
Ages 3.5 years and 17 months,
Respectively.
As a young woman who grew up in a household of only boys,
Living with them is remarkable.
Ten years old,
bushy-haired and bright,
full of endless fluidity
from her years of practiced dance
A little butterball of seven
with an angel's face,
a devil's sharp tongue,
All on her own,
in the toughest of times.
She's the Woman I praise,
for she has conquered great battles.
Say goodbye to the pain of the past
A new season has begun!
I love Christmastime
Seeing the beautiful midnight sun
Fooling around with your partner in crime
Time to spend with our loved ones
I like it when my family gets along, as we sing along to our favorite song. I smile with glee when my boyfriend lets me braid his gotee.
My beautiful little girl,
From the moment I knew you were,
I couldn’t think straight anymore.
To know that my soul had found
I was brought into this world
My mother, mothered me most delicatley
My father loved me with all his heart
As they love me so
They protected me like a pack of wolves
I was a part of them
Running is a cruel and grueling sport.
Many look at those who run and think we're crazy
Winter is a slippery time for walking
My clunky boots skate along the ice
The temperature is chillingly shocking
On this adventure, I’ve only fallen twice
Spring blooms of bright scented flowers
When I used to look in the mirror, I would see
A girl who struggled, but yet was sometimes pretty.
I struggled with my relationship with my family.
Although they clothed, fed, housed, and spoiled me,
The last grain falls to the bottom of the glass.
The sands of time chime 12 o'clock.
The leaves begin to age and fall to their graves,
the air mourns in cool sorrow.
But the end of summer as we know it
When I was but a young lass
not very far in the past
I remember sitting at the ramily table
with food dishes around me
glad my snomach was empty
so I could eat until I was unable.
My mother was in love
with her turquoise ring.
It lived on her finger.
She never took it off.
The ring meant
everything to her until,
she went to college.
Her beloved piece of jewelry
Think about your family, Tammy-Lee
Look towards the future, Stu-Murr
Take a breath, Seth
Keep a journal, colonel
Record your triumphs, Liumph
Go to bed early, Shirley
Create realistic goals, noel
Think about your family, Tammy-Lee
Look towards the future, Stu-Murr
Take a breath, Seth
Keep a journal, colonel
Record your triumphs, Liumph
Go to bed early, Shirley
Create realistic goals, noel
I am happy to be angry so I smile Yea I was angry, cause my dad left my mom.
Round 1:
You ask your parents how they feel about gay people
"trash" "freaks" "sinners"
See I often think with my head in the clouds
But my brains always in a bit of a drought
It is not that I'm lame or full of self doubt
I just always wonder what life is about
Dad's got whiskey on his breath,
and a hair from another lady.
He's counting the days until his death,
and tells mom she's crazy.
Mom lays still in the other room.
She has no will to speak.
To my mother, Sarah Ann
Whose job is to teach
Kids in first grade,
Yet can cook like a chef
And clean like a housemaid,
Who enjoys midnight walks,
Broadway shows, and her van,
Dirt or Mud,
Sun or Rain,
A team works together to earn their fame.
These girls are tough and hard to beat,
together all working to earn 1st seed
for the state final four.
Here is a poem that I wrote for my beautiful mother.
Your love is empowering
over my soul
gives me strength
everyday
to continue the next
your love is sufficient
i know
Superheroes are not those in capes
They are the ones in drapes
Covered in rags
They suffer and have to go day to day
Not knowing if they will live or die
Whether they will eat, drink
It seems so easy to say that you are happy
To smile and be filled with glee
But me, I wonder how we can make it last forever.
That is a mystery.
My mind it thinks the keys to life
I run into an open sky.
I watch the sunset
and within the orange and pink horizon
I see me.
I see myself at just 5 years old
walking into a new surrounding.
I see my teacher anxiously awaiting
Grandfathers are here to tell you about what happened before you were born
Grandmothers are here to make you laugh when you can’t even smile
Grandmothers are here to teach you the lessons she had learn on her own
There are too many things in this world that uplift me.
So many things that make me happy.
If I had to truly choose one.
I would think to myself it simply can't be done.
Sarah had a little lamb,guarded in pink meadows.A young forebearer, no doubt.A deserted motherseeking to conquer the cosmos.
When I was younger all I could think about was going back to Chicago but now I see it's just because of the memories I had there.
Family:
The thing you live with all your life,
Who are always there for you.
Wether they are far away,
or very close.
“The truth will always come out” they say
It happened on that cold rainy day
When Granddad passed away
Not related by blood but by marriage
The previous year
My late grandma turned to ashes
It’s been a long time without you,
This leaf burning season is always so hard,
I have so many memories I want to relive
But I won’t hold back or leave my heart guarded.
Come on down to Red Heads Resort
Drink the incredible wine. Hear the rumblings of music
All at Red Head’s Resort
There you can find
Many people from the world
Full of culture and stories
I have a little sister. She's 4'10 and has dirty blonde hair that goes past her ears
She has blue eyes that look stormy grey a lot of times.
I envy those that shine in the light,
Those who aren't afraid to fight
for who they are.
For every time I think it's time,
For every time I say that this moment, this one is surely mine,
Shopping
It’s a family thing
We make memories
We take our time
We create our own style
All while saving a dime
You have shaped me, to who I am now,
This is your wanted reward.
You have succeeded your one solemn vow,
And with your presence, bliss has soared.
to write all the things that make me
want to jump up
and twist and shout
i would make a never ending list
you would be reading for days
there would be repeats
would you miss me if i died? Would you stay up late at night
if you knew today was my goodbye
would you try when you woke
because your the one who wished it on me
would you try to call the next day
My broken family
Started break, break, breaking
With broken blood vessels under the tearless eyes
When I was four I loved my brother and he broke his arm
he screamed and fell and I didn't know what to do
so I gave him marshmallows
When I was seven I loved a doll and I cut its hair
Please, Please, Please
I’m dying.
I have days, maybe weeks
I’m dying
I need to go, to need to see because
I’m dying
I need to act I need to be
I’m dying
I'm happier than a bird singing a song.
It's all because of you, mom.
You bring me from my darkest moments and make me happier than a bird singing a song.
My only wish is for you to continue being the same.
I refuse to fit into your 9x9 inch squares and your 12x12 inch cubicles
I refuse to always comb my hair and always look my best just so people could say, "yo, you look fresh ta death!"
My home is a feeling, not a place
The feeling I get when I see the face
of my dear and trusted family
The one's with no blood shared
yet bonds we see.
O how I yean and yearn for ye
A fathers damaged heart
A son who threw the dart
A mothers tear of fear
A drug thats all to real
A brothers loss of trust
A family built on rust
Its crumbling in decay
I DONT HAVE ANYTHING
I DONT HAVE MONEY NOR POPULARITY
I AM JUST A PLAIN ME
AN ORDINARY GIRL YOU WILL NEVER NOTICED
I AM JUST A LOSER IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO
GRADES ? NO .
BEAUTY ? NO .
A whispering wind,
Speaking words of wisdom.
Listen closely,
Because it’s there.
Teaching us slowly,
How to be fair.
A voice of greatness,
Teaching us lessons.
They were a loving family says the photos covering every inch of the wall,
a small dog sleeps down in the living room while a growing boy slept upstairs,
An unreliable narrator
She was always at a loss for words
Expression never came easy, nor was
Compassion, understanding, empathy
Love
Was not a word in her dictionary
What do I leave for myself when the world has rung me dry.
What have you left me with when you've picked me clean.
Call me a broken down shelf, a tired little thing.
You missed the day in biology when your teacher went over
the composition of the human body.
Maybe if you knew you were 93% stardust
you wouldn't have sparked your supernova,
She does not know when to behave,
never asked me if I am ok,
criticizing and jabbing at my brain,
the pounding heartbreaking pain.
She knows there is someone to blame,
Trapped.
She is trapped with no way out.
The fraction of hope that she contains is the only thing that is keeping her sane, if that is what she is.
At this point, there is no doubt in her mind that he will return.
Drowning.
She is drowning in the loneliness that is clouding her thoughts.
When she thought.
If she thought;
she thinks she feel him, just in the back of her mindset.
A thoughtless grove is what i strole upon exsuse me if my words are'nt making any sence im just to far gone, im tryna think of the right things to sa
Thrown into life with no say;
born to a mother in a high school daze
who’s only direction was the bottle
of hard A – “adult juice”.
A father who gambled – and lost –
I don't hide from behind the drappes, my mind seems too wonder though when I look in front of a mirror. I seems too always make things reflect on myself. I question myself in front of the mirror and shadow everyday and everyday it assures me I am
Have you ever felt like you had no purpose.
Like no matter all the crazy things you do seem like it's never enough.
Negative thoughts
Leading to Emotional distraught
Making appearances that only seemed to be of neglect
Heartbroken to realize that people will never see you prosper
Your hard work neglected
Just a young black male in this world of sin
Man versus man
I'm fighting from within
Got to stay strong, can't break nor bend
My whole life changed when my brother got locked up in the pen
An insatiable appetite.
The gluttony stains your lips.
Each day, each second, unwavering, yearning for more.
Your cries are often heard, always heard, but does mine reach you?
there's something obscure about closure and asking for help
ten years ago I would have shied away
ten years today I'm still ashamed though, and when I write
or take pictures, or try to play the guitar
“I had a family once,” muttered the old man through his gruff and straggled beard, in the tone bearing the remnants of a great tragedy that ripped out a piece of him, strewn across the desert and left to dry.
Roots that dig deep; as far as the eyes can't see
Kind as the wind, old as a tree
Love that builds life
A Trifiling adventure
Family builds and breaks all, wary as you enter
"he's still here."
here.
Here and gone. The words meld into one.
I screamed. I cried. I lost my mind.
Is it possibly to feel so much at the same time?
This house sometimes feels empty
No one understands I don't mean to hurt them
I just don't know how to reach out
My mom was my galaxy and I was a stargazer
Now she's just part of the Milky Way
I, a young woman today , realized my flaws.
I H I D E under a persona that is not me.
I H I D E to protect myself from scars caused by not strangers but people I love.
Sorry, my sister
I meant no harm
I didn’t know you’d be alarmed
Sorry, my sister
I don’t want you to hate me
I just wanted you to let me be
Sorry, my sister
Something is wrong
You’re so far away
Not for too long
You’ll be here to stay
Joined by mothers
You are like a sister
Though we can act like brothers
And sure cannot whisper
Daddy, do you remember when I was young and I'd run to you with all my problems?
You always promised me that you'd do anything to make me happy,
You didn't want to raise your children the way you were raised.
I must be a ghost.
Oh, how they walk through me.
It's like I'm invisible,
And no one hears my screams.
It's a lifetime story,
But I hate those shows.
There's things in the world,
I guess I was wrong about you,
I'm sorry I wasted your time.
Kill my hope, my heart, my dreams, my soul, and mind.
It's time for you to destroy me,
What's left of me anyways.
I sit near the window frame
Staring at my own shame
Nothing is the same
Am I really all to blame
Or is this really just some game
My emotions are set aflame
This isn't some ballgame
I remember,
Dancing in the living room,
Singing off tune,
I remember
Playing in the dirt,
rolling in the mud,
I remember,
Family.
Such a frail fragile thing
It is a living ecosystem of aunts and uncles
Mothers and Sons, daughters and their fathers.
What becomes of this intricate unit when it is disturbed?
I have a past, we all do
Some of it is lies, other things are true
My grandma said I lied about rape
My aunt said I was fake
My church said I was a mistake
My friends said they needed a break
Something I must know
Why did you go
My dear cousin
With your smiling face
Always ready to run any race
You could have talked
I would have listened
We barley talk
We never see each other
You know my name
But that’s all you’ve ever wondered
You’re leaving town
You may not ever come back
You’re off to war
And promises don’t work
We are groups of people
made to hate
because of who we love
not what we stand for.
Did no one listen to
your parents?
You treat others how you want to be treated
not
This is so difficult. It's lke the beautiful woman I know is trapped and frozed inside the iron armor that is her very own mind.
You were never the one who got tests
hung up on the fridge
and you never handled a ball well enough
to earn a trophy
or attention.
You were never your sister, who had
We met by chance one wild Halloween night
Dancing and drinking in a friend's garage
Thought you were cute, but sparks didn't fly
Something else was meant for you and I
A growing voice inside my head; the essence of me.
You were my only nightmare, yet the only person I wanted to see.
I could not wait to meet you, for I never have before.
How can you not tell when someone is crying out to you
As if they don't give you any clues;
When you are known for happiness but filled with sadness
When you're trying to figure out this world through all this madness
Little girl lost and alone
Won’t pick up the phone
Too scared to go back home
The bottles kept stacking up
Daddy didn’t you have enough
Anger grew, We all knew
What he was going to do to you
Things I want my daughter to know
- feel comfortable and confident going a day without makeup. A day when you have errands to run or have to stop into work for a bit.
Papa, do you see me?
Scared little girl in the corner
I know you told me to smile
Not to cry or mourn or
Wish I could’ve done something
Made your pain go away
Found a cure faster
You wanted the best for me,
You wanted me to grow up in sable home,
You wanted me to have mature and loving parents,
You wanted me to have a future,
You wanted me to have a chance of living a normal life,
I am suffocating.
The elephant in the room is breathing all the oxygen
and my lungs have become too weak to function anymore.
The tiles of my veins are cracked upon the impact
You don't know me, not at all
What you thought, what you see
It's a facade, can't you tell?
I hide my pain, distress, and worry
I cover it all with a smile and an "I'm alright"
Who Is That Girl?
If I asked different people what they thought about me they would all be different.
My stomach twists and turns,
the tears flow
and my tired eyes burn.
i bite my lip and choke back the sob,
i'm hiding this pain,
but something's wrong...
it's just another lonely night,
Mom as I write this I must thank you for gifting me life.
Now I'm repaying you in the love I got for you.
My endearment for you is the purest I respect you to the fullest.
You enlightened me when I was clueless.
Does it matter that I come from a poor family, or that I am bi-racial?
Does it matter that I went to private school, on tuition assistance?
I've been accepted to college which is such great news
the only sad part is that I'll be away from you.
Away from your love, away from your laughter
but it is ok I'll be fine, I cant stay forever.
I once had a dream about shopping for a mom.
You could choose whichever you wanted
And if you weren’t content with your purchase,
An exchange or return could be arranged
As long as you had kept the box and receipt.
Instead of playing house I used to play home.From the age of four I never questioned the perfectionof the woman in white that hung near my bed
When we first met, you were just the next in line. I already had someone; someone better. Someone who got there first.
And I could never call you Dad.
Born and bred, true blue, and loyal.
To have a hometown I would feel like a royal.
A place that I know, love, and trust.
I'd try to return; get there "or bust".
Family nearby would be a nice bonus;
My love you have grown,
my love you have shown,
shown that you are fine without me.
My dear you stay sweet,
my dear you're on your own two feet,
experiencing a world without me.
I was born into a world of destruction and hate, all led by you
You whispered nursery rhymes and lovely phrases into my ear with a hint of alcohol on your breath
Beating. Thumping.
The sound of a heavy heart,
GUILTY!
Running. Sprinting.
Being chased by your consicence,
SHAMEFUL!
Hiding. Sneaking.
Conceling the disgrace.
LYING!
I call their names,
But they can't here.
I'm standing right in fron of them,
Why can't they see me?
I'm screaming,
But there's no response.
I walk away,
And they don't notice.
What is fear?
A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain?
A threat that is real? Or imagined?
The feeling or condition of being afraid.
No one knows, no one understands. The pain I feel. I wonder everyday why you left my side. I know it wasn't your time to go, everyone keeps saying it was. But who are you to say when it's time for an innocent man to go away to heaven.
I write to the Little Girl in the Future.
In case you have forgotten...
In case you have forgotten the beauty of the swirling passions of the primitive past
Sometimes thoughts fall in my mind and knock me off my feet and I'm afraid that one day I will not be able to lay bricks around my legs and build myself back up again.
I hate cancer
My mom throwing up everywhere, everynight
Two years of this and still I'm tight
Feeling of sadness
Thinking is she going to make it through the night.
I miss the green.
I miss the sweet sound of fresh fruits
Falling straight from its' trees.
I miss the roaring laughter of my family
As we reminisce on childhood memories.
A loving embrace: yang
Lonely and chooses: yin
A slap to the face: bang
Bottles and bruises: gin
Wall of blank confusion.
I pass by. Stop!
What, do, I, see?
I see splashes and waves of blue oceans rising to the scene.
Like its the place to be, but Wait..
No.
Anyone I have ever loved is a ghost I keep alive in my notebookBy feeding them the ink from my ball point pen,And let them sleep between the college ruled lines likeSome sort ofInhumane bunk bed.
Ducks are ducks
trees are trees
what is not here
is bothering me
Quacks are quacks
seas are nothing but simple seas
this poem is really bothering me
what is this really?
Tears of sorrow a mother won't let you see them.
She had you so she'll take care of you,
also try to be your lawyer in a court room.
Ask my grandmother what it is like to live
with her husband, my Papa,
and she'll point her doe eyes straight
into your soul with a gaze full of fear.
Fear of the constant storm that hangs
How do I explain?
How would YOU explain?
When he doesn't show up, when he's always late.
How do you explain to her, she's not even 8....
Here's How:
When she's jumping up and down cause she can't wait
today's your birthday and Fathers Day
with everything that's happened i know you'd be speechless
it's hard to think of what to say
I feel like since you've been gone our family has been a mess
I know you are scaredHurt and unhappy.But you don’t have to be—Not another week, not another day.I will still call you my sister, no matterHow hard you try to push me away.I will still come back running
I never thought I'd hate something as much as you
You take away the good people from the world
You make them want you more then anything or anyone else
Those with hard enough lives you make worse
Tears flow as time whisks her away
Each second her pain escalates, she tries to hide it
Grandma hurls as chemo fills her veins, we pray
It’s the only thing Grandpa can’t fix with his tool kit
I’ve heard so many poems, songs, stories about body parts
Almost every single bit of a human’s makeup has been the focal point of works
Ribs, spines, eyes, mouth
I spent my days picking up seashells
Running away from the rising waves
So the chill of ice water would not make my feet go numb
So I waited patiently for each low tide
I'm sorry that I hurt you
I didn't mean to
But you pushed me to my limit
And I didn't know how to react
So that focused me to push you away
Two wrongs don't make a right
I'm sorry that I hurt you
I didn't mean to
But you pushed me to my limit
And I didn't know how to react
So that focused me to push you away
Two wrongs don't make a right
I could never understand a mothers reason for leaving her child behind. But i guess it wasn't our season. I hope when we meet again mom and I hope when you hug me, I turn five in your arms all over again.
I just have to realize,
you have no ratoinal thought.
I just have to realize,
you've learned what you've been taught.
Your lies flow out of your mouth,
like water in a stream.
A suffering child shall not cry.
A suffering child shall not let a tear run down their cheek to stain the soft brown skin that child was once felt comfortable in.
My father is a loving and caring man
As a young girl he always held my hand
One day everything changed for the worse
Though he wasn’t taken away in a herse
Dead silence, a loss of air,
Like a heavyweight shot to the gut, TKO.
She had left this world and everyone she loved on it.
I felt my 13-year old world shake and crumble,
Trying to find comfort in my father’s arms.
It’s fine.
It’s okay.
I’ll forgive from now until forever,
Until I waste away.
I have no problem with you,
Or whatever it is you feel at this time...
... Even if it is pure hate,
A military vet you were I hearwith a mother in the gardena father swinging in dead airno mystery why they found you swirling in rags and sharp metalbut it's the spawn of two mothers that truly blew the kettle
Soft spoken,
quiet,
eagle scout,
First born child,
birth order pushed down.
