Spring 2009 • $5

The Charles Hart Middle School Literary Magazine

The hArtworks Editorial Board
Writers-in-Residence: Maryum Abdullah, Dwayne Betts, Aaron Brooks,
Damon Kee, Nichell Kee, Kiana Murphy, James Saunders, Nancy Schwalb,
and Renita Williams
The Literary Magazine Club: Maryum Abdullah, Eric Armstead, Marcus Barnes,
Sharri Barnes, Amira Bean, Nakia Better, Stelita Better, Aaron Brooks,
Jada Brooks, Fonté Brown, Steven Brown, Jr., Bernice Caldwell, Ashley
Cooper, DeArren Dawkins, Jason Goolsby, Jayon Gray, Janine Green,
Devon Hudson, Marcus Johnson, Khalil Jones, Walter Jones, Damon Kee,
Nichell Kee, Shawntay Kent, Marquise Lewis, Edward Marshall, Kiana Murphy,
Kirk Murphy, Kierra Parks, Khadijah Rashad, Steven Reed, Keyama Robinson,
Cristal Sandoval, Marché Shields, Bnyonka Simpkins, Monae Smith,Deon Stover, DarVel Suggs, Lakeisha Thompson, James Tindle, Andre White,
Thomas Whitney, Darien Wilkins, Renita Williams, Sequan Wilson

Cover (l-r): Niya Rogers, Janelle Hoes
Above (l-r): Stelita Better, Kierra Parks, Derrick Brown, Lakeisha Thompson

IntroductionW

elcome to the 25th edition of hArtworks, the nation’s only inner-city public middle
school literary magazine, written and edited by the students in the after-school writing
club at Charles Hart Middle School. hArtworks is published through a collaborative
effort between the school and the D.C. Creative Writing Workshop, an independent nonprofit working to create a literary renaissance in Southeast Washington. Now in its eighth year,
hArtworks gives our young writers the opportunity to exercise their creative energies, speak
their minds, and be read by an audience throughout the city. The 2009 edition of Poet’s Market
recognizes hArtworks as “an outstanding example of what a literary journal can be (for anyone ofany age).”
We have many friends who have helped to make hArtworks possible, and we would like toexpress our gratitude to them. Our sincerest thanks go out to the Morris and Gwendolyn
Cafritz Foundation, Children’s Fund of Metropolitan Washington, Community Foundation for
the National Capital Region, D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation Project
My Time, John Edward Fowler Foundation, Rita Susswein Gottesman Fund of the Alexandria
Community Trust, Harman Family Foundation, International Monetary Fund, Lucas-Spindletop
Foundation, Mattel Children’s Foundation, Marpat Foundation, Moran Family Fund, Meyer
Foundation, Prince Charitable Trusts, Luther Replogle Foundation, Spring Creek Foundation,
Hattie M. Strong Foundation, The Tom Lane Fund, Wachovia Foundation, the Washington
Redskins, Wendling Foundation, Weissberg Foundation, The World Bank, Anonymous, Michael
Joy and TSCJoy/Monterey, LLC, Sarah Booth and Bloomberg L.P., Wells Fargo Home Mortgage,
GO! Creative, LLC, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Arena Stage, the Shakespeare
Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theater, McGuire Williams Associates, Joyce Page and Ms. Printing,Tollefson & Gustini Investment Management, our friends at Popeye’s on Malcolm X Avenue,
George and Lenore Cohen, Nancy Folger, Janet Horgen, Sharis and Thorn Pozen, Clyde E.
Shorey, Richard Thompson, and Ladislaus von Hoffmann.
Our interns, Abbey Chung, Bernitta Johnson, and James Saunders also deserve our thanks forgiving so much of their time and energy to our after-school Writing Club, as do our volunteers,
Helen Hooper and Shannon Rampe.
Special thanks for the hard work and dedication of the D.C. Creative Writing Workshop Boardof Directors: Mary Ann Brownlow, Bernie Horn, Michael Joy, Joan Kennan, Aileen Morse, Bill
Newlin, Dr. Pat Papero, Raina Rose Tagle, Nancy Schwalb, and Rosetta Thurman.
We would also like to thank the following administrators, teachers, and staff who are ourpartners in this endeavor: Principal Billy Kearny; Assistant Principals Ms. Cartwright, Lisa
Faulkner-Jones, and Mr. Aaran Lurry; Ms. Elizabeth Davis, Mr. Shawn Fedinez, Ms. Gloria
Fergusson, Ms. Christine Gill, Mr. Jeff Griswold, Ms. Josie Johnson, Ms. Eleanor Seale, Ms.
Sherry Dailey, and Ms. Maevern Williams.

InsideMaryum Abdullah
Boredom ............................................................................................................................................7
Untitled ...........................................................................................................................................46
Word riot .........................................................................................................................................48
Eric Armstead
What it’s like to be hot ........................................................................................................................3
Homeless .........................................................................................................................................18
Marcus Barnes
Forget It ...........................................................................................................................................17
Nakia Better
There Is No ........................................................................................................................................6
Black Against the Fog and Snow.......................................................................................................14
Rights...............................................................................................................................................18
Stelita Better
Sorrow of children ..............................................................................................................................8
The Statue of Freedom .....................................................................................................................27
My Madness ....................................................................................................................................32
Aaron Brooks
Aaron.................................................................................................................................................1
12 Years of Age ................................................................................................................................15
Pedigree ...........................................................................................................................................22
Bernice Caldwell
The Fight .........................................................................................................................................16
Lonnell Carter
Little Sister Blues .............................................................................................................................50
DeArren Dawkins
DeArren .............................................................................................................................................2
End of the World ..............................................................................................................................15
Naaman Dudley
The Teenage Blues ............................................................................................................................10
Forrest Elliott
Ode to the world ..............................................................................................................................38
Donald Forbes
The building .....................................................................................................................................31
Davon Ford
Worth The Thought ..........................................................................................................................26
Swept off the ground.........................................................................................................................34
Ode to the school ..............................................................................................................................35
Karl Gafford
Ode to Anger ...................................................................................................................................36
Jeffrey Gooding
Tunnels of fire ..................................................................................................................................33
Jason Goolsby
What I See .......................................................................................................................................19
Jayon Gray
Football Memories ...........................................................................................................................12
George Coleman ..............................................................................................................................48
Janine Green
Janine ................................................................................................................................................1
What it’s like to be quiet (for those who aren’t) ...................................................................................3
Pause ...............................................................................................................................................10

Tracy Harris
Everything I saw ..............................................................................................................................31
Zane Harrison
I Am ................................................................................................................................................33
Imani Hinds
Something about attitude .................................................................................................................37
What is worth knowing ....................................................................................................................38
Jinell Hoes
What is worth knowing ....................................................................................................................40
Angelique James
Dead and Gone ................................................................................................................................30
Antonio Jefferson
A wish that goes by ..........................................................................................................................31
Born.................................................................................................................................................44
Brandon Jenise
A poem for myself ............................................................................................................................43
Devin Jenkins
Football ...........................................................................................................................................32
Life is more than? .............................................................................................................................41
Marcus Johnson
Action Words, Part 1 ........................................................................................................................12
Tyray Johnson
Poetry ..............................................................................................................................................32
Talking to peace ...............................................................................................................................42
Da’Juan Jones, Jr.
From ................................................................................................................................................46
Derrean Jones
Ode to rice .......................................................................................................................................43
Khalil JonesNo Death ...........................................................................................................................................9
Walter JonesI Remember My Childhood ................................................................................................................5
The room of shadows........................................................................................................................45
Shaquan Joshua
A poem for myself ............................................................................................................................44
Tylashia Joyner
Ode to Love......................................................................................................................................38
What Is Worth Knowing ...................................................................................................................40
Duna Kaigler
Born.................................................................................................................................................41
An Ode to Madness ..........................................................................................................................42
Keshan Kaigler
Ode to part of the city ......................................................................................................................42
Anger ...............................................................................................................................................43
Damon Kee
Silent ...............................................................................................................................................19
A poem for .......................................................................................................................................35
Suppose the sun leaves the sky .........................................................................................................46
Nichell Kee
At the End..........................................................................................................................................2
Steady Path......................................................................................................................................14
Different things ................................................................................................................................47