Four adopted sisters came along.
I attempted to speak out,
They quieted me down.
Sang with them in church,
Mama, mama, mama
Can you hear me call your name
I have grown mama, I’m really not the same
Rejection, Neglect, Confused, Confined
Traits of a sociopathic mind, that's what society tells me i'm just nothing but labels pathetic worthless
Attempted at life but resulted in an attempt in suicide.
You grace me with your presence
Your love and your wisdom,
You don’t know how much stronger I am,
Because you were there to help me learn.
I am all that I am,
Because you took the time.
Bacon and scrambled eggs
We're served bacon and scrambled eggs on the special day
Scrambled Eggs;
Fluffy, unlike the bed my dad has to sleep on every night
Yellow, matching the ribbon that is used to support him
Did I grow too fast?
Was it suposed to be this way?
Youth is a state of mind.
Yet we dwell on the physical.
We are an embodiment of the costant reminder that we are nil.
Stay,
Go,
Come back,
Leave.
You're the tide during a summer storm,
Crashing in and out of my life.
Slowly pulling out, ever the controlling recluse, taking grains of sand with you,
A boy walked through the woods
he found something no boy should.
The boy found his father,
his father was doing something
no father should be doing.
His father was looking for the love
Got a baby on the way
20 years ago
Almost to the day
So excited at that moment
There's nothing I would trade
I wear my heart on my sleeve,
Just because you decided to leave;
I woke up with heart ache,
So much that it might break.
I wear a smile on my face,
And show love with my eyes;
Dear Branches,
Gnarled and twisted.
Dear leavess,
Brown and rotting,
We give thanks to thee,
Dear tree
For through thee
Our family lives vicariously.
Though dead and gone,
It’s the sound of my fingertips
tapping against computer keys,
the sound of the wheels in my mind turning,
the sound of my soul churning out
words that flow,
prose
into poetry,
There's a lot of pressure in this world.
This crazy-ass, city-and-sas world.
But hell, it ain't real.
Gotta listen to a real man every once in a while...
He's a hard workin', head turnin',
While growing up, during my toddler years, mom saw so many emotions through her rearview mirror.
We spent so many days in the car going from place to place.
In these past few years,
The family has changed.
From graduations to marriages,
Dad, you would be surprise.
You were the proud father
Of seven happy children.
Now we are seven adults
I'm sorry I broke your heartsI'm sorry I disappointed youI'm sorry you were ashamed of meI'm sorry I left you.
These are your hands and
This is how you tell the world you’re not all bad
These are your wrists, those are your scars,
This is your story
This is how you dodge the shattered glass around your feet
Sometimes it occurs to me
That everything I struggle with
Is because of you
You will never wear a welcome mat
As well as the porch steps
And now I struggle
To answer my front door
From Your Father:
I was not raised to be what you need.
I will never love you
And I left to spare you that pain.
I was never ready to be your father,
And so I chose to never be one to you.
you tell me to talk to you
that you'll listen
you won't judge
you used to be me
you want to help me
you told me that you would listen
well you lied
because here I am
If you really knew me
you would know that
I look at people the way you read a book.
If you really knew me
you'd see the way I tense up when
How did we grow apart?
Space between us far and wide
Like a valley, and empty void,
all becaue you lied, you lied to me
left in my heart are the crumbs of what I use to feel for you
Do you lie in bed at night
wondering about the victorious
one?
What he must be hiding from
you, do you ever pray for a sign?
It doesn't take miracles, and I know you're not blind
Life, right?
Everyone always says to embrace it, to live it and to love it, that we will never be as young as we are in this moment, to live with no regrets, that life is so precious.
They call me a gift
That when I was born i saved their life
That Nikolas has left
6 months after the tragedy
That I was born with a responsibility
That I should be a light
Here I am now,
I was little when she would park the car school-side
Speaking to me like I understood
Do you see them?
Those people right behind us?
Their happiness seems to stem,
Like a young girl in a fancy dress.
They pal around,
Without a care in the world.
And as they clown,
L-a-n-g-u-a-g-e Loss
Alyza Garcia
A loss in language has cost me my last goodbye
Lost is my native tongue in the process of assimilation
I've tried. I've tried so hard to be your model older daughter.
(But I'm lying about that, aren't I?)
I bend over backwards, I drive across town, I work my ass off.
(But I'm so lazy.)
I'm thankful for you mom
You always say you love me
You always make me calm
And wipe my tears so I can see
I love my momma, I really do.
But sometime she be getting on my LAST nerves.
She would yell; "BB......come scratch my back."
"BB....get me something to drink"
"BB...what you got for a snack?"
She is...More precious than the jewels that surround her King, the Queen is flawless her love is deeper than the bluest ocean the greenest forest...
I used to think that there was nothing more to life than greed
three-story house, fast car, brand-name clothes
were all I’d need
if you asked me then, I would have believed
How can we forget,
the endless times we cried because we were full of regret,
We never meant to say the things we said,
it was in the moment and we needed to clear our head,
intentially no,
My 87 grandmother has been through a lot.
She’s had five different cancers,
Multiple tumors, intestine troubles, and a stroke.
She lost all control of her body, time after time.
But she never gave up.
It was quite..just for a second, forgot about everything that was surrounding me,I felt myself struggling to move my feet because I was so weak at the knees.I could still hear the echoing of her voice..her beautiful voice,I could still feel her w
Why would you lay down and concieve
If you couldn't believe
In the child you were creating
She's a creation of God and a reflection of you
Maybe that's why you can't look at her
Sometimes I mess up, I know I'm not perfect.
Does that still mean I'm not your baby girl?
What have I done to make you almost disappear from my life?
Did I say or do something wrong?
If so, can you please tell me?
I need someone who will be there for me.
A person who is not afraid to get down on their knees.
A character who will be a hero and not a villain.
Someone who can make my life thrilling.
Can anyone be that person?
*Written when I was 10 and dedicated to my pop-pop who I lost to cancer.
When I think of my pop pop, I think of the beach,
The smell of the sand and the salt in the breeze.
My Family, all together
For one hour or one quarter hour
All cozy in our spots
Daddy, Momma, Emma, Me, and Eli too
All Togetherness.
The description of the To Be Heard Scholarship Slam asked the question of who I want my poetry to reach. The answer is simple, my daughter.
Miss me like small wishes that never met the skys because hands were too small to deliver minds and hearts felt. Miss me like prayers that didn't reach the heavens because eyes got heavy and pillows caught heads.
Fade away
Into yesterday
Will anyone know when I am gone
Trapped in yesterday
Wanting to escape
The sorrows that enrapture me
Trying to be brave
Not all scars show, and not all wounds heal
Sometimes you can't see the pain that others feel
Not all lies are false and not all truths are real
Sometimes lies are necessary to help you deal
Moving the mug from knee to knee,
Scratching his foot sleepily,
Legs crossing, uncrossing gracefully:
This is the state of settled unease.
I wrote a poem for my mom but she didn't read it.
I receited it to my father but he couldn't hear it because he was talking louder.
Then I showed it so my sister whose nose was so high in the air she couldn't see it.
Dear Dollar Dahlia,
My childhood was spent in your bloom.
I plucked your purples and pinks
Reds and oranges and yellows
For my mother and for the table
I put your blossoms in my hair
When my father prays,
He kneels to the floors,
Bows his head to the cross,
Clasps his hands together
And presses the knuckles of his hands
To his cracked lips.
What is he praying for?
When I lay my head in my mother’s lap,
I think how I have never lost a loved one
Who has kept me up thinking about loss,
Or the strange weight of love, or God.
Strange because they would be gone,
Pillows are all; at the end of the day,
from soft to supporting.
They go with you all along,
through the good and even the bad.
They give comfort,
warmth and cooling,
I came to my father and said, "Father, I have straight A's."
Ignoring me as he turned to my brother.
"Son, don't ditch school or get F's. You're the one that carries the family's name."
As my heart sits so silently as if it were under a willow tree
I think quitely, and weep somely
as when I was awaken so abruptly
The loud yells and the tears stream from my mothers face
How Can You…
Hit me like it’s nothing,
Cuss at me like I’m something Bad,
and think that fucking With my head is natural?
How Can You…
Play these games with my heart
Like a board game found at K-Mart,
Everytime I walk into the room, I try to ignore the fact that she's in pain.
Elementary came and went,While High school Just flew by,Now my sights are turned for Provo, I got accepted at the "Y".Start to Pick Classes now,Not sure what major to choose,
-Redefine beauty. Extract all the melanin from my skin, or add just a bit more to yours and let's see what difference it makes in our personalities. No change.
Who are you?
I'm Kimberlyn -
The one who spent
Every weekend,
And those sticky, sweet, Georgia summers
At your house making memories.
The one that glistened
Every Christmas
Half blood,
Half flesh,
But fully family.
Sister of mine,
You have broken our bond,
Tread on my trust,
And shattered my hope.
Over the years our family has relayed to me,
Father
What you could never be
A hero in the eyes of the boy
You couldn't see
Believe you'll make the ideology
Of a youth quite effectively
When you yourself
Are blinded by whats beneath
From today's family, mine is different
And I think that is quite funny
So many families lack unity
But my family stands strong with faith
and we find comfort in our Father
Do you have ANY idea what you have done to me?
Can’t you see?
Because of YOU
My childhood consisted of empty promises, nothing but air bubbles.
Should have saved yourself the trouble.
What my family means to me
Is much speakable than words
When they’re around I’m happy
And free like a bird
But when they leave
Can you feel the laughter echoing through the hallways?
Can you see the closeness that we all have?
These are the greatest memories
That we all have
We did not know who to be mad at more
We were so young and you left us
You closed the front door and she closed the back door
We were so young and you left us
We held each other and cried
So many thoughts running through her mind...
So many questions, assumptions of why all of this happened
Her heart can only take so much pain, yet she doesn’t understand why she can kill it already.
It could not be forgiven; it had to be a sin.
It didn’t matter if you were all alone
Or misunderstood. Even if you were “out-of-the-zone,”
There's too much pain
and too much sorrow,
too much suffering here.
It's undeserved, all this hurt
I wish there was some solution.
The rain doesn't help at all,
I feel as if we are a family of trees with no water
Slowly dying from being so dry and broken down
When is the sky going to be bright and yet full of darkness for a shower to bat us?
Who do you think you are?
One minute you laugh and joke with me,
the next, I'm your joke.
Who do you think you are?
you make fun of the way I speak,
the way I care about others.
I remember the smell of bar-b-que
In the fresh morning air as I waited
With my family anxiously for others
What makes a daughter form a good mother?
It is the mothering she reprieved from past generations on up.
Many lessons will be learned, and blessings bestowed on none other.
We gather around to enjoy this feast
What a delight to deliver this beast
As delicious and sweet enter our mouths
While so much joy surrounds my house
Laughter and cheer, no poppy has caused
Quick gasps
Quick grasp-
Heaven on her hands.
Two girls
Strange world,
For a widowed man.
9 hour shift, returning to
the greatest monsters known.
I thought he was intangible
He's fragile
He is frozen in time
He's scared
He is now going slow motion in reverse
His words are misguided
They tear everything apart
He battles his secrets
Red is the color of the sun as it rises, warm and spreading across his face.
Blue is the color of his eyes, the same as yours, as he looks up to you with pride.
The worst thing about depression is, you don't care about anything.
I don't care if my father knows I hate him for all he has done
The tears, the tourtue.
I.
I wonder if I’ll ever learn to spell the word receipt
without having to google it first,
if I’ll find the courage to pull back the curtain
and enter into the uncertainties of my life
The best memories we have, are the ones we've made here, they've helped us live life, and we need to keep them near.
You treat water better than your own blood.I might as well be mudAm I a disappointment to you?I don't feel our relationship is trueBirth certificate says your my motherBut seems like your just another
The tenderly shadowed man of the solemnly desolate night
Fixed his structured eyes upon his own
Crimson-rimmed painting
With such recently shattered innocence
The only one left, a rarity indeed.I remember the day they chose me back in 1983.I still keep the tag on to remember how much it cost to get them.Stitched to perfection, fitted with a sensual emblem.
I write this to my father
I hope I make you proud
Across the widest canyons
Can you hear me now?
Your baby hand:
so strong, s small.
Your fragile head;
I won't let you fall.
Your eyes are closed,
and you're asleep;
yet you are perfect
from hair to feet.
Ten years on this side
Two kids and a long-term partner.
He speaks the language and follows the laws,
But he is second class
Because he lacks legal status.
I hated your lectures.
Your constant reproaching.
The way your lips turned upwards
whenever you were boasting.
The way you abused me
with drunken colored words,
my cheeks would sting with a taste
Walk a mile in my shoes
Then you’ll know what it’s like to choose
Between making a life of your own and leaving the nest
The early morning sun would rise overthe dirty glass horizon, and hitthe rear-view mirror of that old red van.Slip-sliding with ease through small empty hands,dust and pollen danced like constellations
At the end of each day, my parents kissed me goodnight and put me to bed.
No one here could heal this hurt because this hurt burns deep like the earth's core, boiling up inside of me. The rage in my veins is a deadly venom that was caused by your lies and deceit.
She walks home each day
Hearing the whispers
and all that they say
"Have you heard..."
"Her dad..."
"...some woman..."
Try as she might she can't block them out
Care you not, your lack of presence says it.
All.
I am not one to judge
We are one
Or so this is claimed
Family.
The word is part of me
You sit and keep silent
What is not known
Three months early
Twins born too small
Doctors wondered
If they'd even live at all
Months went by
From the hospital we were released
The older sister first
The worst thing you want to be is a failure in life
To put down the people in your life and here them whisper "lowlife"
To constantly show no improvement over and over
To be confronted and insulted
Don’t disappear from me
I know I haven’t always been the greatest person
I’ve been selfish, stupid and just completely inattentive
I have been told
To walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes
If you want to understand anyone better
So I wanted to know my mother, and father too
Only to realize from the start-they had no shoes
Why do I dream to be a Veterinarian, it’s funny that you asked.
A Tiger, A Mother. A Hunter
Striped orange and white
Totally different from a Deer
Who is as though appears Inferior
Broken child
Save her from his grasp
She's been here for a while
She's growing up too fast
Strangers.
Circled in a dome.
Mentally,
Phyically Open
Mentally Closed.
Emotions fall out
Tears out of control.
Imprisioning ourselves.
The shackles break
I’m wrapped up tight within my sheets
Behind my curtains blows a gust
Up and down the lonely streets
Calm my heart, this I must
As the shadows find me still
In gentle dreams can I trust?
From dawn to dusk
Unable to seize
Unable to capture
Unable to freeze.
The 8:30am heat.
It has awaken to burn
Your sole. Pigment.
There was a time an eternity passed
A mother, a father and two children.
Bombs raining, oozing from crimson and clouds
Over commorancies of families
Into tombs, treasury, temples, and towns.
I imagined it wouldn’t hurt me,
as much as it hurts me now.
The mother that had forgotten me,
I couldn’t seem to forget.
My thoughts swirled like a tornado in my mind.
How could she abandon me?
How do you know you’ve found a great friend?
Day One was easy, introductions were smooth
You’ve found someone who is easy to talk to
You’ve found someone who is easy to trust
okay.
I AM ALIVE I AM REAL I HAVE COLORS AND SHARP EDGES AND THOUGHTS TRAPPED INSIDE MY HEAD.
I AM NOT DEAD,
not dead yet.
you think you can
systematically
destroy
this is not normal.
waking up at 3 pm, crying in the shower, bruises on your wrists, silences that last for days.
(i am not okay.)
blood spots beneath white paper thin skin
coarse blue fabric against my fingertips
am i real?
long fingernails claw into fragile skin (right underneath black ink flowers and symbols of Christ)
i try staring at patterned wall paper and run my thumb over the seams of my pillow case.
(back and forth, back and forth over floral printed fabric)
“we aren’t even blood related but i thought maybe you could look past that and see my heart.
i just wanted you to see my pain, see all the darkness.
just for one minute, for one hour, for one day.
Every time I see the scars on your arm,
The self-inflicted burn wounds
That resulted from a drunken night
Full of angst and hurt after your girlfriend
Broke up with you,
I have always wondered. Why is lightning preceded by thunder? Well that's because sound is much slower than light. So it is only right that first would come light. That's why the click precedes the flash of the camera.
When a family was a family,
A whole and binding unit,
When fathers were fathers and mothers were mothers,
A team that stood together for better or worse,
Parents who taught their kids respect,
You may have lost yourself,
But not me.
I'll always have you in my memories.
But now, you have family and friends there for you.
Even though they'll get mad at you from time to time,
But don't care.
Welcome to the jungle, friends
welcome scavengers,
welcome predators,
welcome ungrateful beasts.
welcome free birds of which I so aspire.
Welcome flowers and cats.
Welcome ladybug.
At first I thought the issue was me.
But then I saw my mother.
I thought the issue was her.
But then I saw my aunt.
I thought the issue was her.
But then I saw my grandmother.
It is dark
Like a crow’s wing
Thick
Like despair
There is no one
Like the world died
Empty
Like a pot
Pain is stretched
Like a rubber band
Resonating
I had never cared before but
why should I put myself out there to support those that won't even
help themselves
I had never really paid attention to
those crying in the streets or begging for help because they had
Being the second born of three Mexican American children, I've been told i was born independent and always had my mind set, knowing what exactly it was that I wanted.
The kids on the street
Have something to eat
With a warm fluffy bed
To cradle their head.
A nice little home
With no reason to moan
And a doll in her hand
That she calls Little Joan.
I have a niece named Mia, she has my middle name, and I’ve never been so happy to have someone have such a permanent part of me. She has these big brown eyes that just see everything.
I feel a change occuring
In my mind, my soul, caging
My thoughts, my affections
This emotion is raging
I feel these connections
In my neighbors, I can see aging
In eachothers' faces,
Our wonder of this world has waned since old
Nowadays, wishes are hard to come by.
Our time is spent on other, harsher things
Only in our fairy tales do they lie.
Your pain is my pain.
My pain is yours.
We share that just like we share blood.
Struggling to get up each morning.
Praying that we make it through our day.
We are our own warriors,
in our own war.
Only One without Trust
Gray set sky
Set like a die
Gambled odds
Upon the pods
Light the world with your Smile
Few can say
Without dismay
You are beautiful
Within a day
Life Rides On a Silver Line
Dug deep
Feel the earth beat
Revolve around in light and dark
Breath its air
Come Back Again
Challenged by things
Undermined by most
Mundane are struggles
Simple to complex
My Lovable Sweetheart
Starlight eyes
Never leaving mine
Against your thighs, like pillows
Love for the Anonymous
My unconditional love
Given like a ghost
Weightless, soundless, feeless
A Time With Family
All around
So many faces
Among many many friends
First among last
One of Two, Brilliant Miracles
Walk among lands of gold
Live life bold in new and old
Love and see a world with splendor
Sunshine over Time
Glow from there
Stand right here
Let the world
Find your light
Watch What I Become
Smile with relish
Together we still are
Mountains tower between us
Two of Two; Brothers beyond the End
Identical in image
Unique in minds
Connected beyond comprehension
Unbroken
Malleable in heart
Standing charade in form
You test my vigor, yet I remain stolid
A Worthy Father
Grand and blessed
You came into my life
When it was a great big mess
Home alone, but not like the movie, she's not here, but not because she didn't forget me.
Looking up at planes in blue skies, wondering if she was coming back for eventually.
Perfection is a desire,
Freedom an aim,
But how much would I give,
To make one little change.