InsideShawntay Kent
fade away ........................................................................................................................................17
Poetic Autobiography .......................................................................................................................22
Zhana Kornegay
Ode to deceit ....................................................................................................................................36
Shoes ...............................................................................................................................................39
Diantra Landry
Worth Knowing ................................................................................................................................28
I am .................................................................................................................................................34
Daja Leonard
Life Blues .........................................................................................................................................49
Dante Lewis
Postcard Poem/Found Poem .............................................................................................................52
Marquise Lewis
Past, Behind Me ...............................................................................................................................12
Tomorrow’s Promise .........................................................................................................................20
You’re Right There…........................................................................................................................48
Tanasia Lloyd
Knowing which is which ...................................................................................................................29
Maya Manigan
Bad Sushi Blues ................................................................................................................................49
Edward Marshall
Edward ..............................................................................................................................................2
What cities are like ..........................................................................................................................45
Ieshia Mayo
What is worth knowing ....................................................................................................................28
Erica McCrae
Dirty Room Blues .............................................................................................................................50
Postcard Poem .................................................................................................................................52
Recipe of Anger ................................................................................................................................52
Marlon McDowell
Shooting jumpers .............................................................................................................................33
Charlene Monroe
What I told my sister .......................................................................................................................29
Keaira Moore
My Boy ............................................................................................................................................54
Nyesha Morrow
Lil Sister Blues .................................................................................................................................49
Kiana Murphy
Back When My Mind Was Broken ......................................................................................................6
So What Do We Have? .......................................................................................................................8
It Must Have Been A Typo................................................................................................................13
Kirk Murphy
When the world ends .........................................................................................................................4
I Remember .....................................................................................................................................11
No Mercy .........................................................................................................................................19
Always Conscious ............................................................................................................................21
Kierra Parks
The Way I Am..................................................................................................................................20
Making My Life ...............................................................................................................................23
Artease Pimble
Ode to the cafeteria ..........................................................................................................................25

Keyama Robinson
The Horizon.......................................................................................................................................4
Hate, Pain, Love ................................................................................................................................7
What Bad Dreams Can Become .......................................................................................................11
Niya Rogers
Ode to my memories ........................................................................................................................37
Emergency Room Talk......................................................................................................................39
Cristal Sandoval
Kaleidoscope ....................................................................................................................................20
James Saunders
The Poem of the Widow’s Son ...........................................................................................................23
My Own Best Enemy .......................................................................................................................24
Courtney Slater
Blues Poem ......................................................................................................................................50
Latisha Sockwell
Teaching the ABC’s ...........................................................................................................................30
The Sum ..........................................................................................................................................32
Kortnee Spencer
What is worth knowing ....................................................................................................................27
DarVel Suggs
DarVel ...............................................................................................................................................1
Myth ................................................................................................................................................21
Shadows...........................................................................................................................................47
Lakeisha Thompson
Memory ...........................................................................................................................................16
Why are people the way they are? ....................................................................................................18
James Tindle
On My Love List ..............................................................................................................................21
When these trees talk .......................................................................................................................24
When I traveled to the Nile ..............................................................................................................25
Andre White
What It’s Like to Be Me ......................................................................................................................4
Thomas Whitney
Before the World Ends ........................................................................................................................5
No Fear .............................................................................................................................................9
Renita Williams
House of Blues .................................................................................................................................10
June 20, 2006 ..................................................................................................................................35
Black against the skin and bones ......................................................................................................44
Tajia Williams
Found Poem .....................................................................................................................................51
Sequan Wilson
The Fugitive .......................................................................................................................................7
Untitled ...........................................................................................................................................13
Nope! ...............................................................................................................................................16
Danisha Woodard
Postcard Poem .................................................................................................................................51

ary,l-r: Ranikia Singlet
Dontae Keithl-r: Khalil Jones,

DeArren DawkinsDarVelDrowning dogs doing dirty deeds
Airplane’s aerial attacks ambush all
Nichell Kee
Ripping rabid rhymes, reading readily
Vicious viper venom
Evolutionary evaluation echoing everywhere
Listening, longing, laughing, loving loudly
DarVel Suggs

Aaron
Absences and abstinence
After atrophy accompanied theRelationship, running rapidly, relapsing
Opposites, over and over opening
Negligence, never noticing the eviction notice. Leave.
Aaron Brooks

JanineJumping jovial jewelry
Answered an anonymous aura
Number of nice never-ending
Infinity, incomplete inevitable
Nine names
Endless, exceeding epiphany
Janine Green1

At the End

DeArren

When the earth takes its last rotation
I’ll venture into an unseen forest of death
When the earth is about to enter oblivion
I will dive into the over-sweating ocean
Not bothering to come up for air

Daring to walk down these halls
Eating every last piece of pizza
All day playing the gameRed ruby, ready to run
Race, even rule, every street
Eat eggs early
Never, never, never not believe

When the earth comes too close to the sun
My mind of wreckage will unscramble
To solve the stupid Rubik’s Cube
The breeze alone would calm my overheating heart
Working faster than usual from the fear
My tempted fingers scrape at the forbidden chocolate
I yell a piercing scream into unheard itching ears
The earth takes its last breath
Seeming to no longer move
Everything stands still
My last glance
The infinite eyes of a mirror
Capturing my soul
Nichell Kee

DeArren Dawkins

EdwardEnding every evening eating eggs
Drawing dreadful drawings during deconstruction
Winning while whining when winners win
Adding attempted actors acting accordingly
Rewriting redone riddles, redoing rights
Decreasing down during deconstruction drawing
Edward Marshall

If There Was No Tomorrow
If there was no tomorrow
I would probably shatter glasses all over the floor
If there was no tomorrow
I would follow the globe around the world
If there was no tomorrow
I would end all the obstacles and make them precious garments
If there was no tomorrow
I would unfinish all the heaviness in my life and burn it into ashes
If there was no tomorrow
I would be alone forever with my furry cat named breeze
If there was no tomorrow
I would probably do a lot of things that I would not do on a daily basis
If there was no tomorrow
I can’t imagine how my life would be
Mia Sandoval

2

Kortn

ee Sp

Devin

s

JenkinWhat it’s like to be hot
It is like standing in the sun for 4 hours
Sometimes I get headaches
Because I am not used to sitting in a hot room
That’s what starts it
When a breeze hits my head
It starts to go away
If you are very hot and a cold breeze blows by
It is like you just say ha, haThat feels good
Like putting your head on a fluffy cold pillow
In your own world
Eric Armstead

encer

What it’s like to be quiet(for those who aren’t)
First of all, people judge you
Before they even get to know you
First thing that comes to their minds about you
Is that you’re a mute
Teachers try to challenge your voice
By making you read out loudOr saying something, period
Just to make you talkHaving various people challenge you
To see if you’re a punk
Having respect for others
But they don’t respect you
Having crushes on people
But you’re scared to confront them about it
Because you’re scared of rejection
Being quiet can be good at times
And then it can be bad at times
Because of the world
Janine Green3

What It’s Like to Be Mern KegleKesha

First, being 13 and feeling so old
Like being an adult
Or an old rusted bike chain
It’s like going to a schoolThat has been there for years
But still is in good condition
But remember that you’re a childAnd still young
Always remember that you’re never too young
Or too old
For anything everyone else can do to have fun
Andre White

When the world ends
When the world ends,
the obelisk of my emotions will collapse.
When the world ends,
I will be in a city of ignorance.
When the world ends,
I will feel the floor vibrate.
and the last dripping of my Kool-Aid,will double as it falls on my new jeans.
When the world ends,
I will hear my family screech for help
as I sprint down the unswept rug
smothered with flavors of my father’sSunday night cooking.
When the world ends,
my fingers will turn numbas my unfinished heart will be shattered.
When the world ends,
there will be nothing but ashes
and a slight breeze
after a barrage of uncensored emotions
overwhelms me.
Kirk Murphy

4

The Horizon
When the world ends
I will sing up to the stars.
When the world ends
I will be at the Apollo on Friday night.
When the world ends
I will be the breeze above the mountains.
When the world ends
I will be blooming somewhere
like on the horizon
where the sun shines all morning long.
Keyama Robinson

Before the World Ends
I would draw every picture I can
I would drive a car under the age
I would get more clothes and shoes
I would go see everyone that I love
I would do all the little things,
All the precious things I have missed
I would look forward to the heavens above
I would swallow all my hate and anger into ashes
I would even put on a new pair of glasses
Thomas Whitney