People with similar tastes,
Similar goals,
Similar lifestyles,
Is what we look for.
I may still be growing and learning
But I still wish to leave marks
On the world that continues to make barks
Throughout my life I am always yearning
For the joy of family yet always earning
Distant shadow
Dwelling under the stars,
Creeping from the cracks,
Guiding me, in the silence.
The girl is so lost,
So hurt and so broken.
We don't see the cost,
Of the words left unspoken.
I would that we all,
Help this girl who is weak,
Stand up when she falls,
Just like the stars, we'll dissolve into a thousand ashes
Pieces staying behind for all eternity
Just like the stars, we hold the light
The light for which only shines to seem like a mere second
That light is ours
Once I stared at the page
All it took was a second
The words would come, the sounds so easy
But then the heartbreak came
The abandonment from those I loved
And I couldn't write
It’s just another number, another family, another man. Get over it they say, they just don’t understand. That inside I feel unloved and denied.
If there was one thing I could change,
There’s no doubt it would be
To keep my parents here with me.
And no, they haven’t died.
You can’t bring back the dead.
And no, not arrested,
July 7 1944
My dear beloved child,
I take with me your last image.
"Make her be quiet! She's mad! Shut her up!"
Her little boy stroked her hand.
One mistake,will you ever let me forget it...I understand what I did was wrongI understand I disappointed you.But hey lets think of it this way,what else is new?
A day with my family
It's a hell of a ride
The levels of nasty will be a surprise
There'll be fart comments said constantly
Fights and complaints and name calling
A day with my family
oh father
what has happenedto you?
what on earth stole from you your guitar?
and told you to stop singing to your baby girl?
oh father
theres a darkness that settles in your eyes thsese days.
The Few.
This way of life is not for everyone;
Most think we're crazy, which might be true.
There's no black, white, or brown, just green.
Serving my Country with pride,
Along side my Corps family.
Crunch!
The salty morsale dives down
With echoed fractures
Closely followed by
The bag crumpling again.
Beep! Beep! Bee-beep!
Our alarm system calls out
Indicating an airy guest
What Would I Change? Let’s see…
There was this afternoon sometime in June, I believe.
The curtain had just been drawn on the day,
It was the end of an act.
My father walked into the darkening living room.
I rearrange my personality and fix my face,
Tuck my curse words and laid back cool college kid demeanor
When my seventh grade self,
Riled up over the excitement of having a girlfriend,
Came out to my mom I said,
Names called out in the hall,
Tears-streaming-down,
How can this be right?
Under pressure from everyone, school, parents, friends…and now this
Back-and-forth-back-and-forth;
make the world a better place?
gotta make the people better people first
no matter how old, how young, how big, how small, how bad or how good we all got someone we love
we all want to please them
If I had the power, I would help a baby bird to fly. I would teach it how to use its wings. I would catch it if it fell. I would make it believe in itself. If I had the power, I would help the mother on minimum wage.
Today you are 12
Tomorrow you will be older
and wiser than this number claims
You will climb trees
You will sing in the night
You will be happy.
Tomorrow you will be older
My Brother, Lifetime
One of all
Deserves my thanks
There in warm and cold
Keeping me standing
My mother of Resolution
A mother of hope
A listener of wisdom
My detective of crime
Understanding of all imperfections
Loving, caring, compassionate
Wind against these walls
And the silence goes unbroken
Save for my own breath
How are we such strangers now
So different
I’ve known you all my life
You meant the most to me
Everybody says, “Life isn’t fair.”
Governor Quinn & other politians, shout, “We should all go to school, go to college!”
The current that runs through the system like a live wire,
and the electricity buzzing only burns me.
Two loving parents,
two low paying jobs,
one bad economy,
three children,
Head held high I walk through the halls, I am who I am.
Tired but proud, in this place I am small, I am who I am.
Monitors beep while sick children sleep, I listen carefully.
Where are you when the children call?
Memories revive at fixed scents.
The way your hair swept in the wind.
Your hands, delicate and soft objects.
Tell me, how are you nowadays?
One of my earliest memories
is working on puzzles with my dad.
He’d always tell me exactly what to do,
to start with the corners
and find all the edges,
Welcome to my Nightmare
She broke another bowl today.
It was the second one this week.
We demand.We expect. We desire.
We want to strive. We want to live.
We abuse. We forget. We ignore.
Many suffer for us. We tend to forget them.
We need to stop. We need to help.
You're sitting on bricks stacked haphazardly upon one another in the heat of the August sun.
They say home is where the heart is
But how can you find home if you cannot find your heart?
I was so young and insecure
Sitting up at night, brick by brick I let my barrier down. In the light of the moon I sit in silence and cry. I've let the world get to me once again.
I am from dinosaur vitamins from band-aids and H2O2 rinses.I am from rusted swing setsand broken plastic wiffle-ball batsthat have been tucked awayand have long sincebeen forgotten.
They told me to marry rich,to marry "up."But we could make plans to live in cardboard boxes on city streets lined with blankets and flowers.
He took one look at me,
Just one look, and he knew I had to be his all.
He would be the one to sweep me up, hold me tight,
The one who would never let me fall.
I am from chilly summers
from four wheeler rides and Windex.
I am from the cozy fireplace in my living room
(warm, soft, and my favorite place to be)
Sweet gentle arrival as if delivered by a Stork,
My options are unlimited, I'm free to explore.
I know what you do, I see your sacrifice,
You think its not enough. Nothing will suffice.
Brotherhood is not heavy.
Brotherhood is not something you walk away from.
The UnderDog: What I Do,
If You Were To Find Out,
It Could Possibly Kill You!
Only Started Out Afew Months Ago,
But Now I'm Sitting Back Watching My Cash Flow.
People Screaming My Name,
Since being a young boy in the hood
My life has never been good
Gunshots at night and standing under streetlights
I told my self I shall rise
If I put in hard work there should be a prize
Since being a young boy in the hood
My life has never been good
Gunshots at night and standing under streets lights
I told my self I shall rise
If i put in hard work there should be a prize
Mom did I do okay?
Grandpa are you happy?
Dad did you see my grade?
Aunt have you seen my project?
Grandma can you come to the award ceremony?
Uncle did you like my singing?
Am I good?
I am from farmers and teachers
From too much to drink and the pain that comes from it
I am from many snowmobilies
Heart racing,
As we fly down trail after trail,
My father and I.
The sun, up high
warm breeze.
humid.
take me away.
snap. flew out,
new place
cool
foggy nights.
looked back,
people anew.
no one knew.
i cried too.
My whole family has served,
but where will I be?
What if i don't want to
what if it's not the right cause?
Tell me,
Tell me how whole we are
An unbroken family unit, no longer bent on space between calls.
Remind me how intimate our ties are
Forged by your flights of anxiety and his fights with insanity.
I remember her sleeping peacefully,*The room’s white, sterile walls enclosing us.Family gathered around,Watching attentively like wide-eyed children,
"What's a home?"
What do you call a place
Where you are unconditionally love?
Where you feel completely safe
When your life is really rough?
Tomatoes remind me of Grandpa
I ate my first tomato when I was five.
...I thought it was an apple
Imagine my surprise as I looked up at Grandpa,
His face scruching up into his half smile.
Take care of your little sister
Don’t ever let no boy kiss her
Maybe when she’s sixteen
She’ll know how to be mean
To all those boys who don’t respect her
Until then, you gotta be her protector
As I lay down in bed
I think about what I could have done differently
I think about what my life could have been
What if my dad had never left?
What if my sister would have never been born?
My name is Alyssa and fourteen years ago in March something complicated happened that changed my life forever.
Waking up to the same ringing,
Going to the same place,
Five days a week,
Ten months, learning and forgetting.
Distractions and butterlies,
Taking chances, locking eyes,
Silver and Bordeaux,
Sisterhood that never goes.
Started with ten girls.
Then became much more then that.
You are special in every way
You are simply cute all round
You emergence into my world is awesome
You brought hope, peace, joy, laughter, wealth and love
Oh the Comfort
The peace
The joy
And the love
That flows
From you to me
Dear Mother
You give me attention
That delivers affection
Direction
And understanding to me
The know nothing, yet they know everythingLike a bird, Im trapped beneath a sheltered wingThey always ask where and how Ive beenAnd want to talk every now and then
I am glue.
I am born of mothers whose hope tosalvage deteriorating marriages, though strongcould not put their husbands’ nomadic hands at bay
Home
Love, Hate;
A cry of joy, a tear of pain;
Overwhelming happiness, suicidal sadness.
A house, a home;
A daddy leaves, a mother mourns;
children comfused but accepting.
What gets me inspired? Damn, I don't really know
guess this prompt has been really eye-opening though.
I'm just sitting here with some writer's block,
if I can make this poem creative I'll be in shock.
Her voice is fading from my mind,As time rushes on without her.The time for warm hugs to bindus have long since passed.
The first time the light crosses the eyes of a new seed. A new breed that breathes the air of the diseased. Fall victum to the wonders of what life would be until actuality falls in between to help you realize how life could be.
I'd give anything to change the depression that takes over the expressions of my mother. My mother,Who once wore a smile that complemented her asthetic face,
Big hand is Minutes and Short hand is Hours
Both take my time and waste it as I try,
Try as hard as I can to read a clock, It's easy.
Counting by fives, It's one of the rare things I can
I am the vine, gripping the bricks on the wall.
I am the paper clip, tightly holding the papers together.
I am the loving arms, that safetly hugs my family.
I am the hold, that never loses its grip.
Curious of those around
what are the thoughts they ponder in their minds?
Why do we all label one another?
My family tree spreads its arms along the worlds rim
Spain to Africa to Germany
Texas to New Mexico
My Mama always told me somethin':
"Don't be goin' makin' people's heart rip."
Now that she's gone, left me alone
(spanish version)
Siguen siendo noches frías
por más felices los días.
Le pido a mi destino,
no seas tan clandestino,
pues me vuelvo insegura.
No puede ser este mi aura…
You asked me if I sang,
do you remember?
And you berated me for the
foolish nonsense on the frail floors?
Those below could hear my noise?
And you prepared the suppers we devoured
one two three
around a table
cups of tea
untouched, going cold
tear-stained eyes
stare off at nothing
faces red
and bodies shaking
memories
their parents making
I. You write him a postcard. "I don't know how to tell you but I'm finally letting go," it says. The postcard is from Paris and when you finish writing it, you slide it back into the drawer with all the other words you never said.
As she to brightened petals flits,
Her golden hue on blossoms lits;.
‘Twixt thorny earth and sapphire skies;
On paper wings, she trembling flies.
Hi mister
how did you enter my room
my room says girls only at the door so thats why he goes through the window
how was your day his cold breath asks .
my day was beautiful it snowed ,
Your soft tiny hands,
Your soft tiny feet,
Your cute baby face,
No one can ever compete.
Those cute tears that rolls down
When I was a small child I would dream
I would dream reams ha woul ake me far off,
the dreams made me an astronaut on a space ship
the galaxies were mine to control, i wold surf the skies
A veil of severed glass envokes memorial of ranging battles,
Dusk to Dawn, man to monster.
She loves him, she loves him not
Painted face, cherry lips, talc powder over truth
"Smile for yourself," She said.
Everything is passive, it's temporary
The world is so worried about the weight that it just doesn't carry
Think about a purpose, it just there
Yet if anybody misses out then life just isn't fair
I might fall eventually,A restless coma before my pale moon lies down.Each star quickly fall from the scarlet sky.
Three years ago, I simply sat in my room
And stared at the ceiling
Waiting for him to come
Three years ago, I simply went to school
Daddy drives around the block,
his silver flask in hand.
He takes a swig of liquor
to help him with the pain.
While Mum sits on the patio,
puffing on a cig.
Today is Kierra’s Birthday
A day so long ago was praised
A day the favorite child was celebrated
This is a poem that I wrote for my grandmother when my uncle passed away...
I know that you are hurting now
And your pain runs very deep
This is a poem that I wrote for my grandmother when my uncle passed away...
I know that you are hurting now
And your pain runs very deep
Some make the inquiry "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"
And I, too, ponder this query,
This and other questions meander across my mind.
Oh brother, who art thou?
Oh brother, why art thou?
Now a day's the 90's generation is so much different the males are growing up disrespecting us women calling us bitches and sluts but
Hello, my name is Officer. I live to protect and serve.
Behind the scenes I have family,one I don't deserve.
I wake up every morning with a grin on my face.
"SHUT UP!" "Go back to where you came from you wetback!" I stood there as their words pounded against my ears. I watched the teacher rip the two boys apart, fists and faces smeared with blood.
I watched as I walked the city
Everywhere I see different things
Nothing lies before me
Not one second, munite and hour
Are you there?
Inside of me?
I'm lost and I need you
First off, I will start off by saying I’m sorry
I don’t know if I actually am
My brain says I ought to be but my heart disagrees
If a boy ever tells you you're beautiful, ask him what he thinks of your heart
Raw emotion pours from my soul.
Like a winding road, it cannot be defined by a straight line.
It turns, then rises.
Veers, then dips.
August 2001.
Dad, Mom and I went to Ikeato prepare for your arrival.
Dad and I got meatballs,Swedish meatballs.
The Swedish meatballs tasted like sawdust and foreboding.
--
September 2001.
The weights I've chosen to shoulder
I bear not for my own intrinsic desires.
Regardless, I take another step forward
Relentless, Unwavering.
Outside is dark, dreary Without a single beam of white moonlight
The wind has stilled, mostly But heavy cold blankets the quiet town
It is dark white, freezing A land of ice but for some falling flakes
The most important thing about my grandpa is that he will aways love me.
He also never stops joking, touching peoples' lives, and he will never stop creating art.
I terminal-ran at the bottom of midnight
from my red-eye flight out from under Greenwashington, DC.
It was the firsttime on myown.
The run was on a desperateloop away from
all my family.
Love is the key to possibiltys! Love is the key to a lifetime! Love is the key to familey! Love is the key!
Mother:
Shivering nights follow me as my stomach grows
I feel her inside me
I can picture her face, smile, personality
Worth such a huge future
But I couldn’t give it to her
When I first heard your heart beat,
I couldn't stop listening.
When I first seen your little feet,
I couldn't stop watching.
When I first felt you kick,
I couldn't stop touching.
She made her way through the treacherous grass forest. Step after step, she journeyed as quickly as her short legs could take her.
Break down young man break down
That’s all the devil tellin’ me to do
Says she’s through with me
Wants nothing to do with me
Askin’ questions like “How could you act so stupidly?”
Moms talkin’ crazy
He runs home, excited to see I'm still here.
All he can do is yell and laugh and cheer,
scream and holler, because I haven't left him yet,
because I'm the only one here for him.
For my sister Annemarie
Its not that we couldn't be
its not that we never have been
its not that we cant see
Mind racing 100 meters a second
Back to the old days when I set the record
Straight, that is, the path I ran
Though none of it was my own plan
Forced to run, but no where to hide
Unbreakable, that's what I thought you were.
Never sick a day in your life until after daddy died.
Cancer wasn't supposed to take you away like that.
Finishing a case of beer was never a problem for you
As you always practiced emptying the bottles during your free time.
The different you that I despised came out as you became drunk.
On the streets is where they stay.
The survival of the fittest was underway.
The kids walked to school every day. They passed by nice houses on their way.
The grown-ups all took the bus. Getting fare was all the fuss.
A walk down the open dirt road
An adventure that’s never been told
The sun is already at its peak
Gracing the surface of my cheeks,
Rays seeping deeply into my pores, receiving the vitamin D
For Her:
Hey Mom
I just want to let you know
That I love you
Can you just let me sit here
And think
I want to produce
All of your dreams
Never let you worry,
I don’t hate you
I’m not disappointed,
anymore.
My mother warned
I persisted
My mother begged
I pleaded
I learned
she was right
all on my,
own.
I have the windows in my car rolled down,
And I don’t care who hears me sing outside.
I glance at Ali sitting to my right
And feel my heart begin to swell with pride.
Her mouth is moving in time with the song!
Sweet southern sun spilled through the cabin door
And made the woodwork golden as it spread.
I set my feet down gently on the floor
And teetered off the edge of our shared bed.
She shows her phone to me and laughs aloud
At all the foolish things her friends have said,
And I ask when she’ll start to use her head
Please, stop repeating lines that you’ve been fed.
Life is a let-down
So am I
Streams of blue rain
And all I do is cry
Sitting on a cold bench
In a cold house
The Love Song of Martha Alvarado “Dusk is just an illusion because the sun is either above the horizon or below it.
He’s never around for long
But always there when needed.
Whistling the same song
He triumphs, forever undefeated.
A heavy soul
Dressed in all black.
Always wearing the same leather jacket,
Do not tell me that what I feel is fake
Do not tell me I am too young
Do not tell me I cannot feel what I feel
Do not tell me that I do not understand
When it is you who will not listen
I remember my mom crying on the floor, Alice in Wonderland floodfrom her tears. She was curled beside the bed unable to stutter a response
As I'm sitting here begging you please hold on
You gotta promise me you won't leave me alone
But don't lie to me and set off on your own
Before I even know you're already gone
It was as a child I learned I was happy. There was only the present moment, and there was never any pressure, no ideals to conform to, no desire to impress.
You never had to hit my grandmom
You probably thought your shouts were unheard
So you smacked her until your hand throbbed
You never gave her love or concern
So know, we're better without you.
Waiting for the 41 home
I light a cigarette
and think of mother,
lovely little Audrey,
and my Gloria.
I picture them gathered
watching TV.
Together they must be
First there was silence
Footsteps near my room
Soft whispers through the walls
Slowly the door opened
The coldness grasped my arms
It took me to that place
I don’t know where I stand
I’m tired or lying to these people
I’m tired of opening up to them
I know they don’t believe me
I don’t have anyone to lean on
One of eight, a boy grows up listening to Beatles music
He sings along to every song
And hopes his voice is heard
He sings of love and "Let it Be"
His family sings along
A carefree soul
With a busy mind;
A gentle heart
Trapped in a little girl.
Smiles fill her face
And laughter fills her air,
As she wanders aimlessly
Through her days.
Four golden hearts
Never would you have met such a violent twelve-year-oldnearly threatening to punch an orderly who told her,patronizingly, that her seizing father should wait in the roomfor there to be space. My mother chose that moment
Last night :Big fightNext morning:lots of mourning4'9 , light complexion ;brown eyes, black hair15 year old femaleNobody knows where
There is nothing more beautiful in this world than love.But I do not believe in fantasy.Though I wish it more than anything to be true,I cannot honestly say that this is the answer.
I'm the type of guy
who tries not to say "I"
Because when I saying "I"
is showing too much pr"i"de.
'I' was raised that way
believing there is a link
to the philosophy of my kind
Never thanked you for making things possible
Never apologized for that day I made you cry
Never understood what you were trying to say
I was truly blind
This isn't crap
This is real
We have what other brother’s lack,
We love, protect, and watch each other’s back,
I hate to watch you fall,
You have a problem and won’t even give me a call,
He walks with
his leather jacket slumped over
his shoulders
and his violet backpack
swinging violently
from
his shoulders.
His mouth is
a motor,
If these tan faces
Whose lips mutter pure humor
and smiles brighten my Life
Whose hearts love me even when I'm unworthy
could stay with me as long as my teeth
I saw you today
In the soul of a man
Guiding his wife
Like you
When you cared for grandma
When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer
You were her rock
You were my foundation
He is there when I have a milion doubts
He is there when I have a million questions
He never leaves my side
Blood is the strongest bond.
You've heard the cliche, but it's right.