I Remember My Childhood
I remember my life with a flash through my eyes
I remember oatmeal in the morning and a cold cut sliced intriangles in the afternoon
I remember jumping of a balcony and breaking my arm
I remember being the tallest in my school
I remember old school go-go
I remember Motown on my grandfather’s record player
I remember change when I lost my mother’s diamond ring
I remember Saturday cartoons
I remember waking up Christmas morning to snow
I remember wearing goofy clothes and not getting laughed at
I remember my childhood as if it were yesterday
But I wish it could still be here
Walter Jones

Devo
n Hu
dson

5

Back When My Mind Was Broken
Barefoot and an empty mind
Reckless yet practical,
Speech slurred
Images blurred,
Yet happiness lingers in the air.
Everything has meaning:
The way the chair squeaks whenever someone moves it,
The way I seem to be locked out of the important things,
The way people squeeze my cheeks and make funny faces,
Even though I don’t feel like it.
Tripping, stumbling
Over my mind because it’s not focusing—
These little feet will never walk in a straight line.
Fun is way too simple,
But I can tell in a tall person’s mind
It’s useless…pointless.
Horizontal skies, brown eyes,
Another bribe waiting to happen,
Just to make me silence my soul.
Been told
Over and over again
The rights and wrongs that never ring a bell.
In my mind
A huge world
For a small kid in an unknown place called home.
Your biographers never understand,
Even though you remember.
Kiana Murphyl-r: Ed
Marq ward Ma
rsuise Lewis, hall, Jayon
Kirk
Murp Gray,
hy

There Is No
There is no me
On this planet I call earth
I am vacantPlease don’t avoid me
I am not full of emptiness
There is no firmness
So why am I so firm?
There is no film
In this twisted camera.
There is no helmet,
So don’t overlook the danger
Curling into a cascadeWe called it me falling off a water cliff
I’m like someone
That’s why there is no me.
Nakia Better

6

The Fugitive
Finding nowhere in an open space;
Enclosed writings on the wall,
Scribbling at their own pace.
I’ve never been with anyone else,
So keep your accommodating accusations to yourself.
Memories save me until you speak to me,
Then it doesn’t matter what I ultimately see.
You’re waiting for me to sing like a bird;
Think twice, I won’t say a word.
You keep asking, where have you been—
I’m a prisoner in my own home,
We’re through, I win.

Boredom
To get through these long hours
I count the coffee tables
and how many steps I’ll take before
I jump in. I check the time twiceand zone out, but the time is not up.
I pay the scenario, keep a penny in my pocket
Just for the thoughts.
Maryum Abdullah

Sequan Wilson

Hate, Pain, Love
There is no hate, only love
Love can always kill hate
There is no space
Pain is love, not hate
Hate is hate, killing in the streets
Love is hate, a newborn baby
Love is pain, tears in your eyes
Hate needs space
There is no space
Half-moon praise of broken light
The fire of light is distantTears of light in your eyes
There is no hate
Love is pain, broken-hearted
Love is hate, a newborn puppy
Hate is hate, raped and killed
Pain of hate, a baby dies after birth
There is no hate, no space

DeArrenDawkins

Keyama Robinson

7

Sorrow of childrenChildren, it’s all about childrenthat have sorrow. Kids cannot
stop being sad because of the things
that they been through. The
children’s feelings are about sorrow andshame of their families, they just can’t
believe in God no more because they
been praying for freedom and they still
don’t see freedom. A child in the cornerstill prays and still believes that they
will have freedom someday. This universe
is not the same without children in alighthouse. With the wilderness being hunger
in the wild, the bottomless daybreak turns
into footsteps. The sawdust is salty in the
day but not in the night. Sorrow of children
is victims being taken from happiness.
Stelita Better

So What Do We Have?
There is no truth,
Just lies told with such distinction,
We believe them.
There are no dreams,
Just thoughts floating carelessly,
Behind closed eyes.
There is no darkness,
Just light swallowed,
As the day goes by.
There is no cold,
Just heat evaporated from the atmosphere.
Sudden chills from an unexpected perspiration.
There is no love,
Just hate without any enmity,
Free flowing, yet addictive.

On My Love List
On the highway
I smell
Hah… The country silhouette
Family, friends
Hanging from a string
Wrapped around the mountainJames Tindle

There are no voices,
Willing to stand up and capture the emptinessWithin the heart of every soul.
In the depths of the surreal life
There is nothing…
Crooked and twisted,Things are never what they may seem to be,
But we choose to live with lies anyway.
Kiana Murphy

8

Edwa

rd Ma
rshallStelita

BetterNo Death
There is no such thing as death,when the person you thought was gone
is still with you deep inside.
There is no such thing as death;
you always live, with or without light.
Death is a thought that people fear,
death is an illusion
to organize
confusion, that’s all.
Khalil Jones

No FearThere is no sky
because it has no limit.
There is no yesterday
and it can’t be proven.
There is no darkness
because there’s light showing somewhere.
There is no lightbecause darkness always comes.
There is no limit
because it can be surpassed.
There is no twisted—
It always evens out.
There is no fear
Savior is always here.
Thomas Whitney

9The Teenage Blues
And even though you remember,your biographers neverunderstand.
Life as a child was fun
because I had less responsibility.
I am angry now, because
I’m a teenager now.
Naaman Dudley

ewis

ise L
Marqu

House of Blues
Pause
I put aside the enmity
and just try to enjoy life
to the fullest
like everybody else
I watch the world go by
not time
as I speak to the disembodied spirits
disquieted by my eyesof what I see
my miasma of fear,
I try to overcome.
Janine GreenThe tears flow from their eyes
while they dance on the dance floor.
Trumpets, horns, tuba, and drums,
its soft mellow sound makes the crowd
weep and sigh, but they still dance andhave small conversations about their situations.
Watered-down alcohol with high prices
the singer sings a soft sighsinging “my husband left me in the cold.”
When the crowd hears that, they say“Ain’t it the truth,” “Amen.”
So heartless, not thinking about it,
there’s plenty of fish in the sea
the crowd really doesn’t care about that,they just want to be depressed or hurt.
House of Blues is a spot where you can cry,have fun, and talk about your problems
Also, you get to know other depressed people
and dance. If you come to the House of Blues,
make sure you have a situation to deal withor it would make no sense to show up.
Renita Williams

10I Remember
I remember as a kid
on Thanksgiving, eating my dad’s home-cooked biscuitsthat always had a creamy buttery taste inside.
I remember playing footballwith my cousin in the freezing snow then coming backin the house and laying my feet over the rusty but warm stove.
I remember as a childpulling off my first ollie on that same scratched skateboard,
the right top wheel that always had that square shape to it.
And even though you don’t remember,
I will always have these great memories
in my thoughts.
Kirk Murphy

What Bad Dreams Can Become
Of a fortune
Memory, soul
Hurricane clouds, bronze
Moonlight, shadow, fireHalf-moon twist, broken fire
Vision of forgotten lights
Setting in the streets of darkness
What good dreams can become
The princess of Asia
The Queen of Drama Club
Rule the world of kings and queens
Smooth hands above your gods
Unbelievable promise, eyes asleep
Clouds of bronze, strength
What good and bad dreams can become
These are my dreams
If you don’t know me, they are good times
and bad times.
Keyama Robinson

DarV
el Su
ggs

11

Football Memories
I’m remembering the championships
and winning games as a younger kid,
playing football, my favorite sport.
When I was five, I played football with ten-year-olds
I was scared, my father talked to me, and I wasn’t scared any more.
Then, when I was eightI played running back and safety and I scoredeighteen touchdowns in one season. It was kind of easy
but the next season I was ten years old andI scored twenty-nine touchdowns.

Artea
se Pi
mble

When I turned twelve, I played quarterback.
I scored twelve touchdowns:
I threw one and ran eleven, and I played for the same team all of those years.
I’m thirteen now, and I might hit thirty.
Jayon Gray

Action Words, Part 1
Past, Behind Me
As a kid I remember
Living on 3rd and E Street,
Walking to school with my sister on weekdays,
Going to tutoring after school,
Having fun and learning,
Christmas gifts from everyone.
Also remembering the bad times,
Moving from my home, leaving my friends,
New school with new challenges,
Obstacles in every direction.
As I walk upon the path of life,
I see the past zoom before my eyeswith every step I take.
And even though the past is behind me
I feel it closer than the future.
Marquise Lewis

12

When my brother said I was stupid,
I tickled-like laughedand it breezed by and madea squeaky clean glass
Then I got shot down
cause I really was stupid—enoughto believe I was stupid, stupid.
So I fought the words:
retarded, silly, clueless, and wack.
With ten times the meaning plus five
I sent them right back.
Marcus Johnson

Untitled
Happiness doesn’t catch my eye
Sunshines and rainbows, I gotta ask, why?
None of that helped shape me into what I am today
Like it or not, my remorse is here to stay.
Smiling was my thing, but it never brought me comfort.
Everyone around me knows life in one another,
Writing, touching pieces, never got me aheadto the path I want to forever tread.
Heartbreak and darkness got me smitten
You can never gain without the pain rain, get it?
Sequan Wilson

It Must Have Been A Typo
She cried, “Love don’t cost a thing.”
We replied:Our consistent chatteremphasizes our easy mistakes,
absolute isolation
craves the laughter of significance,
effort fails to manipulate our minds,
constant distractions break our uneven hearts.
We are no longer alone.
The silent crimson tears
after the unknown disaster,valued by many.
Dangerous realities enablesudden stares off into the horizon,
impact among the many voices
we’ve lost our hearts for.
Ruined…the words were way too much.
Locked beyond the separation,
the white out couldn’t cover the harsh penalties.
Somehow, the words were way too strong,
now I can no longer feel my heart.
My pulse has slowed to a painful stop
I can no longer feel your graceful touch.
The distance between us
can no longer be replaced…
Kiana Murphyl--rr: Sequan Wilson,DeArrenDawkins13

Black Against
the Fog and Snow

Steady Path

Black against the fog and snow
against my ear
poison velvet rubies
in a hurricane that’s
in the clouds,
the distanceof my wild
flaming emerald.

Storm raging in my heart
frustration gathering up behind my eyes
thunderbolts strike my body from within
hands hurt as if they were electrocuted
confusion takes me over as my fingers
begin to curl like vines
my legs walk backwards
putting some distance between us.
The words escaping her lips try to provoke me
but I continue, steady on my patha riot breaks out under my flesh
but I still continue my steady pathrage builds up behind my eyes, replacing frustration
my mind starts to cloud over like a fog
images pop in and out of my head
confusion empties my eyes of rage.
I want so badly to fill up the space between us
but I stay on my steady path.
I don’t understand my violent reactions
Am I truly a bad person?
Have I been misjudging my usual behavior
as just joking, when really
there’s an outraged monster
myself,caged withinw
sadness pushes confusion out of my eyessadnesmy steady path…
I stop m

Whirling wind
the sound of
the ocean
the charmof the palace
overhead,the moonlight.
Feast your eyeson theunbelievablevision of me,
black against thefog and snow.
Nakia Better
tter

Nichell Kee

14

kis, Kir
ise Lew
u
q
r
a
y, M
on Grall-r: JayyMurphl-r: MaMarc rcus Johns
us Ba
on,
rn
Khali
l Jone es, Deon Sstover,

drmsteaEric A

12 Years of Age

If the world ended
the last thing I would do,
I would shoot myself
into space!

I watched a man die.
It wasn’t fair;
I used to see it all the timein movies
but I never asked for afront row seat ticket for reality.
That day my innocence died.
I am no longer the guy withgood grades and a heart of gold.
My mouth is now a rainbow
who speaks in defense forall colors and races.
But I’ve lost my strive forexcellence. This doesn’t makeme a failure, I’m simply a
guy who won’t succeed.
A guy surrounded bygunmen and fired
upon is devastating to watch for achild. Children carry memories
Forever.
I’ll forever see his wounds andhear his cries.

DeArren Dawkins

Aaron M. Brooks

End of the World
If the world ended
I would shoot all my enemies
and steal a car,
I would buy a dinnerof pizza, chicken, crabs, shrimp.
If the world ended
I would start a riot
and watch the buildings burn in flames.
The streets would be wild.
The ashes of the fire blow away.
I would get on a tall building and look at the wreckage.

15

The Fight

Gray
Jayon

Nope!
Titles aren’t important because they try to hide
the feeling you get inside,
when paper and pen collide.
Titles aren’t important because they ruin the mood,the complete attitudeof one’s opinions polite or rude.
Titles aren’t important because they try to look fancy,
Makes the poem seem so chancy
They even help prove theories of Ms. Nancy.
Titles aren’t important because they lack the finesse,
Finesse that I haven’t quite shown yet.
Titles aren’t important, they never should be,
Leave them out, and your poem would be a breeze.
Sequan Wilson

I want to forget when
I got into a fight with
my B.F.F.L. just over something
crazy, the crazy thing is thisgirl influenced her to throw
my book on the floor and I
told her to pick it up and she
didn’t so I hit her in her
face and she hit me but
I am thankful that we arefriends again.
Bernice Caldwell

MemoryA memory I want to forgeta part of time I want to defeat
a memory
snowflake that scars
that has left me with pain
That memory was the mostpainful of my life.
And that memory was
when my grandmother diedon the day before
my birthday.
Lakiesha Thompson

16Forget It
I want to forget about all the violence on the street
because that’s all people do in the world andit leads to gangfights and gangbanging and alsoshooting and if the world did not have violence
it would be a peaceful loveable planet and I
really want to forget all about it one day.
I was walking with my friends outside and allthese boys just started fighting stabbing people andalso shooting. A lot of people in the whole complex
went to the graveyard and put flowers on tombstones
because their loved ones had got caught in the crossfire
and I wish that I could forget that time.

fade away
I want you tofade away
and leave me alone
for all eternity.
Your eyes
plague me
all throughout
my daysand nights.
The smell of
your perfume
assaults my nose
whenever I
least expect itand then leaves me
craving your smell.
Your loving facethat helpedme through thegood and the bad
except for when
you left me
and your facebecame my nightmare.

Marcus Barnes

ll-rr:: Fonté Brown,

Kierra Parks

Shawntay Kent
Kian

a Mu

rphy

17

Why are people the way they are?
Why are people the way they are?
When people kick you in the cold,
Thinking there’s no place
like home.
Then you become homeless and all alone.
Lakeisha Thompson

Edwa
rd M
arsha
ll

Homeless

RightsRight to remain green
to remain handsome
to vanish contempt
Right to remain black
to remain enmeshed
to be fenced
to be erased
Right to remain defiant
to remain afloat
to shine
to refuse
to be a refugee
Nakia Better

18

When I see a homeless man, in my head I say,
I wish I could help him.
Sometimes I see some holding up
signs saying ‘I am hungry.’My father gave a homeless mana ten dollar bill.
The homeless man said God bless you,my father said You too.
One day
I came out of the store and a man asked me
Do you have some spare change?
So I gave him 75 cents
because I felt sorry for him.
Eric Armstead

What I See
No Mercy
You have the right to remain silent, the right to do
anything you please, the right to ignore every
piece of ignorance that comes your way.
Anything you say can and will be used against you
in a court of law (where they will be acquitted)
after you banish every bad influence from yourroad of unforgiven wrongs.

I see homeless people in summer.
I see more in winter. When I wake up
in the morning I see paramedics picking
up the homeless. If you see the homelessin winter they’re ashy. Homelessness
makes me feel invisible.
Jason Goolsby

Whether in California or Florida, you havethe right to speak to an attorney, only if you
refuse to listen to all the defiant rumors ineveryone’s pleading eyes.
Do you understand these rights as I
have read them to you?
Nod for yes, if you can withstand thepeer pressure of everyone’s
bloody indescribable thoughts.
Kirk Murphy

SilentSilence remains your right
like vanishing fences
Contempt
Shine defiantly
Winning over the black dynasty
Coming for throats
Running for shelter
Erasing the past
Black, white, all the same
Vanish from this Earth
You have the right to remain

Stelilittaa Be
tter

Damon Kee

19

Kaleidoscope
Leaping blue and green daffodils that cry
Into doves, orange thread leaping into blue hearts
Deer sleeping quietly under the moon and stars
Slippery S’s
Ants turning into bears
Singing tulips turning into screaming mountains
Gold wires scribbling with oil
Blue streams flowing so gently
While boats flood by the shore
Red bunnies hopping mad
Like a kid who doesn’t get what she wants

The Way I Am
I got my voicefrom my mother, myfingers from my dad
my selfishness
from myself
I got my taste frommy mom and dad
I cherish people
like my mom and dad
I got my silence frommy mom and dad
My favorite colors from mybirthstone andMy future from mymom, dad and me
I got mine.