There's no other possible way that I can explain it,
FAMILY COMES FIRST.
I didn't have much growing up.
Believe me when I say that I never like to complain
But at the risk of staying sane allow me to dissect my brain
And peel back the nerves to show you what I’m hiding
There’s not one thing that I love more on this Earth and that I care about more than anything in the whole universe. Theirs no replacing her because there will be not one living thing that could EVER be as great as her.
Every family has its ups,
Every family has its downs,
Every family has its smiles,
Every family has its frowns.
Every family has its sunshine,
Every family has its rain,
Every family has its happy,
Only going in circles,
talking,
getting closer,
intimate as we may.
Never touch,
meetings are rare and far in between,
feelings that fade fast but come back strong,
hay un lugar especial en mi corazon
qe solo tu puedes tcar
un lugar donde pees ir y te siento cca.
durante el ia pienso en ti.
miro tu sonrisa, oigo u voz
y en mis pensamientos apareces amorosamente.
Perspiration slowly drips onto face, the butterflies season exceeded in the interior, The brain playing drums with the heart, teeth stabs the tongue-
Once a growing man, who didn't know what to want
Freshman, Sophmore, Junior year never did alot.
Three years thrown away and not a single thought of what might be in future days,
It has become fairly seldom recently to see a married couple raising their conceived children together, a family that's considered complete, whole, healthy, rare. 17 years.
"What in the world am I suppose to do"
I cant see the future, All I see is bleakness and Im feeling blue
The sun was smilin’
When I buried my daddy.
The sun was smilin’ with her sweet irony.
I took your love for granted
And I apologize
I wonder what my life would be like
If you was still alive
You was a great man
And taught me great wisdom
I miss you
My mother was not alone,
For she had a lady with all she lacked.
Her name was a sweet blossom.
They were my saviors, my commanders, my explorers.
I shared these ladies with many,
Oh, mama
End me because when you sent me to ground, my lungs caved in
I dug my own hole, shovel in hand, but when I looked back at you, mama, you threw me in, and the door slammed shut
Trauma: The Most Powerful Lecture By: Matthew Luz
Mother don’t lie to me anymore
I’m old enough to understand
What you refuse to put
In the great poet’s hands
I know that you still lie
Among the dogs and their pride
Please give me some truth
After everything we've been through
Everything we've seen
Our cries, battles, and wars
Our wins and our losses
This can't be the end, it can't be over.
The darkness consumed us and tore us apart
Your expectations are too high for me
I'm not yet ready to climb such a height
Images of things I could never be
I know I might choose wrong, instead of right
Be mad, just don't have that look in your eye
I'm no supergirl
My arms can't reach over states
Minding hollow hugs.
Brightly lit screens do nothing,
With love I write you
Heart aching across the miles
I'm no supergirl
I'm tired of all the bickering,
mommy and daddy always fight.
My mom working hard in the kitchen,
my dad always drinking bud light.
There's always some kind of conflict between them,
I know I'm your only child
And just cause I'm a girl doesn't mean I'm going to run wild
My head is on straight
You just have to let me concentrate
I know the world is a big place
Eleven years old taking on the world.
Eager to impress, she's just a girl.
One night, the same as any other.
The only one aware, her loving mother.
It takes her wholly, body and mind.
In a crowd you are bound to spot him
He is standing so very tall
Not too much impresses him
He has seen and done it all.
His hair is short, eyes are sharp, and not a smile is seen
When summer came,
I wasn't sure if it would be, once again, the same.
Shy, quiet, watching you all have fun;
But that was okay, that's how it was done.
I came to realize, that if I stood back yet again,
he says he hasn't had that much
but he'll just use it as a crutch
and spend all day drinking away pretending that it doen't affect us.
but it does
and when we call grandma he'll be drinking it off,
My hatred had deprived from the feeling that; I would never be able to feel what future they will have. That my father could start over and become a better dad. While I had been the test subject, and the 'mess up'...
The day you became mine I became yours.
Forever there to hold you in the rain;
Every war you'd fight, I'd serve many tours.
Always there to share your impending pain.
You are the joy i seek most every day.
My Father is the earth
from which I came from
Steady and strong he supports me
My Mother is the water
that nurtures my heart
she is always there if not always seen
My Sisters are flowers
She's broken inside
with nowhere to hide,
yet she has everything in the world.
She's got family and friends
and the spoiling never ends.
But what she wants
is just a connection.
Where is he?
August 9:
I was undiagnosed mixed stateit’s in the new DSM, a form of bipolar and I called the suicide hotlineI was going to drive my car until I ran out of gas and kill myself
I was once Daddy's little girl, his pride and joy, his princess! But then Mommy and Daddy split, and it was just Mommy, Sis, and me. It took a little adjusting, but we were still in our tiny hometown, just now on the other side in a smaller home.
The sinister urge to break free from your wrath,
free myself from the blame,
the train of never-ending shame,
the ongoing game,
the little bits of brain,
you feed me.
To destroy is your aim
How old are we when we become corrupt?Where along the way did we lose our innocence?Better yet, when did we stop looking for it?We curse, we hate, we live selfishly.We live in a world wherewomen are raped,
Grandma who gives hugs like a scratchy wool sweater
and waves goodbye from the driveway
who is warm cookies and salty chips
who is wire-rimmed glasses and a cold can of Pepsi
Snow falling.
Mother calling.
Pies baking.
Dog shaking.
Ham burning.
Stomach churning.
Diner ready.
I’m unsteady.
Music started.
Father farted.
Tv’s on.
Christmas marathon.
Get me out of this placeMy heart breaks like glassLet it shatter and it runs a different paceIt's messing with my head, one minute i'm with you now suddenly i'm hereWhen will this end?
What are we doing? Wasting time? Buying time to just feed on insecurity. I don't make you glow. You look at me with dull eyes.
Family is key,
Or so they always tell me.
Family will be there for you,
To support and love too.
But it’s not always like that.
They sometimes hurt you like a rat.
They build your dreams
I'm just a girl,
A girl in love,
A girl that knows what she wants,
Is just out of reach.
I'm just a girl.
A girl that is smart.
A girl that knows what she knows,
Is just not enough.
What does family mean to me?
To me family means people who let me be.
They support and care,
And treat me fair,
They love me dear,
Separation from them I fear.
"Well, there's Miss Beautiful," as I approach the porch step
Another cherished day - for a horrid illness crept
Bold brown eyes, with a happy, gentle smile
Every last second was ultimately worth while
I just want you to show you care when I am in the house
Have you ever cared for us or just your spouse
This is your father now kids call him Dad
They are your new siblings share your toys don't be mad
My brother is a cheerful ray of sunshine on a sad, sad cloudy day.
Bubbling and overflowing with joy.
His big and shining smile is like a sweet M&M,
That lightens up the eye and heart.
This is my fight
My reason to write
Music is my voice
and the world is my audience
I'll speak my wisdom
through a riff and a song
and when the world turns their ears
I'll show them the wrong.
The room was dull in color. Browns and beiges flooded the walls and floors. The lack of air was pungent, strangling me secretly. Benches were filled with burdened faces and twitching hands.
Close your eyes.
Take a deep breath.
I take that back...
Hold your breath.
Hold it in, Hold it back.
Its not worth it.
not worth it....
You're not allowed to be a kid anymore; no more fooling around, be serious;
every move you make from here on out will affect the rest of your life;
Here are all these different people, saying my parent’s are fake,
even though my father’s working everyday, from morning to late at night.
They say that i, am lying,
but i.....
Life is beautiful. Isn’t it?
Not when your dad is a drinker.
That just makes it total shit!
I am glad my mom was a thinker.
She left real quick,
And met a much better man.
Daddy you made me sick.
My heart is pounding
And the sound of those words
Brings back the rounds of bashing and screaming…
Those lashings red like the blazing
Pain;
From all those times I held my tongue…
Stop and Stare,
look around at all the trouble,
As we try and walk around as if we aren’t going through a struggle.
I try and make sure my school’s environment isn’t what other schools go through,
“This is just a portion of who I am.
I don’t think anyone can be explained on paper.
A person can be explained only by experience.
So maybe you knew me all along.
The old man holds the child high in the air
My great-grandfather here, my nephew there
He fell in love once; her embrace was all his need
Four generations of family are now all their seed
She looked into the mirror and watched herself cry
Examined her scars, and let out a sigh
She wiped her own tears; lifted her own spirit
She's screaming inside, where no one can hear it.
She looked into the mirror and watched herself cry
Examined her scars, and let out a sigh
She wiped her own tears; lifted her own spirit
She's screaming inside, where no one can hear it.
What is happiness? What defines success?
Give me money, and I will spend it to the last penny.
Give me Jewelry and I will wear it until it’s weary.
Little brother, little brother,
where have the years gone?
Last I remember, you were just turning 7.
Still held a sparkle in your eye.
Not anymore.
Hope is not
Just a four letter word
That people throw up in the air
And pray it crashes right
Back down.
It begins with her.
When you look at her
head covered in hair like feathers,
When Momma died the boys were left alone,
Daddy, Me and little bro.
But Daddy was never around anymore,
So when he'd leave I'd close the blinds and lock the door,
And sit with my brother, watching him sleep.
All of my memories from before I got my glasses areblurryLike when you imagine a story told from someone else'spoint of viewOr trying to remember a dream you hadyears ago
I remember the dirt buried beneath my fingernails.
The anxious feeling of a young girl, choosing the perfect seed to plant.
I remember the sense of calm.
Family
What does that mean?
Does it mean love and care?
Does it mean bothersome and demanding?
From the taste I’ve gotten I’d say bothersome and demanding.
They drive me insane.
Black and white pictures tell a storyWell , lemme give you a little history on why i give my God the most high , glory ONE I've been through it all , made a couple mistakesNearly gave up because i was unsure of the later decisions i would makeSca
Children’s laughter rings out
like a symphony of bells.
Halloween candy saved
for when friends change plans.
Hugs never failed to
make everything okay again.
The years grow old and grey
Two little feet
So soft and sweet
Unhardened
Unscarred
Daddy holds them in his hand
And smiles the face of a brand new dad.
Two small feet
Clad in pink
I'm not lost, but I'm not found
My parent's forgotten child
They say they tried looking for me
Probably A turn of the head
to the left and right
but didn't move their feet
it can happen to anyone, by anyone
there is no excuse
the hurt, the aftermath, not fun
all because of abuse.
countless nights of crying
you feel like you want to die
but no more of that, start trying
May left us this year and so did you
Next year May will be back but sad to say, she won't be here with you
As the days pass and seasons too I can't help but
remember not just May but you
May left us this year and so did you
Next year May will be back but sad to say, she won't be here with you
As the days pass and seasons too I can't help but
remember not just May but you
Broken home
Broken heart
Torn from the inside out
Just ripped apart
………………………………..
You’re behind my scars
She was beautiful once. She was feisty once. She could ride a Harley, choke a stogie and found herself as a fine woman of the 50’s.
Is this it? I have to find my purpose. I can't sit. I think about what God wants me to do. Why things happen, and what I been through. I know there's more. While men and women are at war. I'm alone fighting myself.
Molding the clay.
Designing the report.
Inserting the injection.
Many things can not be studied.
Three years have passed since,
There is no salvation from the mistakes,
From the agony and pain I have caused my friends and kin.
From the wrong I have done in this grim,
This grimmest of days, months, years.
When I am twelve my cousins
ask why I never go to church
Because I don't believe in God
I qualify a Judeo-Christian one that is
they gape the lack of God
new in the way a thorn is
Growing up you loved me
You wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer
But when I chose art you looked at me with disgust and ashamed
You said that only lazy people follow art
To where do we go from here, my brothers
What once was, shall no longer be for us
That well traced road is as the others
Now broken and void of that former trust
We were once bound by invisible ties
I think that you should know
I am in that sort of mindset
That if you say something that offends me
I'm going to be real open with you
And not let it eat me inside
but shove it down your throat and
I slammed the door like a gunshot
It echoed through the house
And I hope it even woke up my dad except it was his birthday
I'll only be satisfied if Mom comes up the stairs and
I struggled against my restraints
I was forced here,
into a cage
I wasn't meant to be locked away
I have things to do,
Places to see,
People to meet
Not all heroes wear a cape
Or a badge
Or a medal.
Not all heroes drive fancy cars
Are doctors, firefighters,
Let this be your first night of happiness.
Let all your fear and troubles dissolve away into the darkness
Let this night, be a peaceful moment full of bliss and relaxation
How can a box so small
Hold an entire person?
How can it hold 3 months
Of memories, happiness and life?
Holding Amelia
On the bed with mom at the hospital
I am my mothers daughter
As she is beautiful, so am I
As she is loving, so am I
As she is caring, so am I
As she is courageous, so am I
As she is graceful, so am I
As she is smart, so am I
A girl holding a picture frame covered in beads.100 beads for 100 days.A time to celebrate.Children laughingRunning aroundLearning;Growing. Something has changed,The smile is gone.
I came into in to the world and I knew who you were
But I didn’t know you
I slipped out of the womb battered and bruised and the only reason I lived was because of you
And yet I’m ungrateful
Running around hiding
I can see right through the fog,
The mist that seems to be blinding everyone’s eyes.
Don’t fade into the shadows,
The shadows of these hallways,
Making people fake, hiding like you.
RIP 1921-2013 Though my body, broken and batteredHas long since faded away,My mind and soul and heartAre vivid and shall not decay. Though my bones may moan in protestOr my limbs cry out in pain,My spirit is as young as ever,For never shall I wane
Family
Made of
Mother, Father, and Children
Creating generation after generation
A place filled with love.
A sanctuary that keeps you safe.
We go through easy and hard times
Wade Waking up to the alarm sound of cries from mothers,Putting on tattered clothes worn from dead brothers,Open up my phone, and hoping to get a text from one of my many lovers.Better get ready to go, before dad gets up with his morning bottle,
They watch me,
like I'm going to disappear,
Afraid,
they plead with me,
they want me to stay.
Do they not
understand
I'm not leaving them?
Do they not
understand
I found out the prickling under Gap kids cotton,
Is what you must buy and bury in closet trunks.
The folded feminine other flesh made your marriage rotten.
And Moms sick of campy pantyhose that stink like frothing funk.
Nick was a young man with an eager heart
that he gave away willingly
to the kind natured Sarah
They planned out their lives
each second with each other
and with him came a boy
with wide eyes so blue
Angry, sad, confused, helpless scared
These are the emotions of a women
A women who has been hurt
A women that has been abused
A women who has been lied to
These are the challenges of a women
This is my story... From the beginning, I was being lead onYou had a thing for me; you were out to get meI mean as a child I wouldn't think to have to react to a feeling this strongI laugh today thinking that I never remember a day where you smile
She wants it within herself....peace
Because she can't get it from nobody else
looking in the mirror seeing someone big and fat
but she purges and binge so how come she see that
She paused beside the coffin as a tear ran down her face.She gently touched-then held a hand; it's lines she softly traced.The same hand her father had once held upon a bended knee,as he nervously had asked the girl, “Will you marry me?”The touchi
I’m a foreigner.
A white girl in a brown world.
I stick out.
I’m a target.
Oh how I wish that my safety were not an issue!
Because sometimes I feel like Rapunzel,
Locked up in a tower,
You are the one who gave to me my life
Along with that guy who calls you his wife.
I know that you want what is best for me
Even though it may cost you a great fee.
I could not love you more than I do now.
You could see the brokenness of her heart in her lovely green eyes.
Hear her cry of help through her soft sweet smile.
You could feel the emptiness,
the cold lingering sadness of her soul,
His muscular shoulders were hunched over, head bowed, and hands tightly clasped together.
Béyonce you wish you were me,
Strutting in my Luis V.
You think you're as bad as can be,
But hey I got my Céline with me.
Paris made, London born,
Baby got that foreign form.
Heartache and Heartbreak, but still I try
Through the Lies that I despise, but still I try
From tradegy to triumph, Ive been through Hell
People try to knock me down, and I still prevail.
I am from glossy pages still unread,
from Miracle and hydrofluorcarbon.
I am from the ochre and unkempt backyard.
I am from the Peace Lilly,
the forest of Pines,
whose branches reach high above.
All else seems bright and sharp
Clear in my sight
Lost in my thought
How could it be?
No matter how close I get,
The less I can see
My focus is off
No longer on point
Good for nothing
She was like my bestfriend,And she will be with me till the end.She taught me how to dance,And also bought me pants.I visited her everyday,She knew just what to say.Also she got me in trouble,
Although the clocks hand’s may twist and wind in an infinite tumble round
It only takes but a moment in time for one to utter a sound.
A breath though silent means all the more as its heavy waves roll up the shore
The clock of time ticks,
Tick, tock, tick.
The day I was born, the clock ticked.
The clock ticked for me,
Tick, tock, tick.
The day I was born, the clock stopped.
The clock stopped for you.
One side of an equation
One half of a perspective -
From the outside looking in,
I'd see the shine, the goodwill.
"They are just so cute,"
I hear,
"A perfect little pair."
It hits hard like a stick on a drum
it tears things apart, leaving you numb
waiting until you're vulnerable, it takes you by surprise
then striking fast it takes the ones, that were always by your side
Some days I imagine a field of glassendless and shimmering:whispers on the wind of the children who once playedof the women who once loved.Some days I imagine a sky of graynuclear ash
I am from the space between my mothers loving arms
From adventures that never ended in the backyard
I am from the bottom of arms length deep dress up box
Somewhere along the road to Zion, I fell from the narrow path
It's time that I return from iron, it's time that I head back
It was written in the form of lions, which created a clamp
You've gone away.
Never to return to me.
But why is it that everywhere I go,
Everywhere I look its your face I see?
Grandma, did you really have to leave?
Then I was only a Freshman,
When my Great Grandmother was near death in the hospital
I was curious to see what an old person's butt looks like,
so I kept standing on my tippie toes to catch a see
Slacking
Whining
Whacking
Pining
My big brother
Ignoring
Too loud
Roaring
Over Proud
My brother
But he turned out okay in the end.
She caught me when I fell.
She saved me from my own hell.
She carried me when I couldn't walk;
She gave me light when I saw only dark.
Behind her back I would see wings;
The altar stands merely a few yards away from me.I sit in the middle and look at my son Reeve.To my right are my father,mother and husband.To my left are my son, sister and niece.
Eternity is set in my eyes. Throwing chaos and knowledge at the world. I fly above you now with the ancient wind beneath my wings. I whisper into your immature dreams and say: "Robbed of my innocence. No more time to play.
The walls in my sister’s and my room
Were covered in the most horrible wallpaper imaginable.
We wanted to change the paper
And so our mom started helping us.
Piece by piece,
We tore down the paper,
As you walk the eternal line
You see that you are one to transcend
Your roots stop you from moving
To let your heart mend
The start of the line is the beginning
But the line has no end
Family.
What is implied
in that one word?
It would seem
the world
stakes a lot
in it.
That it is
the all-encompasing.
The all-solving.
The Holy Grail.
Is it truly possible
To feel old, torn, and worn out
At the age of 17?
Feeling as if life is an ocean
And you’re swimming, trying desperately.
Trying to keep your head above the water
Teacher, TeacherCan't you seeWhat this life is doing to me?
Can't sleep at nightDue to memories and fearAnxiety chewing away at meA family that doesn't care
Surrounded.By familiar faces that guide me.Yet still, I am lost.
Confused.But not numb. I feel frightened by the disarming smiles.Betrayed by the broken promises.
Hurt by the distance.