Cristal Sandoval

Tomorrow’s Promise
Is anything promised?
A promise is a fragile tool.
That someone can easily
manipulate and smash to nothing.
In the blink of an eye a promise
can disappear before your very eyes.
Broken promises, broken dreams,
what is broken sometimes may not
be put back together. A shattered mirror.
How can tomorrow promise anything
if tomorrow itself cannot be promised?

Kierra Parks

Myth

Marquise Lewis
I was sitting in math class
And an asteroid came flying through the window
With glass flying everywhere
Everybody ran except me
It landed on my math teacher
His legs stuck out from the bottom
DarVel Suggs

20

My life
I’m coming into the new year
thinking about
Butt Naked about the timeMarquise L

Renitaewis

msWilliaAlways Conscious
Looking behind my back always,
never knowing what’s going to happen next,
like the new kid just coming to school andseeing the school bully.
Always feeling like something
strange is yet to come,like reading a horrifying book and thinking
that monsters pop out of that corner.
Constantly keeping my eyes on everything,
thinking someone’s watching me,
like I’m the center of attention.
Kirk Murphy

he got locked up,
it was really messed
up because I couldn’t
see him no more
like I wanted
to but he was sendingme pictures in the
mail and writing
fairytales about him andhow he is going
to change hislife around andthis year I
was sitting at
a desk writing about
Butt Naked and how
I miss him
so much and how I
wish he was herewith me right now.
ShaQuan Joshua

21Poetic Autobiographyson,
escus Johnl-r: Mar rnes, Khalil Jona
B
MarcusPedigreeI am this list, made from miles and milesof legendary status and phenomenal beings.
I am the latest line on this chainof events and tragedies called life and death.
I am the aftermath that sets new records for the elderly
and sets new standards for the names that come after me.
I am the pain and miseryfrom all names above and all years to come.
I am my own pedigree.
I am my family’s future.
Aaron Brooks

22

And even though I remember
the slurred, soothing wordsof my mother while
she bathed me,
I failed tounderstand the factthat she had an
addiction to a thing
she called grey goose,the thing that madeher feel goodwhen no one else
was there to
put the broken pieces together,and when her bottle
was emptied of her
sinful concoction
I was there toaccept her for her,and give her
the love she
had sought fromthe lover that
only corrupted her,but your biographers
never understand.
Shawntay Kent

Making My Life
Thank you for making me laugh,for kindness,for making me exist,
for delightfulness in my life.
Thank you for our strangeness,for crowns and clumsy animals,for our writhing snakes.

The Poem of the Widow’s Son
Dat pretty lightskin lady wit dapretty butta skin and da rubyred fingerwaves,Thank you for our unburied family members,
for our motionless people,
for our smashed ants,
for my brief message.

singin’ dat song she always be
singin’. It’s just her voice makin’
love with the piano. I be listenin’.

Kierra Parks

I see it goin’ down in a smoky grayand black room. It smell like cigarettes
and Stetson and polished bullets. Nobody’s
talking. Dey just payin’ close, close attention
to the love scene. All these dudes
got on suits and hats wit da featherson ‘em. And dey listenin’ jus like I be.
She be singin’ “Love don’t live here
anymore.” The piano always got theright thing to say back to herlicorice lyrics. They get along so good.
It’s like one of the silly fairy tales
we read about in skool, dat ain’t real.
And if they is real, then it ain’t forlong cuz they always die.
Fairy tales die and leave you in anightmare. Like momma when daddy died.
Daddy gone and you know he ain’t comin’
back. Now all momma got is that
piano and me to love.

Shar
ri

Barn
es

James Saunders

23

When these trees talk.
In this householdon this tree, linedwith exotic ethnicity,charismatic nature true tomosaic patterns of unkempt
chivalry. My life is a lie based on
sibling rivalry, scribbled inpandemonium
and sleep-filled convulsions.
Jittery and frivolous andpost dinner questions set on
blunt and confusing, gregariously
insulting me, with my wet toeson these locked surfaces.
On this house, In this house, withgentle vivid acquaintance,
responsible for the frightening concept, self-titled.
These talking walls, Techno and pop,
gyrating my moods, like gelatin, body movement
seductive, heated 90 degrees.
Dancing silhouettes
everybody six feet above my
decomposed walls.
James Tindle

Marc

us Jo
hnson

My Own “Best”
I put smoke up in the air to chop and screw
my landlord’s voice.
I drink it straight driving 78 miles per hourpast responsibility.
On Easter Sundays I wear a tailor-madesuit to Jesus’ joint to see my old buddy
that I only call when I need a favor.
I work 3 mediocre jobs to decorate a loveless void.
I’m always best-dressed to fit in andstand out simultaneously.
I’m roommates with the faded gloryof my past. He’s my best friend. I takehim everywhere. To the clinic, the IRS
building, to anger management, we even go
to jail together.
James Saunders

24

When I traveled to the Nile.
Instinctively, I swing my
oar-like arms against thisbeady current, my lungs chiming in exact tune
with the gregariousnessof the trees, themaudlin waters whinnying likea man’s cavalry.
The wanton thoughts, the selfadministered liberation, afraidof the end of…the Nile.

Ode to the cafeteria
You don’t be clean
old peas get stuck
on your hands
soda is spilled
on your shirt, youstay unsanitized
Artease Pimble

Obsequiously, the trees whine for far off escapades,
to grab their roots from the soil
and play hopscotch, on my land, on myland. Catering to my needs, the trees.
Traveling vicariously along the Nile,
instinctively, swinging my long oar-like arms
against this rush of warm bath water…often
letting my hands surface from beneath the clear sheet.
My dog’s bark drowns my swim.
These thoughts of the Nile ending,cater to my needs...The trees.
James Tindle

Fonté Brown

25

Worth The Thought
That billions of children
are dying for the dumbest reasons.

That the teacher teaches but no one
listens.

That the black man isstill being treated badly, secretly.

That the moon isbright.

That the sun will
one day not rise.

That there are many
numbers.

That the poor will not
suffer any longer.

That promises are madeto be broken.

That the tree is planted
before it becomes beautiful.

That the earth spins
but no one feels it.

That everyone is so thesame that we might as well be clones.

That secrets are never
kept secret.

That the stripes on theflag mean united but no one will unite.

That Dwayne is
my inspiration.

That paper and a pen
are the keys to knowledge.

That this is theend of my poem.

That the ground issolid.

Davon Fordl-r: Deon S
tover, DeA
rren

26

Dawkins, D
ontae Keithl-r: Ste
Marc lita Better,
us Ba
rnes

wkins
ren DarAe
Dn,té Brow
r: Fonl-What is worth knowing
That stray cats areon the streets. That
my dog is fat as
an African elephant andhas green clothes.
That babies are cute,that bright colors
are visible. Thatthe ocean is sometimes
blue. That silver hasfans. That apples
grow on trees. That
Mr. Dwayne isworth nothing. Thatlockers need repairs.
That calculators areuseful. That desks
are needed.
Kortnee Spencer

The Statue of Freedom
It is made up of promisesthat are gifts and a bridge
broken, a cemetery ofdeath. When the half-moon
looks down upon it, it
blows fear of firethat fists hands, that justtrembles and burns. A tornadothat prays for stars is thesky, is ashamed of a hurricane.
I’m lost in the sky with mybaby sister right beside me.
The statue of freedom is about
free people that stand over slavery.
Stelita Better

27Worth KnowingksParKiierraWhat is worth knowing
Hearing people talkmakes me mad.
That if my father
cooks I’m going to be sick.
That if I get a perm
my hair will fall out.
That if I get madeveryone will suffer.
That it is better to
go to heaven than hell.
That I look goodwith or without braces.
That tigers are fasterthan a puma, that’s
worth knowing.