Live, laugh, love, have freedom
Walk, run, enjoy the sun
Be happy, be sad, be angry, go crazy
Cry, smile, hug each other
Sing together
Dream together
Feel each other’s pain together
When you look back at history you notice certain patterns
How people fought for rights or did things that mattered
MLK said he had a dream
Some stated what they believed
I am open in my mind,
open in my soul,
I am open out loud but you don’t really know me.
In my heart it means much more to me.
I’m glad that you were there.
I am glad that you said you cared,
People will treat you maliciously and wonder why you hate them. They will drag you down and wonder why you won't face them. When it comes to your dreams they try to stop them. But when it comes to your failures.........
We used to play and have good times.
I remember Disney.
Smiles, jokes, giggles
We lay on the autumn leaves.
Feeling the seasons snap like fingers
The humid days at the park
Pushing swings
My life is a lie.
Every day is a challenge
As I put on a show for those closest to me.
I was taught that these feelings inside me are wrong.
I saw a man enter Heaven once;
His last breath was Hallelujah
The priest showered blessings
Upon him,
In the hopes that His Lord,
Would receive him
Peacefully.
He did.
I once saw
These are my people.My strange, loud, crazy people,Whose antics I discuss good naturedly,With my mother and my brother,In our kitchen after the final visitor has gone home,
Crossig to the other side,
knowing now you will preside;
over me and all my friends.
My love for you will never end,
Until the day I close my eyes,
and soon then i'll be by your side.
She grows in a special pot.Made of wires and fear.Commonly broken and torn through.But always put back in her place.She's cared for and dusted,Her eyes behind the glass box,Sees a world she can never touch,And a world that will never touch her.Sh
Blood drippingLegs closedArms coveredFeelings exposed
Hearts racingWounds unhealedMorbid thoughtsLips are sealed
Alone AloneYou left againA knife in my backIgnorant men
I love as you love back.
You push, I respect that.
Without the force that you put in your push,
Like an irritating bug i would be gushed...
In other words nothing,
Water drifts forever more like an endless fountain without a homeAs it falls like rain to relieve the pain in our soulsWater crashing down into the rocks breaking and bending around themSlowing shaping us for the futurePassing the time down the li
Wash your handsSit down and rest your feetThe more that I fightThe more that I hideWhy is my tongue nailed to the floor!?Pulling from myself to take a course of actionWhen the shark bites or the bee stingsWhen life seems like an endless wellTake
Training these eyes with darknessBreeding these ears in silenceLearning to speak without wordsTrickling down crimson against porcelainRavishing blue against a black backgroundBeautiful twirled silk dipped in sunlightBlending this Icelandic scene a
What is your Ethnic makeup?
Is it the redness of your lips that speak the words of roots and origin?
Or is it the way your eyelashes curl, accenting your eyes to understand the accents of your homeland?
We tread along the path,
Searching,
Always searching.
I look left,
You look right,
We are one,
Searching,
Always searching.
We climb the highest mountains,
I will never look at lovethe way you played Joni Mitchell as teenage girls and boys. I might admit I will never really know lifeat all the same way
Time is a luxury I’ve never had
At six I was left with only a Dad
The clock is always ticking
Mom and dad were always bickering
The hands keep moving round and round
I am the sparkle on the new fallen snow,
I am the glittering snowflakes falling gracefully to the ground,
I am the icy cave sheltering the hibernating black bear,
I am the glistening pine trees covered with snow,
Driving into town to see him lie,
To see him in peace and to say goodbye,
Sunnyside is not so sunny.
Standing in a lush green field,
Dressed in black with tears that refuse to yield,
My dispair flows from
Wherever I am
To where you are,
In the sweet sunshine of Californ-i-a,
Where only God can see you
And your newfound glory
Breaking our hearts,
This THING,
Take the time to listen,
Take the time to know,
Take the time to hold on,
To that which is truly good.
I think I found my talent.
Yet, not sure if I really found it,
Oh well,
Time to take some chances.
I will dance like no one's watching,
Sing as if I don't care,
I’d do anything for you in this world, always there when you need a lift.
No matter how fast it twirls, God gave me two little girls;
And I consider you a gift, even when life takes a shift.
Those harsh words you have spoken
Cannot be taken back with regret later
despite your regret, our relationship is broken
I guess the best gotten from you was your anger
I don't even remember,
the times I used to cry
All that I can remember,
was redness in my eyes
I keep on laughling,
like the light is all I see,
when deep down inside,
I'm tired of being me
The day is near.
It seems like a year.
I remember her image as a black and white pixel.
The event was scheduled on October sixteen.
My prediction of her face is about to be forseen.
Her idea of love has morphed. Contorted and transformed into something that cannot be explained. Could it be because of the man who called her a 'worthless slut' and dished out unneccesary punsihment? Or was it you?
Growing up, looking up to you.
Turned into me looking down on you.
You were irresponsible and somewhat greedy.
Needing money here and there.
You were criticized and yelled at.
Look to your right,Then look to your left.
What do you see?Who do you see?
Is it what you had hoped?I bet it's not.
The sky passing you up,As you approach the ground.
Father, forgive me for I have sinned;
But worse than the others, I’ve sinned against him.
Father, forgive me for I have sinned;
But given the choice we both know I’d do it again.
That crazy curly hair
and that skin so fair
makes mom say cutey
and sisters describe beauty.
But I'm against that
I think he's fat.
He's cool so he thinks
Mother me?
Can’t I be something other than thee?
Can’t my branches grow?
Ever which way to and fro?
And be as beautiful as long Hair?
I stacked them up as tall as the sky
Which may sound like very high
Though really it was just a lie,
Probably because I was small in size.
My mother brought them home each month,
Books yellowed with age
Passed on from generation to generation.
Pages are worn,
Pages are torn,
Pages that are full of history.
The distinct aroma of ageing paper,
Fills my nose.
Bickering and fighting
Caring and sharing
Kicking and screaming
Hugging and loving
Yelling and crying
Being and believing
Living.
From the beginning
And forever
Sisterhood
Salmon colored fuzz
over the piddling sandy hills,
take care of my sister,
who is now a part of you.
Grant her the jubilance
which you brought us
this weekend.
Dark brown eyes almost black glistening
in the sea of bright blue
Tightly coiled hair
Nappy from root to end
Surrounded by bone straight blonde
My siblings are biology
I am manmade
Are you in my family?
I know it's a silly question but answer please.
My family helps me and I help them.
I know I would help you, but would you help me?
My family cares about me and I care about them.
driving down the windy road
back to the place I used to know
little house on the river bend
the four of us used to play pretend
I'm a wanderer by nature, see
My children agree with me
In the city one day I'll be
But the next I'm by the sea
My children agree with me
That moving is what I need
I'm all alone
she is died and gone
I drop into the deep dark hole
I sit here depressed and with just my soul
grand mother is now in heaven
i have not felt this sad since i was seven
You are so new to the world, so free and innocent.
You don't care about the time, or the place, or the means.
All that matters to you,
is the feeling of the sun on your velvet soft skin,
A leaf upon the pond, drifting along,
No wiser to the water below than the sky above,
The wind blows it goes,
No control of here or there,
As the day unravels the weather above eats away,
I hear rain drops
Drip, drip, drip
I see people walking in and out of my life
Goodbye one says, hello says another
I miss you my loving father
As I lay at rest for the night; everything will be fine
Life is a perpetual cold.
It is said to cure it
"Do what you're told.
Don't stray from the norm,
or life will suck."
But I am not a sitting duck.
The status quo is getting old,
“Going through a lot”
is the term people around me use.
Weird choice of words
From the eyes
of those I’ve allowed to see
These eyes I’ve provided darkness,
An “abyss” providing clear vision,
Having a family is my life,
keeping me from being alone.
Having a family is a privilege,
I’ll always know someone is there.
From the moment I first heard her heartbeat;
that I felt her move.
From the moment I first saw her;
my Darling’s eyes so blue.
How anxious I was to hold her;
embracing my joyous fate.
There were
a million thousand hundred shadow birds that
perched across a single tree on the far side of a
silent muddled winter-freeze lake.
Black feathered wings scraped across
Hey dads,
yeah
not dad, but dads.
Although I should call one "the guy who didn't want me"
and the other "the step-father who left the family",
both of you are still my father.
Honestly, where im from success doesnt come around commonly
You're successful if you survive a lifetime in my shoes
Successful if you're not related to violence and are broadcasted on the news
the bitterness is burning
watch it tear through their souls like an ever present madness
slip into their consciousness like a
When I was running away from my family,
I was being forced to not leave my home.
My parents were talking to me in a very bad tone.
My father was furious,
My mom was trying calm him down
Slumber, sleeping softly
Dreams of lazy summer days soon to come
A door bursts open and a robed woman shouts at me
IT’S YOUR BROTHER, GET UP
Panic
It’s 5 a.m.
She left us behind with my uncles.During that time i wish i had some muscles.They bet us and torture us with no one to help us.Knowing these things I toughen up to protect us.
Daddy left the other day,
Left me a rocking horse,
Left mama sad and crying,
Left me with no remorse,
Mama's stuck in bed now,
I'm doing all the chores,
Though left without a penny,
She won’t listen when I say She’s like me in any way.She thinks she’s independent,but I know she’s not. She thinksShe’s better than me. That mightbe true, but I’ll never admit that.
I see it . I see it !
I see the blackhole of hate racing to my presence , then into my veins.
I hate it , but it consumes me every minute I am around it.
The memories are vivid,
illuminating the rosy flush of your cheeks;
the ebony lashes resting upon your eyes;
the little pink lips that would morph into shapes
as you spoke in your pixie-like voice
Just as the music pours out of an instrument
The messages through all beautiful languages spill
The beauty of the roll of the tongue
onto paper or as an accent in the wrong language
connects us all
There’s always talk of moving
Always the possibility of leaving
Packing a bag and never looking back
There’s always that glimmer of hope that sparks inside of me,
But a skeptical shadow over powers everything,
How I've longed for your embrace
To catch a glimpse of humanness upon your face.
To hug you, be vulnerable
To be a little girl.
But you don't hold me...
Oh joy! It's the time of the year again
A time to give, a time to love, a time
To be with your loved ones and share those times
As a look in the mirror, I stare back at my reflection
I see the picture of a troubled man;
Searching to find and gaze at a portrait of redemption.
His vision is fogged; amid dim depression and loss of understand.
You told me you love me,
Yet where are you now.
My birthday approaches,
Yet not one word from you.
My story
It starts in a budding household
Not really broken
But still in need of repair
My parents
They were young
My story
It starts in a budding household
Not really broken
But still in need of repair
My parents
They were young
My story
It starts in a budding household
Not really broken
But still in need of repair
My parents
They were young
My story
It starts in a budding household
Not really broken
But still in need of repair
My parents
They were young
I am born surrounded by people
I grew up surrounded by people
Regardless of being surrounded by people
My choices are mine alone...
Through the good and bad times
Core
First, you are from them,from unaccepted union of halves that keepbutting into each other, every day. Youare from perfect gray and fuzzy
They speak of
sunday obligations,
academics
moral television
This in place of
spirituality
knowlege
art
Cocktail party filler
you could write
I love you dearly my brother
Equal in the eyes of God, and of our mother.
And yet I scorn and hate
the little things that make you weak,
and in a hundred ways
To write, is to express one’s self through words rather than actions.To write, is to speak out loud without really speaking.To write, is to release… everything.
my earliest memory of you was back in India, when I visited your house for the first time since we left the country
You were the first thing I saw,
When I came into this world.
And you have been right beside me ever since.
Making sure I am always safe and out of danger.
Hoping I am happy and enjoying life.
Here comes to us, at powerful speedA warrior on his valiant steedWho will never in a thousand years recedeAbout to perform a noble deedWith his majestic battle corpsWith confidence eager and secure
Up on the polar ice,
A family looms.
Their beautiful snowy coats
Glistening
In the small sunlight left.
Soon the icy winter
Will pull through.
The cubs snuggle
I am not important,
neither is my name,
just know that I love you
and I'll take away the pain.
Someone's always there
to help you dry your tears,
you'll never be alone.
What’s the point of exhaling,
When no one wants you to inhale
We are all a bunch of hypocrites, you know?
We say we love, but
We stab each other in the back
We say we heal, but
I Write For
The Ones Younger Than I
A Sight To See Further Than The Sky
Happy Faces
Dream Places
Success In Me Shows Greatness In Them
Singing For Her
Sports For Him
I thought my heart was breaking, I thought the day was done
I thought that time was taking too long for me
Now I see
Love is infinite
And you just need me to be here
Dry your tears, I'm here
I am from outside,
From playgrounds, trees and bikes
From kids playing in laughter
And smiles on faces so bright
I am from couches,
From computers, chairs and stairs
I miss their cold houseI miss sittinn with them on their couch.I remember that one time we had to kill a mouse
I miss their smiling faceseven though there were alcohol tracesthe talk of their adoption cases
Days pass by
and yet I can't stop
continuous contemplation.
Financial Crisis
College problems
combined these cause
pain and distress
continuous contemplation.
I choose this road
If i could erase from this world
everything that reminded me of you,
God would have to take everything back
and start from scratch.
For the mark you left on my life
is so immense, so intricate...
Sift materialistic desires (just like Mom said)Crack open sense of satisfaction (probably out of boredom)Mix with free flowing ambitions (but try not to make a mess)
Polar Opposites
By Amanda G
Blood connects me to you, and you to me.
You are my dear brother, my lifelong friend.
Two halves from a whole, the same age are we,
My breath loses thought, but my brain is reeling through images and I swear it won't ever stop.
A dose of fear catches hold of me at least once a day.
1994
By: Cynthia Kangeyo
Nineteen ninety four
1-9-9-4
Mil Novecientos noventa y cuatro
It doesn’t matter which language I say it
Understanding that not everything is what it seems was the first step.
No one really knows what is going on inside the other person’s head; I’ve always known that
In autumn we looked for deer skullswith our palms outstretched,thinking that if we were deerwe’d long for children to collectfragments of our bodies in armfuls -wrap them up like sea glass,
My problem is that a love a lotI love an abundant amount of peopleFrom family to friendsTo strangers I met just onceSo I suppose I say I love you too muchBut I believe love comes in many forms and levels
We ride to the place beyond the pines
Through steep hills and broken paths
Unforgiving slopes and twisted turns
On roads well traveled
To a place untouched and unknown
We travel there
I was a boy who was so confused.
I felt like a hopeless toy.
The joy starts to flow like the skies of my light.
It's hard to reminisce the battle wounds.
It guided me through my shame.
Grandpa,
Is that you?
No, the wind is just angry.
Grandpa, yesterday I thought about you.
I remember the walk we took one night.
I'm sitting here in this empty houseListening to the hard rain pound on the roofWondering why you're not here.It's going to be way worse without you,I want this to change,
Her home was built around a tree.
That’s the last place where she saw me.
After her husband passed away
There wasn’t much that I could say.
My heart has a story I need to say,
I wish to go back to the glory days,
I don't want to be here though I dismay,
I wish to go back to the glory days.
We all witnessed the sweat rolliing down Miss Liberty's head/ when she found out the sleeping giant is no longer sleeping dead/ The Giant/slept with nightmares for over 200 years/ but the giant cannot be awaken by only one peer/ when we marched a
The tears were streaming
down my face,
happy thoughts
I could not retrace.
I stare up at
my computer screen,
social media
can be so mean.
I type my goodbyes
Family
Family? Not sure what that is these days
They used to be the people you looked up to, the ones you always praised
It’s true, I am old, and I am going out of style
That’s why I don’t listen to the music for my FM dial.
But I beg of you to stay, sit, and listen for a while,
And look at this wonderful world through the eyes of a child.
I wrote this one at the age of 12.
This one goes out to my daddy, cause hes my best friend.
I know we always be tight until the very end.
Sometimes I loose everything and he is all I've got.
One Day I will be gone
And one day my grandchildren will be wandering around
Being nosey like children usually are
And they will stumble across their Meemaw’s journal
And being curious like children usually are
A thud
A bang
A walk to a room
A mother in pain
A father drunk with machismo
A son with fear and hate in his heart
A threat against a life
A broken family
A time to take charge
There are times when I always felt like giving up,
But I always thought about my family and I stand up and try again,
I sometimes would get hurt from others that I deeply care about,
They are the symbol of love,
It's almost as if nothing can be above.
As curious as he can be,
The love is all you can see.
Even though we have our ups and downs,
He always gives me a reason not to frown.
Chill cinnamon rolls and cherry pie
go down until I feel ill
At a plastic table my siblings
are resolute
Crusts of fresh white bread
crack of the cue ball in another room
I know this picture without even
having it sitting in front of me:
My oldest brother, Kevin, is lying
When the sun goes down and the evening appears, we begin to
enjoy the night. At times the stars will come out and the moon will
shine. And we appreciate the Silent Night.
Painful memories my heart storesLooking for a way through these doorsFinding my way back into the lightUsing up all of my mightBut when the darkness is backAll I see is black
Everyone says two is better than one
A couple of treasures is greater than none
They say, "You're so lucky, you can do both"
encouraging, empowering, influencing my growth
Indiana candy cake
is a recipe for diabetes
one preferred by far too many participants
of the Smith Family Shindig
My mother and I shuck
Uncle Herman’s green beans-
~thoughts of pain,self inflicted
~so weak and tired
~barely having the will to lift my head
~i almost give in,
~i almost cave
~i wanted to curl up and die
~but i dont
~i cry myself to sleep
2 houses, opposite sides of the world
4 parents constantly fighting
6 brothers dirty and wrestling
5 sisters always borrowing
The eldest child is the guinea
The youngest is just spoiled
Single mother ! Alone in this world wondering when your kid will eat! Single mother ! we do our best to keep our kid safe , we surprise them on birthdays and holidays ! Single mother !
It is day and it is night, somewhere.
It does not matter where I am, it only matters where you are.
It is cold and it is hot, somewhere.
It doesn't matter what the weather is like, I just wonder how you are.
The abandonment that I have experienced,
no other should feel.
Enjoy your family, if not for you.
Do it for the peole like me.
People who have no mother to say "I love you".
My family is a bulletin board hanging on the street corner, full of advertisements and posters.
I see him running and playing. Just having a good time.I see him laughing and smiling at every line.He cared and loved us all.Was it his time to fall?
Always ready to celebrate.Never to underestimate.
She looks like me
She talks like me
She walks like me
Are the same?
NO
Everbody is different, everybody has their own song
UNQUIE
The person that looks like a mirror to me is my twin,
Justice for Trayvon
Their will be.
No more unfair inequality
Jury, judge all knew this was wrong.
What more evidence do you need
for the case of young Trey?
I don’t really know him
He really don’t know me,
Took time to get to know each other
slowly but gradually.
(Fantasy, can you picture us with a family)?
Sometimes you don’t realize
What you have.
Not really knowing that your life is precious and a gift.
Not really knowing that your life is better than others
Living the good, good.
One night I feel the falling rain
Drowning out the moonlit night.
Gloomy thoughts of fierce betrayal
Linger on my mind.
(Shadow Dance)
Hallucinations of my pride
Give me the strength to fall.
The frail chrystal of my parents' love for each other had cracks in it long before it finally broke that day Mom stormed out of the apartment leaving behind glittering jagged shards of something that was once maybe beautiful.
In a nook in the foyer, almost unseen, is a gleaming table.
Except for the light blanket of dust, the wood is bare.
Atop it, a polished frame hides in the shadows.
When you see a pretty face
When you see a shining smile
Does everyone see that same thing?
When some one is crying blood
You are so very special to me
Even though your appearence was so bare
The life you let me live is so free
You are the reason I am so very fair
I try and cope with strong emotions
As easily as I possibly can
People tell me everything is going to be ok,
That things are going to get better,
But, how do they know?
How do they know what’s going on,
When it’s not happening to them,
Ever since I was young, my mom always said what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. But what if it does?
In a universe
That exists today
Inevitably will obliterate
For this too shall pass away
A kingdom stretching across the sphere
Authority’s on different feet
Keep pushing me away
That's what you do best
Hurt the ones you love
And forget about the rest
There's a story about two siblings
An older brother and younger sister
Born nine years apart, so much differing
The truth can be oh so bitter.
As he lied, she continued to beat
Those watching could only sigh,
The ordeal consumed him, he could no longer eat
His body, his will, appeared to be weak,
half-way through the drumroll night
glass crackling, down
a spinal cord wrapped around his hands
his words
shoved down her throat, puncturing her veins
still she remains -
Family shouldn't be counted by red, thick drops
It should be observed by caring thoughts
My family is made from love and support
The red drops left us when I,we needed them most
My prison closes in on my body as my mind wanders the shadowed path into dark thoughts,
Here, there are no dreams, only nightmares.
Yet the limits of my mind still exist on the boundaries of this dark cloud,
Sometimes,
I remember everything that happened back then.
I wish I didn't.
I wish I never had to see that.
You don't know this, but my first memory was of when I was three.
Wake up feeling tired
What a slumpy day
Want to get the myself going
But stays in bed all day
Hate to see that happen
But it happens anyways
I hate you. I want you out of my life. I lied.
I love you. I wanted to make things work. I tried.
Your actions as well as your words cut me deep.
What makes her both an angel and vixen? What makes me want to be her? What has me chasing after her? What makes me question my affection?
Look at me!
Look at me right now.
Tell me!
Tell me what you see.
Don't you see!
Don't you see you are hurting me.
No you don't!
No you don't see the pain you are causing me.
"That man died long ago"
I heard his voice resonate through my bones
He swore he loved her
Blue eyes he once adored
But she had green so he could afford
To stand to look at her
So many faults.
So many dropped balls,
And missed calls,
And “Holy shit! Thank God you had your seatbelt on.”
Not to mention those late bills that caused
The lights and the A/C to go out
TEARS, rolled down our faces as we said bye to our mother
ANGER, seethed from us as someone tried to replace her
LIES, were poured into us that it could be fixed
YEARS passed and we moved on and were reunited
I am from apple juice, from cheez-its and strawberry blowpops. I am from the messy homework table in the dining room.
Looking back at photos of when I was a little girl,
I am filled with relief that I was unaware of the pain that fills this world.
But I have my people, and I am blessed,
He wakes at five to brew the first pot of coffee,
Fully aware that he will throw half of it out.
Pungent sludge that oozes from the mug like molasses,
Today-as every day.
the beauty of today-
white doves and boats
long walks with folks
family finally reunited
15 years too long
silent and deadly
time speeds on
shades of gray
shadowing our sky
Have I lived so long, as I have lived today?
For it seems to me,
That as the hour swings near,
Journey's End, comes to a close.
It was on this day that I reflected,
Once on my youth,
I yell at you day after day, begging you to take this pain away. I ask you why you have allowed such things to happen to me but all I get in reply is an empty silence and my own sigh. I have been good I say, so why do this to me?
Why did you have to leave?
Why did you have to be there?
Why did he have to take you?
Having to see everyone and everything around me so gloomy was horrifying.
On this night you were set freeHeavens newest angle you would beI'm left only with your memoryWords cannot express what you mean to meFrom the balcony of heaven I know you'll seeWhat kind of man I will be
I can't be there with you, but we can dream.
My eyes filled with tears of hopelessness. My thoughts filled with the pain of judgment. My ears filled with the sound of destruction. My words constantly formed in the way of defense.
The calendar keeps sneaking up on me.
I'm leaving home soon.
I think about how everyone will keep living their lives
and all will go on without me
and it keeps me from worrying about my mother.
We sound alike
we really do.
Your voice flows through mine --
salty and strong.
Well, you spit fire, my dear.
I remember the storm outside. Its raging winds beat up against the house. The family was due back hours ago. So I will wait a little longer.
For fear of showing who I really am.
I speak but I’m just a sham.
Colored green with the thought,
that being me is all that I have.
So, I smile and spill words of falsity.
Appearing happy and fun, but
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Peek a boo! I laughed so hard I could barely breathe
Peek a boo, I don’t know why it’s so funny but I can’t help but laugh
Paper wisps
right of my forehead, the sun
the left, love – the unconditional kind
I feel that gold
Still hot when we’re done
And embraces are given.
This invisible leap our youth takes
Against all odds I will succeed, I will be what doubting mouths said I can’t be.
Success is the achievement of something intended or desired, my desire is to reach higher to be brighter.
what happened to our worldwhat happened to ours boys and ours girlswhat made them look down at the people in their phonesinstead of the ones the ones in their homes
I appreciate to be writing freely
Because now I can describe my life
I come from a small town without much money
And my family would be better of without this strife
When I was middle-aged boy
The summer morning waking up
the sun through the blinds so bright it could blind
it was all calm till the Call.
You hear her yell and then the door shut
it all began a few years ago,
My eyes were opened, now i cant let it go.
It's my mom
she is the REAL bread winner in the fam
its a shame what she has for as a man
she works and works and nothing pays off
People said it would get easier . But its been 7 years now , since it happend .And honestly it seems to get harder each time . How could i been so slefish and stupid .
Whats a person to do when their down in the dumps?
When is it time to stop all the cryin' and suck it all up?
When do you tell someone they need to just laugh?
What should you do if theirs no response to "Whadup?"?
It’s been a while since
I saw you last
I don’t know what you’d say
To me.
I hope you’d be proud
Of me –
But there’s no way to know.
Five years since
I saw you last
I’m only sixteen but I’ve lived through so much, but haven’t we all.
Who gives a six year old the decision to stay or go?
Moms in jail but whose gonna post bail.
In a pile of ashesWas a place I called home;It burned down yesterday.
And as the wind blows,And the rain pours,The memories are swept away.
Family is always supposed to be there for you . Whether your mood is happy, sad, or mad. Family should never forsake you. Should never leave you feeling lonely. When time gets rough, we have to stick together. No one should be left behind.
Do you mind if I fall in love with you? Because We can make something so special. Hope I'm not fooling myself. Beautiful thing so sweet, hope you're good for my health. Soon as I kiss you, I know you'll be right for me.
You may be overseas but you're still in our hearts
We're not together now but you consume every thought
There's not a day we don't wish you were here
and every night is ended in prayer
for you
Trying and trying to make yourself better
looking for money in ways that are clever
constantly hearing your parents speech
thinking to ourselves "practice what you preach"
its hard out here
not having a job
I think I want to stay forever
And be leaving all the time.
I want to keep changing in this familiar place
Until I run to the edge and falter.
I want to leave at midnight
Dear Old Friend,/ I Remember your crazy face / Especially when you made jokes about my hair / Walking in the shadow of the moon we laugh / Waking everybody up / Remember those days of Happiness / When we watch those ladies walk / Late to school we
To have a big brother like you
means the world to me.
I don’t know what I would do
If you ever left me
or decided to see through.
I am drawn towards two different things,
a battle
of knowledge and heart,
in which I am losing.
The struggle of maintaining both only hurts.
But do I care if I am judged cruely?
When She cries me a river,
I don’t see the Channel Islands.
Nor do I stand on the pier,
And see the violence
Of the blue sea waves.
I see Her life as it is.
(poems go here)Ser Inmigrante Mexicano no es cosa del otro mundo
Significa trabajar tres veces más fuerte,
dormir con preocupaciones,
vivir con sueños,
bullets streamingclashing minds,killing his and bruising mine,tearing us apart andbreaking timeheart stopped,glitching minda vessel of thoughts ran dry,no love, no trust
The days go by,
The days do come,
Life is nothing without a little fun.
Hold me now,
Hold me close,
Moments like this, i'll cherish the most.
My darling,
My dear,
Sweet young one;
Her hand looked like elephant’s skin—
rough, wrinkled.
Eyes, elephant wise.
I didn’t view her from one side of a glass
as she sat in her natural habitat,
Mommy wheres daddy?
Mommy why are you crying?
Mommy whats goin on?
These are the questions i would ask everyday,
That so called man I called daddy everyday,
On a cold January morning
I ran through your front door
Expecting your joyful presence.
But instead,
I heard a murmur of an unfamiliar
Somber tone filling the house.
The chairs are filled
Row by row
In perfect allignment
To watch the ones down the aisle
Look up to the sky
The clouds rippled thick
The crows cry
The wind is nothing more but the wind
A ticket and a dream was all that she could see,
An orphan, and hope for all that could be.
Not even a hop, skip, and a jump away.
To arrive on a plan was more than they could ask for,
I’m from white church dresses and blue paint, From bleach that helped wash out the stains, From hair bows my mom would put in my hair because “it’s cute”, I’m from pink and purple flowers that grew in my grandma’s garden, From the blue kitty pool
I’m from white church dresses and blue paint From bleach that helped wash out the stains
Wall Street
Stock market
For some people
it's their
Easy Street.
Whenever I think of that phrase,
I think of Annie
and the song
sung by Hannigan
and her brother
I watched my motherfrom under water. Therewas a perfume risingoff the morning sea.She sang slow andbreathed it all in.
She watched my heartslowly softening.
From the outside they see a hardworking businessman, a wife that seems like she was plucked from the 1950's and a teenager full of bliss and happiness, but no one knows what happens when the doors close.
The words unspoken between me and you, They have the same depth as a city pool. I wait and wait as time flies bye, Thinking about a life full of memories that you left behind.
Whilst walking down the sidewalk,
she saw a large Styrofoam fountain drink.
Damn it, she thought, why do people litter?
She went home slightly irritated.
Whilst walking down the sidewalk three days later,
He doesn't know who I am
I'm not supposed to feel alone.
He things he is king sitting on his golden throne.
To me, he's the jester,
He's letting his family fall apart and fester.
I write because I was born in a place like hell
Where, I dare tell
Abuse is what my mother chose
After the finishing the bottle the anger arose.
There were usually some scars and bruises
Pap Who
Pap who needs Pepsi like a meth addict
And sits on his couch all day
Who is fried bologna and potato chips
Who is a quiet mouse but yet a wise owl.
I was young, and I was Different
Even though I was odd, I was also still innocent
The agony, the deceit right in front of my eyes
Yet I was too blind, maybe even paralyzed
No matter how far I would chase you
I would never catch your soul
Stuck so deep
I would have cried, realizing no hope
It's like catching fireflies
Especially on lightless nights
A Rose Amongst Antlers
Born to a loving family in late May,
The baby blossomed in laughter and play
You’d notice he was edgy in spirit, but kind in heart
(poems go here) Family is family
You cant pick or choose them
Some may be loud obnoxious && rude
Some maybe sweet && kind or fine tuned
There not going anywhere
So get used to the crew
Stressed out, exhausted, and irritated,
scurrying back to my old, trusty Subaru Forester,
I abandon the library and heaps of unfinished work I deserted with it.
Only a handful of vehicles left in the parking lot.
A wise old man made a simple decree:he told me that the best things in life are free.If I'm to be humble and grateful, at ease,I know to acquire that college degree.The stress and the pressure,
Happiness is a tired heart
And calloused hands. It's pain
Relievers and aching metaphors.
Metaphors that breathe and sing
Like Northern Cardinals 'what cheer!
'What cheer!' The rhetoric
I just want to know you care,
That you are proud,
That I can do something right,
Anything right.
I see my soul soaring,
Flying like an eagle,
They try to tie me down,
Where I cannot be free.
Never thought the day would come
Especially in a month or two in my freshman year.
I dreamed of it once or twice before.
A nightmare, just a nightmare is enough to shed a tear,
(poems go here)
Wish Heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again.
I thought of you today,
but that is absolutely nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday,
and day before that too.
That moment when you feel your life is in shambles.
No longer the elasticity left in you
to be the glue.
All that's left is to grab a hammer and join the crew.
Hack a way at the remains.
As my graduation draws near,
A dark cloud rains guilt on my soul.
She will never see her day.
She will never walk to the beat with her classmates,
As they signify the end of their road together.
I close my eyes and breathe
as I try to remember
my likes, my loves,
my dislikes, my hates,
my hobbies, my work,
my friends, my enemies.
I have to remember
my character, my lines,
A letter is all it takes,
to make or break your day.
To make or break you.
A letter written with
love, hope, anger, tears.
To whom it may concern
to my love, to you from me.
and then there they were standing a few steps apart. a moment of silence and little conversation in a span of 24 hours a lot was said through body language, gestures, and spoken words.
Big bright blue eyes
A smile that so pure and sweet
My heart melts when I think,
I think of the day we will meet
To hear your delightful giggle
And to see your eyes light up
Shaken up because of it, ever since I was a young kid
How could he, whom I once considered family, my own blood,
How could he, do that to me?
Although I was still just a kid,
I grew up at the age of five
Sestina: A Sister's Farewell
Even on the weekends I find myself at home—
Not with friends because being with my sister works.
Our stories and adventures, at times, incite tears.
Sestina: A Sister's Farewell
Even on the weekends I find myself at home—
Not with friends because being with my sister works.
Our stories and adventures, at times, incite tears.
These nights i sit here
This spot of mine so humble and full of nature
I can see life go by wondering why
I made this mistake to go and leave you both behind
I sit here with tears running down my face
Why is it that the one person you try so hard to care about
Can't seem to get the message through their head?
Are they blinded by emotion?
Does you even matter to them?
Grass grows year round.
It starts green and it turns brown, as the seasons change.
Dirt becomes mud because of the rain.
Tears stained the faces of the mourning
as God cast a silent rain that dreadful day.
Shoulders fell heavily under the weight of Death’s hand
From day one, when they said “I do”
You couldn’t tell our family was new.
Two worlds were sewn seamlessly together,
And I couldn’t ask for better.
My mother tells me she used to believe in
abortion. Said her body wasn't ready to
cradle stretch marks that would tuck into her.
She is addicted to alignment. Thinks the arcs
The struggle to grasp life when the timid grey never seams to be too far away. You look at your life and see an abyss. Helplessly waiting for your demise. The materials you gained mean nothing while on your death bed.
Death, is a jealous fellow
he has no age, grace, nor liking
it considers not woe, nor sorrow
he displays a complete arbitrary arrival
he does not consider survival
and lingers with denial
As the sphere of hours, glasses of sand,
I have plenty of time forever
More I sleep with my dreams of what
Henceforth has idled and ceased.
Stand couldn't the copious ladies
Daddy bear, eat your steel-
Cut oats. I know the crunch will stress
Your cracked jaw, but ain’t they so gold
In color? Before you go to the mine,
You’ll need your guns, so eat some, please. I’ll get Temple
As a young child I held in a lot of anger,
Negativity, rage, unlocked power.
Such an opinionated mind never exposed,
Due to my shy need to keep my mouth closed.
“The words never come out right!”
With a flash the memories are gone
A Dozen of cars crashed them all
Holding your hand and biting your lips
Is that the terror that comes within?
On your wrist it shows
Will you read this?Will you understand?Can you hear me?Will you be around?
I am lonelySo very afraidI am worriedThat I will never make it
Father and Me
From the Forest of Bamboo, the paths
Lead to a small hut built for tea.
We are offered an unknown delight
No one's life is perfect
I really can't complain
And if I say "I want your life"
You might say the same
My mom plays the role of both parents--
She takes care of my brother and I
Did you ever realize your lies are the reason I cry?
I try to hide the pain but, how much more can I take?
Do you realize it's not just my heart at stake?
I guess you never knew your actions hurt
Everyone seems to have it,
That one place that feels like home.
Well I am no exception,
And this is my home away from home.
I have been going here for over six years,
But it feels like a lifetime.
Gazing into her eyes I wonder about the journeys she has embarked upon throughout the past 87 years of her life.
Quiet, yet outspoken in the way she carries herself, she has proven to be a committed wife.
Kids in love pluck flowers
Kids in doubt pluck their petals
He loves me, he loves me not
A 50% chance of finding love
But all you have to do is find a flower
With an odd amount of petals
I am from cowboy hats, lumber and tools;
from Dawn soap and coconut shampoo.
I am from the sounds of country music blaring and Dad's chainsaw roaring.
I am from the smell of fresh cut grass;
I say now, to the man who used to make my heart bleed,
I love you even more.
And when, those flooding tears stream,
I love you like before.
Because I’ve decided to break those wretched chains,
As I look out over this highway I think of all of the moments when you told me
How beautiful I was
How I was a prize
How you would protect me from any others harm
When we would cross the street
the family sat around a table
filling every chair
every chair but one
there was one empty chair
he sat by the phone
wanting to talk
but the phone didn't ring
it wouldn't ring
You did so much for me; I don't know where to start
I'm glad you are my mom, I love you a lot
You mean so much to me
I don't know what to say
But I know I'll tell you this everyday
Remember our finger painting years
You and me, You and I
Friends...
Sharing snacks and having slumbers
PJ's and blankets
Talking and sharing stories
Remember that?
Life has become to stray
Wanting to go away forever and a day
On time for the first bus ride
Just because you are trying to hide
You left because your parents hate
Honestly they didn’t want you to become bait
Life experiences shaped me but ain't mold me
Till this day, I still remember what people told me
Told me I'd never be anything
I'd never rise
But now as I look, I see there's a part of me missing
The room is covered with dust now, dust composed of all of the hair what degraded away dust composed of all the pills you took to make you feel okay dust...dust made of your will that was revoked, and forcefully taken away from you.
I know that
sometimes when you fall down
you have to stay down for a bit
Because that fall knocked out
Every breath of hope you carried
And you don’t want this world to see you cry
You've always been there through good and bad
When I'm happy, sad, or even mad
Even when I feel like things won't get better
You're always there to hold me together
Pass me that instigating pest please
Yes, that bag you are holding
Pass it here im looking for a key
to unlock my stress stuffed deep in mind
Hold on, is that the one that makes my eyes bleed
The river embraced its one true form
To travel its depths through hail and storm.
Through the village and through the town
Through the kingdom that once was crowned.
I write to express the things I will never say. My thoughts of grief and joy. I write those feelings that others are wont to deny. I write when I feel broken, broken to where I am not certain of who I am.
These hands of mine
Carry the burden given by us all
The labor of surviving in the wild concrete jungle
Demonstrates itself in the form of sweat trickling
Pores widening, opening itself up to the world
There will be a day when you ignore someone you loved dearly.
There will be a day when you will never see who use to be your best friend.
There will be a day when you smile along with your worst enemies.
Once upon a time
there lived a boy
Raised in neutral conditions
Had a favorite toy
Didn’t have a lot of thing
That he could enjoy
Always been creative
And would never destroy
He grew up
(poems go here) I saw a man in the grocery store.
He had a little girl with him.
Probably his daughter, she was about 4.
I swear I had seen him before.
I looked into his eyes and started to remember more.
Unrelenting tears of muscle
That reshape itself and this is
labeled as getting in shape
To endure such tears you need
hustle
Hustle to finish what you have started
Pause
Now go back to living
Like my dad did on rice and grits
Lost many and gained few to none new buddies
I don't call them friends
Trust and depend on them first
To rip apart my back and front
Plagued with infidelity
She fornicates in rhythms and melody
Driven by jealousy
In search of intimacy so she lies next to him
She says it isn’t love but she says it wasn’t lust
First glance
of eyes
opening,
Learned life
while running,
Sorrow
through the
times hoping,
Eyes closing
soft and slowly
And it never ends:
The pain,
The loss
It never goes away.