That second hand smoke
is as dangerous as first.
That energy drinks cancause major heart problems.
That being with the wrong
people can get you locked up,
shot or killed. That no gas
in the tank means notransportation.
That a presidential term
is four years. That unprotected
sex causes a lot of STD’s. That
everything good starts off
bad. That D.C. is a city
not a state. That timemoves forward neverbackwards. That Barack Obama
is our first black president.
And that knowledge ispower and power is strengthand strength is key.
Diantra Landry

Ieshia Mayol-r: Stel
Derri ita Better,
ck Brow
Lakei
sha T n, Kierra
Parks
homp
son
,

28

What I told my sister
I told my little sister how tokeep her promises, told her how
to ride a bike down the alley
without falling.
Told her how to twist her hair andhow to pray at night and even hit
people with her hand, to split faces
open, how to learn to burn paper.

Knowing which is which

Told her not to be scared when goingto the cemetery, to blow them deadmen a bye-bye kiss, told her if she
did something wrong I would
break her back bone. I told her
keep her imagination.

I am teaching
my god sister
her abc’s, I am
teaching her
how to write
them and whatsounds they make.
An A sounds
like an apple, an O
sounds like open.
I tell her topoint to an A
and she will point
to a P. As
time passes
she begins toknow which one
is which.
Then shefinally gets allof them right.
When she getsthem right,
she goes totell my mom.

Charlene Monroe

Jayon

Gray

Tanasia Lloyd

29

Dead and Gone
I’m crying into the new year
where best friend lies and homie Quan
dies.
Where life is not fair and it feels
like no one cares.
Love hurts but is he worth the pain,
riding in the fast lane?
People say you are the one to blame
because you always play childish games
and that’s a shame.
I’m bouncing back in theline, trying to get my mind off oftime.
I’m struggling, feels like my heart
is going to pop.
When I heard you died my heart
dropped, stopped, skipped a beat, now
I’m looking down at my feet!
Thinking you died because of me, without you who will I be, you are theone I need.
I thought I was a winner, now I’ma loser.
When you were alive you made mecooler.
Smiling my life away and not thinking
twice.
That night god was going to takeyour life.
Now I’m burning and it’s time forme to get over that you aregone.
Now they going to stamp your nameon a go-go song.
I wish I could race into a newyear and one day I could see you.
Angelique James

30

Lake
isha
Thom
pson

Teaching the ABC’s
I am telling my niece that learning
her ABC’s is easy as
123, but she’s not listening
to me, she’d rather watch T.V. or
break my stuff, anythingor everything she can find. I get
tired of trying, but I just
can’t give up that fast so
I try one more time. I
was so surprised she said
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,
P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z
all together for the 1st time.
Latisha Sockwell

The building

A wish that goes by

I see an ice cream truck
turn the corner
I look at itthen look away
I hear an explosion
bits of glass freefalls
onto my head.
A young girl is fleeing
she yells “fire!”
I look up toward the building
It’s on fire
fire falls out
and starts todance around me in a circle
The ice cream truck
has a head on collision
with a jeep down thestreetI hear screaming, a woman
jerks, back and forth on a window“help! help! help!”

I am bouncing into a new year
and the old year’s popping backlike popcornthat I eat watching a movie,
like crashing into a bus
all my old wishes will go away
it will be sliding through my mind
another wish I can hold in my hand
Antonio Jefferson

Donald Forbes

Everything I saw
I saw the mixmaster spinning
those records on the turntable.
All the bodies started
to rise up because of the soundof the youthful beats. The music
was so loud that the speakers
were bouncing around. Somepeople these days thinkthat the go-go is very entertaining
but you could barely listen
as the music played my heart
started to pound in my chest.

Marcrcus Barnes

Tracy Harris

31

Football

My Madness
There is no family if
you are full withemptiness. It isyour hand reachingfor a prayer in thecemetery. A broken
fist promise to givea half-moon.
When a flimsy angeloverlooked a family picture
it burned up intoa deathly rose of flamesthat remind you ofa dream that won’t cometrue. The imagination of
a secret holds a radio
full of noise. Believe it
or not your tearfalls from a split
tornado, sad andfull of hatred.
Stelita Better

Your rules arewhat
we make up, likegrabtouch. The
endzone iswherever welike, bythe traschcaninthe cornerby
the trashof dirty
beds. Ant’s
shoulderhit theback ofatruck and still
he caught
the ball.

The Sum
I am the sum of
my father and motherput together
I am the sum of acamera, I capture every
moment. The sumof white and red put
together on asummer day,the sum of everyone
telling lies. I am thesum of students
learning in class,the sum of a person
not a thing.
Latisha Sockwell

Devin Jenkins

PoetryI am storming into a new year
like a burning leaf
flowing down a small stream.
I feel like gliding
through the air
with a swift soft soundcrashing down witha stomping sound.
Tyray Johnson

32Tunnels of fire
Khali

l JoneNiichellTunnel of firelast week I got fired
then that following
week I got hired
I was tired thenmy building got caught
on fires

KeeJeffrey Gooding

Shooting jumpers
I am 2 hrs shooting jumpers at MLK,
I’m taller than every woman
in my family,
my mother, and my sisterlook up to me.
I help them a lot
because I havethe top spot.
Speaking of shooting jumpers
I’m like a pro
making shots that are not even known.
I’m not that tall but myjumper puts me on top.
I’m a beast, a bossand on the court I’m a problem.
Marlon McDowell

I Am
I am one of a kindlike the rose thatjust died
I am mewhich no once can ever be
I am a black dimethat can’t be broken
I am Zane
you will never find anyone
like me!!
Zane Harrison

33

I am
I am an energy drink
filled with tonsof sugar
I am a leech
sticking with you foryears and years
to come until you
cut me away
ers
Saund
James

Swept off the ground
I am a twisted branch on a tree,
waiting to become stronger,a silent breeze
gazing through the night,
a math problem
that will never be solved.
I am a picture
waiting to be drawn,

I am a stress bomb
mess with me longenough and in a flash
you would see
your life before you
I am a pencil
passed from hand to hand
until I am used up
I am timenever endingor stopping
but moving forward
never able to go backDiantra Landrya tear that is filled
up with sadness and despair,a dead leaf
waiting to be swept off the ground.
I am a poem
that is filled with intelligence.
I am the airthat nobody sees.
Davon Ford34l-r: K
halil
Jones
, Deo
n Sto
ver

Ode to the school
A poem for
Hey, he says
Go the distance
You wanna laughFine I’m out of here
But remember, go the distance
He’s leaving
Family means nothing, or does it?
We have been separated for years
I still remember him in great detailHe was so evil
Still he’s gone
Replaced by friends
Still etched in my memories
Still I remember go the distance.
Damon Kee

You’re filled with noise
and a lot of chaos
the teachers who come with you
are hypnotized into your dull building.
The soul of you liesin the dirty basement.
I step in front of you
hoping for the best,
hoping to learn something
new.
Your old dusty dirty furnishedclassroom reminds me of the hood I’m from.
You put up a displaythat you’re outstanding
when the mother who births you comes around.
The love for you fromyour peers is very little.
No support, no caring, just destruction.
But I’m a part of you… andsomeday I will learn to be proud of you.
Davon Ford

June 20, 2006
The light blue sky was so pretty
It was a very beautiful day.
Next thing you know, 3 guys running towards
The blue minivan the guy opens the side door
“Get in” “Get in” Hurry up, he said
They get in and pull off
Blood everywhere, glass, metal, pipes and…
Renita Williams

Kirk

Murp
hy

35

Ode to deceit
Lies are everywhere,
you look, touch—it’s
like putting your handin fire burning to the 3rd
degree. Even what I say
could be a lie, I havemet some deceitful people
and it’s sad. Did you know
5 out of 10 people arepathological liars, they willsell you short, won’t carebelieve it or not your parents
are liars. I mean, do you really
believe in the Easter Bunny….
I thought so, but when it
comes down to it we havetold a little white lie before
but it’s different when you’rebeing lied to….
It hurts like whenyour Hart gets broken
you don’t know what to
do or say and you try tocontrol yourself and know
your limits. What you do isnothing because it hurts
too bad like when a boyfriend
or girlfriend lies your world’s
crushed, you don’t know what to
do and it feels like you’re sickand don’t move or do nothing.
Zhana Kornegay

l-r: K
iana
Murp
hy, D
amon
Kee

Ode to Anger
I hate anger so much
I just want to murder someone
I want to snap on someone
I want to just do anything I
Can do to take my anger out on
I want to bury it alive
I want to do a magic trick
and make it be gone forever.
I want to destroy it forever
I want to take back all thoseThings I did to people when I was mad
I want to forget about anger
I don’t want to mention it no more.
Karl Gafford

36Ode to my memories

Something
about attitude
Attitude you roarthrough me like theA2 rushing down
MLK Ave on a hotsummerday
You make me put
away my spring
smile and bringout the cursesof me

Ode to my memories
when Sinquan and I used to have fun.
I can still remember those old summer days
like it was yesterday.
His smile used to brighten my day.
When we used to just sit on the playgroundand joke around while eating somethingthat’s why he was my favorite person.
We both like to eat.
It’s been five whole months
since he’s been gone.
Why so early, was the bullet really forhim? That’s all I think about now.
Why Sinquan, but all the memories
that I had, I’ll keep with me.
Niya Rogers

You make mesick to my stomach
like my sister when
she had a virus
troubling her belly
When I hear
your name I wantto puke like alittle child after
swinging too muchon Anacostia park
playgroundI want to bite
off your faceand put on a
new one when
I hear your name

Damon Kee

I want to attack
you like a lion
Imani Hinds

37

Ode to the world
What is worth knowing
It is worth knowing
math, reading, writing
It’s worth knowing
because withoutthat stuff you can’t
get a good job. It’s
worth knowing thatgetting your education
is a big part of life.
It’s worth knowingthat if you don’t
have your education
you will not beanything.
It’s worth knowingthat you can make an A.
Big chance like
President Obama you canbe anything you
want but first
it is yourOde to Love
education you
need to be that
person.
Imani Hinds

Love, you distance
between one and infinity,
can you only compare
how sweet and lovely
you are multiplying
into God with his angels
that hover over me,
you subtract the times
I felt like a speck of dirt
people walk over,
you add the time I felt
like a queen until
sadness interfered
like the area of death.
Tylashia Joyner

38

The world is a beast with 6 legs,
The world is a beast that needs to be slayed,
The world is like a Dragon,
hot in the mouth,
cold in the heart,
power in the tail.
The world is going to blow up
in a lot of pieces.
You know
like a bomb in the core.
Volcanoes erupt
rivers overflow,
the world just stops,
everyone is clueless,satellites catch pictures,the world just stops,
the kids were glad,
the adults were mad.
The world just stopped,
the world went in praise.
The world’s time was overand I was there,amazed.
I saw my hate go up in flames.
I was so glad I jumped and praised.
Ode to the world
and the world will say ode to me,
but until that day bye to allan ode to the world.
Forrest ElliottJames

Saund
ers

Emergency Room Talk
Gray
Jayon

Shoes
If I was the secretary of state’s
shoes it would be fungetting on planes going to China,
Mexico, seeing the great things
the world has to offer you know
walking down the street looking
sexy but the secretary don’t evenknow that I make her outfit glow
I’m hot black stilettos a lotof people won’t wear me but
I say no there is nothingthat she can do to get rid of me
but I don’t know it don’t matter
how many shoes she buys I will
always be the ones she will nevergo anywhere without.

If emergency rooms could talkI wonder what they’d say.
I’m a cozy little area of the hospital.
I see sick children sitting
while their parents check them inwondering what’s wrong with thesekids now. Pictures, paintings on the wallof happy children thinking these sickkids going to be like us again.
I know they will once they leave herewith smiles on their faces.
Niya Rogers

Zhana Kornegay

39What Is Worth Knowing

Eric

stead

Arm

What is worth knowing
You mean who is worth knowing,
my grandmotherbecause she looks her finest
when she is going to church.
She gave me a necklacethat has my godmother’sname on it.
My grandmother birthed
my mother in a hospital.
She took care of her
when she was a baby
and now my mom doesthat for me.
Jinell Hoes

40

That Obama will
stay in office forthe next four years.
That church is a
way to praise theLord. That life istrying to get overpeople laughing
at you, calling you
names. That there
are more girls
selling themselveson the corner. That
paper is also a wayof life. That life ismore than laughingwith your friends.
That learning is thecircumference of life.
That loving someone
is not worth it.
That blood is thicker
than a cell you can’t see.
That missing class is
not worth fighting for.
That the world won’t
give up and fall into
space. That god will
come and take his people.
Tylashia Joyner

BornLife is more than?
That life is more than sitting
on the corner sellingcrack. That a touch
down is a field goal. That life
is more then shooting
guns taking life making
families cry. That a football ismade out of pig skin.
That life is more then going to jaildoing 35 to life talking through a
glass window to your kids
getting told when to go in theshower and eat. That maddencame out with an 09.
That life is the prayer
from the mother sad because
her son got shot 4 times
anddon’t know if he will
make it to next week.

I was born in D.C.
never loved it but
didn’t show it. Born
at Greater Southeast,
never loved it, but
didn’t show it.
Always went out
through the rain
and the snow.
Chilling on the yellow
brick was what wecalled it, or either
go to the store was
our thing. Always wanting
to go somewhere
different. Doing and seeingsome things mademe sick.
Duna Kaigler

Devin Jenkins
nsl Jonesver, Khali
to
S
n
o
e
s, D
us Barne
l-r: Marc

Ieshi
a Ma
yo

41

An Ode to Madness
Madness, an exploding volcano
Bursting in heat, u don’t stop until
You’re satisfied. U make me speak
My mind didn’t know How far u
Would take me or how Far u would go.
Madness, u make me feel good,
But only when I think I’m rightAt the same time u fill me with
Hatred, pain, depression, and it
Doesn’t feel good. I try not to
Use u a lot but u just come soNaturally u are natural.
Madness, u are a part of life where
Most of us let u get the best of us
But u can’t get the best of me I’m
Going to fight through my struggle.
You’re a feeling that’s gets me hypeMakes me want to really hurt someone
U come and go, I really don’t need u
U make me miserable stop trying toControl me. I don’t like what u do to
Me we are no longer friends.
Duna Kaigler

Ode to part of the city
I remember when I used to livearound Good Hope and all there
was were fights going onthen I moved and it was more
drama, so I was just bouncing
off the walls
I mean I never saw people
act like animals in my life
There were police everywhere
and I was only like two or three
Kesahn Kaigler

42l-r: Antoni
o Jeff

erson
, Niy
a Rog
ers, T
re

McPh
erson

Talking to peace
Not one of the cars outside
is bringing someone to me.
It feels as if I’m alone.
When I talk to the trees
all I hear is a soft sound of
the trees blowing back and forth.
I can hear cars talking butwhen I ask them a question
they can’t answer me.
So as I see a person I try
to talk to them just walk pastso I shake my head and later
people start to recognize me.
Tyray Johnson

Ode to rice

Anger

Rice, hotwhite and tasty
white and buttery
filled with old wheat
fresh out of the kitchen
Rice, hotwhite and tasty
taste like Grits
Rice, hotwhite and tasty
taste of joy
Money not goingto waste. I
get what I pay
for. Rice makes
my day. Good forthe morning. Good
for midnight, even anafter school snack.
My wife of the future
Ode to rice!

Anger you are gettingin the way of
my emotions
Sometimes you makeme want to fightBut deep down
I know everything isgoing to be alrightSometimes you makeme look dumbas a door knob
when I am the only
one yellingKesahn Kaigler

Derrean Jones

A poem for myself
I was born in Parkland
I have been to Baltimore, and Virginia
Beach.
I want to go to Florida.
I walk up and down the clean and beautiful
streets.
The beautiful streets of Parkland,
past the new building called the Arc,the new basketball court andtwo playgrounds. Parkland is theplace to be.

Andre W
hite

Brandon Jenise

43

A poem for myself
I was born in Wahler
I shouted thru the park
Born black in Wahler
Shouted thru the park.
But when I reached the ageof five I left that place
for good.
Said my mommy gathered bags
and she put them in the car.
When I left that Monday morning
She was talking to my Grandmother.
We left her sitting in the chairon her porch with the sun shining
in her eyes.