The tears never dry.
The anger burns continuously.
And the world moves on without you
Brother. We were carried by the same vessel. Chariot of life, out of the dark and into the glow. You are my earliest memories. We were cradled by tall grasses and coral beds, war chants in a sunset clearing. We are marked with mud. I see you.
I am from gravel,
From chrysanthemums an lilacs
I am from the smell of gasoline and the taste of blood
From the water faucet hiding behind the fence
I am from the mossy, jagged rocks
Engulfed by woods
Greetings!
We, aliens, come in peace!
My name is StarGirl777, but you can call me StarGirl.
Peach ice cream with Grandmommy on a hot summer’s day
Falling asleep on a 15 minute car drive
Himalayan cats
Artificial Christmas trees so we don’t get sick
Oatmeal cream pies and limeade
TO MY PARENTS
From birth to death,
From daycare to college,
From crushes to relationships,
From little league to college athletics...
Merry Christmas, the time is near.
Smell of the Christmas tree.
Everyone filled with great cheer.
Christmas lights, shiny and so bright
Christmas joy, I can fill all in the air.
Church a place, where you
Draw close to the creator.
Church a place where you go to get you too eternal.
Church a place where you hear the sound of the beautiful drums.
Those spares,
That piano,
I’m blessed,
So I don’t know why I worry.
God has given me eternal life in heaven.
I’m blessed to be alive.
Blessed to have a beautiful family.
So grateful to have a home,
beautiful faces have alot of stories where is the truth,little wayne said i dont got no worries missing you for the longest time when we was together we was on the grind the fights we had cuz i was never in the house we fight and make up forgetti
I saw him once in my entire life,
I was nine,
I still remember how he looked like,
Nothing like how I imagined,
Wearing an old navy blue cap,
The smell of dirt and oil rubbed off him,
Allow me to set the scene
Mother of four
One of the most faithful dope fiends
To the Four admired as a queen
The oldest only 16
Father figure to the youngest 3
No help offered
Because she aint clean
My Brain, I want to shoot it.
My heart, I want to cut it.
For my feelings I don't want to feel one bit.
When these two things fight it out, it's hard to hear which one is screaming out loud.
Who are you?
Who are you to me?
You are my father?
Oh... I see...
A father is a protector,
Defender of the land.
Chasing out the monsters,
And letting sweet dreams come to land.
I was born with ash-filled lungs,
and Mama kept some cigs in her panties.
She made me a plain dress once—
said it matched my face.
I never could understand,
why every whisper in town waft her name.
I remember the day I graduated High School,
Thought of Senior Prom but to me it was not cool.
Well, that may be a lie because my company never approved.
Hanging around the wrong crowd was the biggest mistake I jumped into.
I write for you
To hear these words
They seem to fly away
Like helpless birds
I write for you
To understand
The love and the pain
All that I can take and all I can stand
I write out of sadness and loss of self.
Nose running, eyes overflowing, heart pounding;
An overwhelming feeling of despair;
A room full of treasured, old memories;
Good times fading, head spinning;
The ultimate family reunion
Family from east to west
West to East
North to South
We all gather at one special place
I'm most excited to see one particular face
That I have not seen in ages
I remember the old Oak tree full of
broken twigs the color taupe, its
leaves had disappeared with its youth.
It was the only tree in my backyard.
Abuelo
I don’t know how to say this
I don’t even know where to begin
How do you write a tribute to someone who you still think is there?
Cuz you see, you’re not really gone in my mind yet
(poems go here) what i missed the most
was having you there with me.
since you are on the other coast
there was no way you could be.
even though we couldn’t be together
and really help each other
Like raindrops on cement,
Her tears fall
To be soaked up
by the stone.
Today was his birthday
sadly hes not
getting any older
He cant celebrate
Cant party
cant do anything
The deaths of waves upon the shore
Without a shout commence.
But courses of their peaks and troughs
Resound in timelessness.
As she breathes her final breath
Her silent dream is cut
This old lady gets up early at 7 o'clock every morning.
She says her morning prayer then makes hot tea only to sit and enjoy the start of the day through the window.
Clank!
Number five.
My sisters and I count each clank into the trash can, growing more uneasy with each one
We usually don’t get very scared until number eight, that’s when he starts to fuss
My life is weak sauce. Not bad for what it is, but still.
You exemplify gloriously what I’m not even close to having:
You know more words and more ways to talk. You stand eight inches taller and look ten tons stronger.
The first time she tells me,
I stand at the baker’s table,
wrist deep in flour,
water, and cultures of yeast.
“Good job.”
My startled hazel lifts
to meet her calmer brown
and my eyebrows rise.
The inseparable bond just disappeared into thin air,
As if it never existed to begin with.
But wait, flashback: weekend after weekend , we'd ride the metro to D.C. or go see a movie. We'd talk, we'd laugh, we'd have a good time.
As the journey begins,
a personal blessing from the heavens
that is carried within.
A new life has been made,
whether spontaneous or foreseen,
its a happening for the choices you've conveyed.
We miss your voice
We miss your touch
We miss your words
We miss you much
Your beautiful blue eyes
Everything a joke
The color of the skies
Your playful, little poke
I sit awake through night and day waiting for a note to say
Something of forgiveness or render my spirit worthless.
I sit in front of this computer screen
Looking onto sights unseen
Love is blind so they say,
the comments and looks seem to make me disagree
what price does your skin tone pay?
Judged because your Asian, White or Brown,
I thought we were all brother and sister.
You could hear her plea
“Oh please, Oh please Death!
Let go of me!
I need to live, I need to breathe!”
Yet Death did not stop
As he took her in.
He did not stop,
As Death was bound to win.
Ever since I was a little girl
My daddy was always on the go,
But he never forgot his baby cowgirl
And he’d always sing to me a favorite solo.
The fire in those eyes brings me to sudden silence,
The darkness beckons deeply; threatens to turn violent.
Life inside that mind must be eternal pain,
every word spoken as if it is in vain.
Never forget who you are
Thats what my mother told me
That advice took me far
Unfortunately that couldn't be.
I want you to bloom and blossom so beautiful
that the bees can’t help but to stop and
buzz about your beauty.
"A Father's Farewell"
The final day unknown,
When hate transforms to tears,
Farewell.
The indestructible bond like duct tape rips,
As time intoxicates a heart so vile.
Crystallized drops of dew descend from skies
Which spill their frozen tears onto the Earth.
The careless sun has undermined their worth,
Rendering their heart cold as slowly dies
(poems go here) It’s like finding the lyrics to a song
It’s got to fit its got to belong
You got to do what’s right
You got to know what’s wrong
In a life like this you got to stay strong
Safe, secure
Eyes that allure
reserved and stays in health
everyone keeps to themselves
Exotic foods from all over
Spanish, Italian, Indian, I’ve even eaten gopher
Strong and steady like a tree;
They are my family.
Protective as a bear;
She's my mother who cares.
Like wind blowing through the air;
He's my father spreading wisdom everywhere.
For years and years she wondered,
"Will I always feel alone?"
For years and years she travelled,
moving home to home.
The work of the hands was obsolete they say,
Trying to cure the weed-ridden turf,
But they forgot about my father today,
His knees crack with effort in the dirt,
Grass heads tickle against forgiving sun-rays.
Ten years have passed
Ten years since the drums began.
Since the road under the wheels of my father and I
Started passing beneath us at once.
Taiko:
The Japanese word for Drum.
My word for Family.
hopelessness,
helplessness,
Define that
“mess”.
“She’s Terminal”
He says.
“She’s-- terminal”
says He.
Dear Corey John,
We almost made it to adulthood and then... senseless violence took away what could have been.
A young athlete with so much talent and potential, his personality impressed on his peers, so influential.
Isn't the whole world against us?
Trying to weigh us down?
Aren't you all laughing at us?
Amused by our suffering?
Isn't the sky trying to crush us?
Disturbed by our strength?
Aren't we still standing?
(poems go here) I am from sidewalks
From mud and grass stains
I am from bruises and scrapes
I am from the orange Play-Doh
Whose salty taste comes to mind
Every time I think of it.
My first home was in my mother’s womb,
wrapped in the warmth of her love,
and surrounded by the rhythmic bum-bum
of her beating heart.
The sound of comfort to me,
the sound of safety,
Curse Thee! Black juggernaut of sorrow and pain,
Planning such a cruel act of evil, genocide.
Its slaughter soon shall be greater than Hitler's
For the juggernaut strikes every race with hate.
Staring out the window,
I take a final look,
At the place I spent my
Childhood; the place I found
Both friends and enemies.
The one place I always found
Someone to talk to.
Does it ever cross your mind
that one day no one will know your name?
Does it ever cross your mind
that nothing ever stays the same?
Do you ever wonder why
time seems to come and go?
Do you ever wonder why
You think when you criticize that i don't see
How true your words are
But I wonder if you see
How your lack of belief in me
Has left a scar
And would it kill you to see
Even though I've disappointed you
Snow drifting, falling to the ground
Fire burning, family all around
It's the time I've been dreaming of so long
The first snow
I walk outside, staring up in bliss
Spin in circles, shriek at all I've missed
I am from beloved dolls, from bubble wands and crabapple trees.
I am from bright colors and playful spirits,Bookshelves and stacked boxes.
I am from dandelions and low-branched trees.
Home? What is Home?
Home is where the full heart bursts
With love and laughter
In joy immersed.
Home is where the spirit feels
Safe, secure, revived,
And healed.
We will never again label people like animals they said
We will never again let a government kill millions they said
But what about the immigrants I say
A lot of the times I remember
Were ones I try to forget
You would tell yourself it was just a spark
But the fire was already lit
A lot of the times I remember
Were ones I try to forget
You would tell yourself it was just a spark
But the fire was already lit
What is pain?
What are tears?
When you have a million questions with no fears.
Born to this world
Without a trace.
Left in the dark, left to defend.
And, you start so low.
But, come up so high.
Fair is foul and foul is fair
Lies, betrayal, hatred, and blood
Loom freely in the air.
Dearest hero turned foe
Believe the literal truth and fell to an all time low
His lady acted not as his conscience
seventeen years i've spent
trying with all my strength
to make you happy
but maybe i should try
to make me happy instead
She's the devil
He's never done anything wrong.
She cuts her wrist and watches the blood.
He helps the sick
They go to the same school
Stuck in different worlds
They both want out
In a wooden picture frame that sits on my dresser
is an old photograph of a young man.
He has his arm around a pretty girl
and it’s all in black and white.
Even though there is no color,
How is she supposed to know
That you're love was really so
When nothing but lies were told
You've broken our hearts
Tore her family apart
A home no more
Only an empty house
More burdens to hold
Life comes, life goes, this and more we know.
But do we see, why it goes?
Friends stay, friends leave, if only by who’s heave?
True friends they do never leave.
Family is, family was, is there ever a because?
Children are our futures
They are our past
Living the life we've always wanted,
And dreaming the life of prosper
You radiate a positivity that speaks in volumes when you smile
When the sun sets across your lips I have to daze for a while
I don’t know what it is about you; how you behave
(poems go here) You left when you wanted
Now you think you shouldn’t have done it
But your sorry is too late
You shouldn’t have made me wait
A daughter should bring a mother joy
My father reeks of leather and old books
I love to smell that scent while we tattle
Society may call us paranoid shnooks
But we know they are only mere cattle
No good times do I know of my young years
He was lonely, sad, and depressed
Yet still looked lovely
Everything he did was accomplished so gracefully
He was an outsider that everyone noticed
Many thought he was weird
Brittle, stiff, immobile;
Worn out.
With swollen joints
and atrophied flesh
they trembled.
1
On winter’s morn at waiting window ledge
The Queen so merely mends some ripped socks
By blackened boards that cased the glassen edge
And held a scene of cold and southern flocks
She lays back
her head on the gurney
we hold our breath
as she takes this journey
doctors surround
there is no sound
as she's wheeled away
then her mother breaks down
Jane Doe does as Jane Does do.
I can’t comprehend what it’s like to feel to not fit in.
I am a missing piece to someone’s puzzle, a part of a matching set.
I am an ill behaved gypsy in the body of a sovereign.
Thoughts- they can either be a bad thing or a good thing.
What happens when those thoughts involve a potential burial 6 feet under.
I'll tell you what happens, those thoughts turn into visual scenarios.
When I was a child you held me tight,
but now it's time for me to say good bye.
I'll miss the way you kissed me good night,
and how you woke me up by just turning on one light.
(poems go here)
What is a mother?
What is my mother?
What is she?
Can someone tell me?
No, well mom you tell me
Tell me, what I am supposed to see?
Is it perhaps love?
Well no it cannot hun
Dear Mom,
I know it hasn't been easy, but it has been fun
Of all people, I've definately given you quite the run
You have been there everyday,
and I do not have enough words to say
I love you so very very much
I sit by my window,
watching as the sky turns a crimson gold.
Dreaming, thinking, hoping-
But then there is a soft whirring,
I look up…
The grinding of tires can be heard as my Father rolls in.
My dear, dear, family
I am so sorry that the very
Gaze of my eyes when
I look at you
Only widens the fissures between
us.
It started the moment he stopped
rubbing their backs, and giving horsey rides
on the living room carpet.
It started the moment he began
to frequent the bar twenty minutes away
instead of coming home for supper.
Like a wave crashed down
The tide pulled my soul
My sister so dear
Never made it to old
The emptiness grows
The pain won’t subside
The unseen affects
When you commit suicide
Childhood sky is full of stars,
But when you get adult,
Wherever you look,
You see some clouds.
I am expendable.
And I absolutely will not believe that
I can do great things.
I understand this may be a surprise, but
“Have faith in your abilities”
Was a lie, and
“I’ll never figure it out”
The rain splashes down, seeping into the thirsty earth.
Cars swerve with tension as the drivers cringe in apprehension.
I have 98 days until I’m gone
Gone from friends, gone from family, gone from home
I have 98 days to get ready
Deadlines, clothes, jobs, money
I have 98 days to think
Am I ready ? Or am I not? Can’t it just wait?
Three siblings
Two parents
Six grandparents
Sixteen years old
She's such a sweet girl, a joy to have in class
She gets on well with the other children
I've taken the drive
to Sacred Heart Medical Center
with my father.
Twice.
The first time,
my life was at stake.
But the second time,
was what nearly killed me.
I was told
If money grew on trees
my life would be at ease
No one knows how I feel
never knowing when I'll have my last meal
Seeing the for sale sign in the front yard
needing money so much but its too hard
She is as fluent as a gust in winds,
She smells of roses with petals of red,
She is definite with ev’ry rescind,
She loves with a wide and extended tread.
Her fingers, flying fast
The ticking of the machine
beneath her steady hands
Her eyes, watchful.
In that big room,
surrounded by fabric,
She feels at home
her body, relaxed.
You were once like me
Young, innocent and free
Forgive me, if sometimes I act so wild
Remember, I'm just a child
I want to be marry
but how can I when I know the truth
my heart being broken in two
what marry when the rooms filed with hate
Walking inside a white marble,
Legions of snowflakes in the air,
Like torrents of feathery arrows they swoop,
Tucking-in the ground bare.
You can say I am weak,
You can be disappointed,
But in the end this is what’s left of me.
I have fallen and I cannot get up,
It is like trying to climb a broken ladder.
I know the blame is not only on you,
If I took a step back to a time where my mother was before my eyes I would never had guessed I would take such a road a road that is so dark and gloomy it becomes ordinary to ones eyes till finally smacked by my own reality a glimpse to the inside
I hear yelling. People getting put down. I'm getting put down. I see my friends in the hallway. They don't know what is going on. They laugh, tell jokes, have fun. But I feel alone. They feel like something is going on with me. But I hide it.
Cracked cement sidewalks, dusty, chiseled powder. I remember
when there was fresh gray mud, smoothed over by Dad’s tools
my hand pressed square into that cement, an impression to last.
This silence is strange
It screams a painful sadness for my ears
And this darkness
Is like a cold rush of fear
For today
You, my love
Is the end of days
They smile and they giggle
And the back is filled with bumps.
His hands on the the wheels and each
turn is smooth as silk.
It weaves a brilliant spiderweb
Through the mornings, after
school.
Daddy’s got that smile,
and everyone and a while laugh
His tapping foot,
that finds song that breaks him out of his shell.
I'm running.
Flying.
Heart beating, feet pounding.
Not from something, but to.
It holds its arms to catch me, and I run into them.
The warmth of the embrace frees me.
The love in that smile feeds me.
Sitting high atop her perch
Brunette locks fly across her somber eyes
Gazing down from the tree tops
Lights of crimson and white appear
I can't see you
But I feel you
I don't know you
But I love you
I don't want to forget you
But I can't remember you
The third of the three
sibling to a he and she
I am the smallest
my mind is most free
I daydream
they play
each day
we wither away
even as
i dream
My son:
Brighter in the summertime,
but easier to lose,
as the moisture in the humid air
makes you slip through my fingers.
Such hopes I had for you
to take over the family business.
Sitting by the water
As ripples, ripples form;
Stare at my bobber
As it rocks, rocks back and forth
Every morning Dad comes home
Exhausted and shattered by his work
The money wouldn’t be asked more.
Fumblingly his hands in the kitchen
Quick cooking for breakfast as dinner,
Quick eating but no one asking for.
They are the only people who will love you unconditionally.
Even when you don't particularly like yourself.
They are the only people you can truly trust.
People that you can put your faith into.
Imagine this.
Someone so kind you'd think an angel had fallen from the sky.
Someone so passionate and caring you feel selfish beside her.
Someone so beautiful, models envy her.
I never looked back the day I left
A thing I always seem to neglect
Something my mother noted
Whether I was going to school for the first time
Or for Basic Training
Or going to Iraq
Hey there Dad, get your gun
let's go to the woods for some fun.
The weather is mild and not too bright,
cotton tails been out all night.
I am the start
the middle
and the end of my life... and life I hold....
A little girl who knows nothing of the
blood, death, and ghosts that haunt
our family.
Often time we are embarrassed by our family
You can’t escape them when your turn eighteen
They yell and scream
They’ll cry just to make a scene
Even when you think they cant get worse
Sarah wasn’t always frail as leaves
didn’t always fall
with a single gust of wind
She was strong.
She was steady as a drum.
until that boulder slipped
cracked open her wandering soul
Feeling discriminated
emotions cumulated
all my feelings
to begin eliminating
people from my heart
for underestimating that I’m also a human being.
With a traffic state of mind I can’t seem to find a friendly distraction to ease the pain of the twisting kaleidoscope known as my heart.
Coach
“Coach I want to play soccer”
No you’re playing golf
The scholarships will give you a better shot
“Okay”
You walk with grace,
Humble and fun,
With youth in your eyes,
Always on the run.
Ageless beauty,
From a far off land,
Filled with stories,
More plentiful than sand.
I lost someone
To a life of the unloved
Someone who brought untold limits
I lost someone to the heavens above
A war veteran.
You flew for your beliefs.
You suffered the pain
With no chance for relief.
A husband.
Your “Florrie” was your life.
Nearly 65 years
You called her your wife.
A father.
Dragonflies. Glittering throughout the summer sky. Shining like my grandfather's emerald green eyes as he smiles on the Fourth of July. Many more dragonflies arrive in celebration. Look! Red, blue, green and many others.
I am exhausted;
Tired of all of the childish games,
The bickering,
The lying,
The constant putting down
Of anyone
That crosses your path,
That gets in your way –
No matter who they are
I am from Love
A passionate, enchanting, Spontaneity filled Love.
A Till death do them part love...
I am from a single Mother
Death did them part, and brought us close
When you became a man
you knew what you had to do.
However it was a choice,
I had no say.
The day you left sure was a hard one.
I remember waking up before the sun
There are three who share this trait
That can even beat fate
They hid with ugliness
But once they know
Their true colors as time pass
Their beauty will surpass
Everyone
A broken family they appear
Life was empty before we met
But I did not fret
For what seemed like four years for you
Was nothing for me, if only you knew
Silently snow falls through the
Night air.
Our baby's first winter in the
Woods is
Filled with
Light from flame and star
And the scent of pine.
Kettle whistles split the silence, and
On the silver chandelier, there's a swinging spider monkey
Wearing a captain's hat, and waving a broomstick.
Jeffrey tells his mother, in the politest of tones,
"Mr. Jumps is at it again!"
A father’s love
Is a hug you always cherish.
A father’s love
Is when he threatens your date at the door.
A father’s love
Is when he is always willing to listen,
Even when he does not understand.
when i was little you did your best 2 shelter me
it was a blessing & a curse
later on the real world had to street better me
you were always there for me the times that i grew
On a beautiful spring day, a child was born.
The whole family gathered ‘round at the sight of the baby, so adorn.
I feel you near me,
Feel your breath on the back of my neck.
And though it's been quite some time since you left,
I know you're still here somehow.
I am from the rolling hills of Scotland,
I am from the white sand beaches of Spain,
I am from fighting, tears, and divorce,
I am from a broken home,
I am from vicious custody battles,
"I just want some neutral ground"
this paradoxical line _____
to escape into furious motion and through it all find;
at the end of freedom's rainbow...
a place of rest
I want a bicycle again
People tell me I’m lucky.
They say I have the best parents in the world.
They tell me things like “I wish my parents were as nice as yours!”
But what they don’t know,
What they don’t see,
15 months – of pain.
15 months – of sorrow.
Of loneliness.
Of horror.
I was just a child then!
Barely even 10.
To separate a little girl from her family,
Her lifeline.
Dedicated to my father
I live on this Old Farm,
a Farm that seems to have lost
all of its Value....
No cows graze Here,
there's no clucking
or feathers,
or the fresh smell
of manure.
Isn't it peculiar how scents carry the memories of our pasts? Vanilla reminds me of the hot humid nights that I spent with the biggest family I had known.
Mama I want to thank you for bringing me in this world
Even though you wanted a girl
I'm still your little snookums
But Im about to go to college and i'm going to make you proud
A congratulations
Long over due
But you're disapproving.
I never saw this coming,
And then it hit me.
You left without a warning,
you didn't even say goodbye,
and now you're gone forever,
without a reason why.
I cannot count or even list
The things you’ve done for me and
Everything you’ve helped me through
Since my father has refused to step up to the plate
And protect his little girl
Plush, Red, Pulse
Thick, Smooth, Blood
Bouncing
To the constant beat
Pulse
Pound
Pulse
Somewhat sterile swords stab
Through your gates
Injecting foreign troops
You, mother, are the object of my appreciation.
You have brought me into this strange world,
Leaving me to explore with bright eyes and no sense of direction
The fresh air being inhaled into my tiny lungs for the first time
"But Mom, you're dead," When you meet in your dreams.
Your eyes begin welling, hot and wet at the seams.
For a moment in time, in a dream's snug deceit,
thin, smokey angels hold you in sleep
(poems go here) A young man
standing patiently on the
corner,
waiting for his next
customer.
Plastic baggies hidden
in a secret pocket of his
large, black, bomber
jacket.
Somehow your eyes of apathy never see.
How can you stand on the outskirts of this agony
And point, laughing, at the bleeding-
Shining bright and smelling of pain before your face?
How can you forget that I’m here when
In a little house, just off the main road
I lived and loved with my family.
The house was small, and often cramped,
But it was warm, with good smells and lots of smiles.
It was a house of imagination,
How do you know for sure this isn't the last time you are going to hold me tight and let me dance on your feet?
You see, this is my catharsis
My dawning of a new genesis
For I have re-written the words
I’m sorry to those who worship the lords
But I cannot sit by
And wait for another reason to cry
A woman is breastfeeding.
Her son lies under a blanket.
“That’s disgusting,” you say.
“Put that away!”
He husband sits
As the older son runs wild.
“Do something.
That kid is obnoxious!”
And then silence.
his voice is raised
you can almost hear
her cringe, he’s too far
gone too many a drink
her back against the kitchen sink
her arms are raised
his voice now crazed
Please don't yell. Please don't shout
Please don’t slam and stop about
Please give me silence, one more night of serene
back to the old days, for one more dream
One single night not waking to a shout
Senior year I begin,
New costs and less money
It’s time to step up
A new chance to grow,
A new chance to learn,
The burns and backaches,
The stress and headaches.
Constrain all my thoughts
It was on an usual August day
This story is not easy to say
Without getting all teary eyed
Knowing it was my last goodbye
Always there for you,
Because you need them to.
Cures all your tears,
Drains all your fears.
Even when time's are tough,
Frequently you do more than enough.
Goodness you are great,
Love shouldn't hurt, shouldn't make you cry
Love should be there when your tears need dried
Love doesn't bruise or cause you pain
Love should keep you from blame
Love is romance, Love is fun
Memories of you fill my mind.
My heart aches and tears fall from my eyes.
I miss you more than words can express.
And I cry as you're laid to rest.
Sometimes I feel so sad and alone,
Oh how I wish I could turn back time
To when you were still here, still alive
I miss you more and more each day
And nothing will ever be the same
I can hardly cope with this pain
Whenever I see somebody with their dad,
I feel so very sad.
I miss you more than words can express,
And I cry more than the rest.
I don't know what to do now that you are gone.
How will I ever move on?
Life is not so easy now that you are gone
I cry every night for I am not as strong
I wish you were still here with me right now
But I know it is better that you flew up through the clouds
Frilly and girly was never your thing
Muddy brown boots, some brakes, a vintage car
And engines make your trusting heart sing.
Your technology skills surpass mine by far.
Sky blue eyes and those tiny laugh lines
Red, white, and blue,
Lain over the oak box.
Four hands, twenty fingers—
Grab hold, begin to fold,
Into a tight triangle.
Ever so perfect.
They hand it to my dad,
Edges folded in.
You've been there for me from cradle to teen,
being the best grandma you can be.
Loving and caring for me all those years,
for when we are apart, I think of you
forming a lake with my gathered tears.
There once was a girl
Disaster, Disease, and Death could not touch her
She was invincible
She dreamt of conquering the world
Memories run tacky, syrupy slow
Flowing like the buzz of a bee,
The buzz of home, the buzz of familiarity.
And then--there it is.
Out of the lukewarm trickle of moseying thoughts,
(poems go here) I stopped at our house last night.
With every inch of driveway that I covered I felt a calming familiarity.
The sun rose as pain awoke
The sea in my eyes caused me to look demented
Facts were meant to be faced on ones own
But Reality force fed me the gossip of Life
How does one ignore Reality? Life?
I love to have fun
Whether it's playing in the shade or the sun
I like to be with friends
Because they will make me happy to the end
My family makes me so gracious
Our love is never ending and spacious
You built me up, up to the clouds
In my throne, as I looked down
At all the faces that stood below
Just to keep me as your little girl.
Kept me there safe and protected
I start as the girl I'm supposed to be
Always nice and kind and happy
With a boyfriend who cares, and a sister to run to
Everyone says "your family truly loves you"
No one can see the yells and screams
You are: Always there to listen and watch.
You wonder: If you have been forgotten because you have not seen us in a while.
You hear: That we are coming and your hearts jump for joy (especially when Tucker comes).
Jerome "Jerry" Armstrong
A Fighter
Not only in war
But in life
Fun, Loving, Caring too.
You are a role model
A time of green,
the flower not yet plucked.
A young gent lost,
innocent, untouched.
The carnal mood
of dark and whispered place.
Damsel of dreams
did tempt him to the race.
Let him say goodbye
To his chickens
Before you grab
His favorite Phillips head
You have to find
The tiny screws
Hidden amongst his
Worn with age tattoos
Kansas, the place where my fathers’ fathers have made home.
A place where on the prairie, the buffalo roam.
But the place of Kansas where I lay in bed
Is much different but the voices of my fathers still sing in my head.
Family keeps us together and strong
They are there to help make our problems a breeze
And help us overcome our flaws and wrongs
But when one is deceased, our pride decreases
See
The other day this girl I once loved told me I have issues
But that girl doesn’t know a thing about my life in Mogadishu…
The feeling of this pain is impeccable
Marie. Mary. Saint Mary.
Saint Mary, Star of the Sea.
My Marie.
My Mother of Mothers.
I stepped out of the shower
scooping up your pink towel.
And simply stood.
You left me, here by myself
No one to talk to, no one that cares
I rushed home to go see you.
They said you were gone,
I didn’t believe them
How dare they say that!
I Graduated!
High School is finally over
I am now going to college to be free
It was fun for the moment
Parties
Late nights
Drinking
Being on your own
Then exams begin to come your way
Imagine, playing a gameof cards all relaxed
When all of a sudden someone yells "rats"
We started arguing about hwo won.
We did not notice what had begun.
I've seen a lot of things i thought
i'd never have to see
we've hoped for many things
that are just so far out of reach
I see you running towards that ball in the fields.
I hear your laugh when you fall in that pile of leaves.
I think of that day when you won’t need me to fight your battles.
Life is short,
It's said all the time,
But you don't realize it,
Until the day that you die,
Well that had never applied to him,
He lived his days full,
With work and with love,
You are always there when I need a hand
You always care and under stand,
When I feel no else understands you do.
You are right beside me
Even when I try to push you away,
To show you that I can stand on my own.
As I prep for university,
I took a second to reflect and pen a verse to see
How this one tragedy has thus affected my reality
It's how my music started
A vent, and a venture in to an art
She woke up in
a hospital bed
Family yelling
you coulda been dead
She didn’t care
while her mama cried
Didn’t matter to her
that she had almost died
I am standing alone
walking in a place
I call Numb.
Surrounded by nothing,
but white,
no one but you.
A smile falls upon
your god like face
as you hug me and
BANG!!
She sipping on some lean.
Popping all of them pills.
Smoking a bunch of weed.
While i just try to sit back and breath.
She said its just to much stress to leave.
And drugs separate her from realness.
Lost
In a sea of students
Flying low
Below the radar of the teachers
So low
Evading the eyes of my parents
Sliding
Deeper and deeper into the darkness
Alone
My parents always said they wanted better for me than they had
But really I'm beyond grateful to have a mom and a dad
They are very far from perfect, but the bumps in the road formed me
Hanging on the wall, with four corners in the air;
Happy friendly faces, it's shown perfectly and clear.
Picture perfect, perfect picture;
A great memory to me;
When I'm down and out,
You pay women to dance, while your love is at home.
Two Viking babies asking when daddy is coming home.
How familiar is my name,
For daddy’s the one to blame...
Your ice cold look is really just a new flame.
I was born into a great family
When you have a family it is not always about me.
A family is about love
We all fit tight like a glove.
I am from the shores beyond, whose travels for the Dream took so long
I am from heavy New England accents and snow storms strong
I am from busy streets to dirt roads
From tall pines to naked sidewalks
A short thought of the future, and what do you find?
A scared little girl who is scared out of her mind.
So many questions unable to be answered.
The darkness of the unknown envelops the space.
I shed tears when I came out
I shed tears when I was hungry
I shed tears when I fell down
I shed tears when I scraped my knee, falling off my bike
As we grew I watched you with ease,
A friendliness only siblings could share
But as you aged I watched that joy cease:
And in our friendship you seemed not to care.
In my maturity I saw your pain and flaws,
Sometimes I wonder why, shooting stars look like wishes passing by.
Sometimes I wonder why, the sun just goes away at night.
Sometimes I wonder why, I grow a little taller every time I got to bed.
Being broke a having you wishing money grew on trees
And keys to Mercedes would appear from no where like a stray dog wit rabies
And see I'm scared to love a lady
I've always thought myself my mother's daughter.
Our red-gold-brown hair glitters and waves.
Our curves hark back to her grandmother,
And it's because of her that I must pluck and shave.
To whom it may concern:
What is it about me that frightens you?
Is it the way I talk? The way I walk? The way I’m shy?
If you really get to know me I am a nice and sweet guy.
Two happy people, or so it seemed
She soon woke up
Wishing it was just a dream.
Disease is the reason
For the loss of my loved ones,
And possibly the future
Loss of others.
(A poem based on telling my past self four years ago)-Does contain suggestive language
Dear freshman me:
Hey!- you yes you there blond- hair tip moron
-sighs-
Am I ready for the real world?
Time just simply flies by
Now junior, about to be senior
Have thoughts about college, but
Not ready
Not ready, to leave family
Not ready, to leave friends
Every week I find myself, heavily, halfheartedly, hopelessly, ...alone, in my addiction councellor's office. The clock pounds out the conversation, tick tock tick tock, because quiet honestly I refuse to talk.
I am aging gracefully
as is my faith
like the gray replacing
the brown in my beard
pesky questions
have been quietly
replaced not with
answers
Tell me brother from across the line,
When did our love for each other become so defined,
You aim your gun at me,
I aim my gun at you,
But neither of us are going home alive,
In my life, I don't want to cry.
In her life, she wants people to understand.
What give sins to create?
What love doesn't last a lifetime?
What old parents know that cannot be understood?
Look at the sky,
It’s pure and white.
Nothing compared to my soul
That’s neglected and dark.
The trees stand tall,
Branching out far
Nothing compared to my soul
That slums down,
The lights are on and everyone's staring expecting a performance. I open my mouth and I forget all the lyrics. I think I'm going to mess up and they're all going to laugh, but then I sing and my doubts are in the past. Is this real?
After all of these years, I thought I knew
how to understand how you work.
How we work.
But, nevertheless, I am always blown away.
In awe? Wonder?
Disgust?
No.
He never saw the point
All he ever wanted was to kick, push,
And coast at a skating joint
Never did he saw the purpose of the tune
Thought the black and white is simply doom
The holding hands for a young life,
and hopefully till the end
Few things cannot be replaced,
this is one of them
Many are blessed with the right family,
although many, as well, are not
By my side you...you were suppposed to stay.
You abandoned me in my time of need.
Just love me, hold me, wipe my tears away.
You betrayed me, your daughter. Your own seed.
Why didn't you protect me? Why weren't you
My grandma
My grandma smokes like a chimney
Her eyes carry heavy burdens
She relaxes in a pool of liquid spirits
Her words are poison daggers piercing to expose guilt
I’m sick of these family ties holding me back,
And if I ever tried to leave you’d be right there to put me right on track.
Chastise me and ridicule me for everything I lack.
Ask me how I am I’ll lie and say I’m grand.
She slid the blade deep into her arm
Breathing heavy, trying so hard to hold in her emotions
yet release all her feelings.
She thought of the sister that didn't love her,
The mother to busy to care,
Every morning I do pray, to give me strength to better serve my love each day.
To give me patience when she needs to be understood and to take my time when she is in a bad mood.
I want to know where I was the moment you laid your eyes to rest
The moment you were leaving, heart stopped beating in your chest
Was the sun risen or could you see the crest
Of the moon
That although we are far apart
I will hold you close to my heart
When you're either up or down
I'll always have a remedy for your frown
That in the event you shed a tear
Everyday I’m stressing
Trying to repress the excess
Expression on their faces that makes me feel less of a person but more of a mess
And coming from them hits hard to the chest
you’re getting married saturday.
you’re marrying the man you deemed better
than my father, the man you figured was
more suitable for you than
three children, a loving husband,
a house with large windows
Isabella,
I put you into my bed for your nap.
Tuck you in, Nick Jr on quietly.
You argue and fight and cry…
Trouble.
Eventually you give in to sleep,
Those little brown eyes close.
Peace.
I just want to go away and never return.
Stay free from all concern,
But deep inside I'm afraid I will crash and burn.
Possibly take a wrong turn,
And be forced to make that apprehensive return.
"History repeats itself" a phrase in time that remains unctouched, just as the world of today!
Live in life as we do, our past..forgotten we choose. Which apon us brings a uncertain future acompanied with no change.
A door opens
Empty of memory
Cold, Dark, Eerie
Depression creeps in
Sadness takes over
The walls drooping with pain
Crying tears of blood
No acceptance from reality
Pain has overcame pleasure
Words are hard to find,
When you are overwhelmed with emotion.
It seems so hard to process
A soldier’s love and devotion.
Fighting for our country without a second thought.
Their families left behind,
There are millions of fish in the sea,
But God chose you just for me.
I wrote this poem to let you know,
That without you I could not grow.
Hey Life,
Can I get a tall glass of success followed by two shots of accomplishments?
Can I move forward? Can I reach my destiny?
But first I must set free from the confinements of a broken family…
I'll Be There
I’ll be there,
when you have no one else,
when you’re feeling alone,
&& your mind is blown.
Through the stormy weather,
&& the days of darkness,
I’ll be there.
I’m done
Yet I can’t quite grasp it
Why something like this would happen to me
How could something like this happen to me
That trust I built has just been destroyed
I’ve never been this broken before
Whatever happened to the flowers?
The water lilies and poppies and marigolds,
With their dewy stalks and folds?
I don't know who I am
The white in my life blew out
I don't know where I stand
At thirteen my soul was left in doubt
The only white
The purity
The innocence... of me
Taken in the dark
One can never see what goes on behind closed doors.
All you have is the insight from a young, bright-eyed girl, who just wants a chance.
A typical suburban family is not all as it seems.
When life is getting hard
You try your best to keep up
But you find yourself falling
Then when you open your eye's to find yourself
in darkness
You hear some people calling your name
In a deep dark forest, there is a caravan of traveling strangers
Hosting a creepy carnival, with many possible dangers
Stop and stare.
Who goes there?
Not a pal or a friend.
Maybe a foe or a fiend.
Can you see her?
Or maybe its a him?
Duck! And Dodge!
Close one my friend.
Don't fight back.
My heart should be as large as the Grand Canyon.
Love rushing through it like water,
carving it out,
squirming its way in,
making it wider, deeper,
more soulful.
It should beat for those who love me,
It hurts like the sting of ice and cold.
It hurts cause I know that's what's like your soul.
It hurts because you forced me to believe the words you say.
It hurts to think how can I manage another day.
Looking in the mirror
Sadness stains her face.
Red lines cover her, making feelings fade.
They call her names.
The torment her.
The wall she has built is breaking.
She goes home to a world too adult.
They say it's impossible to find love,
Without loosing your mind.
Only the crazy people know,
It takes a lot of dedication to build a family,
And it takes courage to love
for years everyone has seen me crying
but nobody cared enough to ask why until i met this lady two years ago
I WANTED YOU TO KNOW
HOW MUCH I ADMIRE YOU.
YOU GIVE YOUR HEART TO EVERYONE,
AND IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.
YOU’VE GOTTEN ME THROUGH ROUGH TIMES
WITH A SHOULDER TO CRY ON.
I watched you take your first steps
across our kitchen floor.
You smiled with a giggle
I'd never heard before.
You scared yourself a little,
and shed a single tear.
In no time, I'd picked you up
I knew from the beginning I would love her forever,
Her glowing brown eyes penetrated my heart and soul at a glance,
As she held me in her arms I could feel compassion and warmth
When I first arrived, I cried
Every other summer we travel to Michigan
The landscape's so open and calm
The beauty of the tall hills of sand
The beauty of the freshwater lake
Interrupted Solace in a Winter's Evening
Every once and awhile I like to be alone
I burrow in the confines of my memory
And dart from conversations like a fish from glass