Born
I was born in 501;
I walked past trashon the ground.
Walked past trashon the ground.
When I turned 11 they
tore 501 down.
Riding past remembering
all the fun times I had
with my friends
I walked past trashon the ground,walking around 501,
now it’s tore down
and I miss it very much.
Antonio Jefferson

And we headed NorthAs straight as the lines on the street
I been to New York, Maryland,
Virginia and Paris too.
Said I done strolled thru all
those funny avenues
I’m still the same old black girlwith the same old shout.
Going back to Wahler
this time to stay for good
Gonna be free in Wahler.
Shaquan Joshua

Black against the skin and bones
The cradle underneath the eyes of the mahoganythat sat under the moonlight. Wearing gold
there was a place where cotton was grown,
sun shining and no wind would blow. They could see
their shadow in a twilight zone. Rubies, emeralds
under her toes as she walks up the staircase madeof roses everlasting. Memories run through her vision
as clouds try to block all she did was watch her clock
as it tic toc. Calm asleep everlasting heartbeat
softness flames and rattling silence. Branches
sway back and forth at her palace she cried sang at dawn
I’m so glad those days are gone.
Renita Williams

44

l--r: James Saunll-rders, Kierra Parkses,lis Jonh, KhaiteKntea
l-r: Do Dawkins
en
r
r
DeA

What cities are like
Cities are like silence cause when you are inyour own little world everything is silent.
Cities are like eyes when you look everywhereand everything looks right back.
Sometimes cities are like good afternoons
without stress or problems. Cities arethroughout life. Cities are like memory, when
you go somewhere you’ll remember it forever.
Cities are like soul, everyday it wakes up I am
thankful for having one. Cities are like a staircase
when I be in the city, I feel wild about it.
Edward Marshall

The room of shadows
The room is full of shadowsand darkness and full of justhate, this room wth the distanceof love just wants you tobetray all.
This room is filled witha charm someplace you
would never find it
It will make you forget
everything you know.
This room is a bloody
haze that is unbelievable
This room is an endlessstaircase withwild crumbling roseswith everlasting clash of silence
that makes you go crazy.
Walter Jones

45

From
I am from Valley Avenue
I played outside everyday
from Valley Avenue
I played outside in the rain
When I turn 21 I am
going to leave Valley Avenue.
When I leave Valley Avenue
I am going to college
going to Maryland to play football.
Da’Juan Jones Jr.

,
mpson
ha Tho Brown
is
e
k
a
é
l-r: L etter, Font
B
Stelita

Suppose the sun leaves the sky
On a hill of gold
they clash with a hurricane
whirling bones
feasting on poison
always asleep, calm
many memories
calling, haunting
cold sweats
someplace safe, the purest of afternoons
I wander into darkness
we fall into shadowy majestic lights
wild eyeswith sudden strength
the alter cradles the broken man
promises of wealththe everlasting flame cries
now just a myth
Damon Kee

Untitled
I have nothing to write
I’m not even gonna lie
Not the time or place, the setting is wrong
No privacy, and my words are meek
But no one respects that I can’t write under pressure
Or under time limit
The letters have more class than to strip senselessly on lines
They have secrets to withhold, reputations to keep
These letters and words
Are my best friends
And they’ll be the death of me
He said, “That’s good, start with that.”
Maryum Abdullah

46

Shadows
This poem is filled with shadowsthe sun shines brightly
bringing out the dark reflections
there are so many of them
they’re here, they’re there
they are simply everywhere

Different things
Suppose the sun leaves the skyor that my heart leapt from my chestand my tears were overflowed with regret

they follow you everywhere
it’s an everlasting creature

One of these voices is telling me what I need to know
Another one, the wily, one told me lies
But my ears only heard the untold visions

it never dies out
even when you die

The room is full of shadows
The air is full of sweet velvet smell
my heartbeat is drunk on rhythm

they’ll still be there
when you think about it
they are really creepy
they are the stalkers

Black against the fog and snow
crumbling to the ground are my forgotten dreams
My hope is cradled with fear from my nightmaresof the shadow world
DarVel Suggs

All winter we’ll wander in a red wagon
But all summer we’ll travel in an everlasting destiny
Fall would be entirely different traveling on fallen leaves
I am a temporary citizen in the town of hatred
Next I’ll move to funny
But for now my car of things is fed up with broke down
Nichell Kee

Renit
a

Willi
ams

47

You’re Right There. . .
1 month had gone by since it happened.
Click, pop, pop, pop. My uncle shot in the chest
reaching, gasping for air. The shot ricocheted
off the solidifying night breeze.
3:00am a disturbing phone call, “Sorry Ms. Gathers
your son has passed away.” Everything froze, stilland quiet. Reality had shattered like the mighty
Thor’s hammer to a thousand mirrors. A festivalof tears broke the silent night.
During the funeral testimonies and crying. Words
unspoken and thoughts rattled for the young
man in the casket. Every face, every smile
every moment reminded me of you. Though gonefrom us you were still in our minds. I
wish I could forget.
Marquise Lewis

George Coleman
He draws all the time but
he is just a quiet and calm kid.
He is not loud but he be by himself
all the time and never wants
to be in the crowd. He does his
work but he has only a couple of friendsa couple of friends which are his mom
and dad and sometimes he just sits
in his room in the corner behind his bed
and draws, which is the only thing he does.
Jayon Gray

ers
Saund
James

Word riot
I remember when
the foxes were fighting raccoons
It was a conversation
held by a trash can
The stray puppy was accusedof being a communist
And the ugly possums
disguised their allegiance
The rats were told
to choose a side and fight
Or better yet, roll out
before things get worse
The raccoons heard it
from the canarythat the fox was the causeof all these problems
Which leads into a debateof who said what
Words burst into riot
That’s it!
Maryum Abdullah

48

Bad Sushi Blues
Life Blues
You live life
but you can’t live twice.
Deep in the sea
wondering who you
want to be.

I ate some Sushi now my stomach’s feeling bad
I say I ate some Sushi now my stomach is feeling bad
Now I’m at home that sushi I wish I never had
I ate that shrimp now I’m feeling mean
I say I ate that shrimp now I’m feeling mean
Now I have to make tea with a vanilla bean
Now I’m feeling better I gotta make that green.

Tryna be coolby not going to school

Myia Manigan

All you do is end
Up a fool
Daja Leonard

Lil Sister Blues
I had to watch my sister when my mom went out
I said had to watch my sister when my mom went out
She cries, she cries all about.
I tried to feed her pork chops and steak
I said I tried to feed her pork chops and steak
But there’s some stuff she can’t take
But there’s some stuff she can’t take
OMG she threw up she threw up
OMG she threw up she threw up

Kirk Murphy

Now its time for her to take a wash up
Now its time for her to take a wash up
Nyesha Morrow49

Dirty Room Blues

Blues PoemI cleaned my room
but now its dirty again.

This boy asked me for my number
and I said no.

I cleaned my room
but now its dirty again.

I said this boy asked me for my number
and I said no.

I don’t know what happened
but I just can’t win.

He said why I can’t
get your number mo?

I don’t know what happened
but I just can’t win.

He said why, he said why.
I say boy bye I say boy bye.
He said I’m going to try.
He said I’m going to try.
I say boy my oh my.

I’m mad it happened
but I just don’t care.
I’m mad it happened
but I just don’t care.
Then I just say forget it
cuz I am not scared.
Then I just say forget it
cuz I am not scared.
Erica McCrae

Little Sister Blues
My little sister knocked me out
I said my little siter knocked me out
Should I hit her or tell mom what its about
Should I tell my Dad
I said should I tell my Dad
3 hours later I may not be so glad.
Lonnell Carter

50

Courtney Slater

Dear sadness,
In your hands the worldis going down the drain.
Two close people past away.
First my mother in the year 2008.
I still can remember her face
It was as bright as the sun.
Then this boy named Sinquan.
He was like a big brother to me.
He always had me laughing like a joker.
Now that he’s gone my neighborhood
be as dry as crackers.
I miss them like a little boy misses
his lost dog.
Niya Rogers

Marquise Lisise Lew

Marqu

Postcard PoemObama is getting aroundBlack African Heroes
Fighting the cold
Happy for election in the cold
Lil kids making change
Young bros making change to see the first black
President
Peace has come for blacks
Construction Obama
Very hot
Little girl taking pics for her beauty
America’s Top Model wanna be
Wanna be artist too
Working late at night Langston Hughes’s Door
Danisha Woodard

ewisFound Poem
African International Party
Zulo Soul
Move ments
Artist art Dead prez
Café Nema DJ Underdog
Each and Every
Soul In The City
Jello for Peace for Unity
It’s show time
Guest DJ…Saul Williams
Experience the grandness of it all
Sales and cocktails
The Art Of Conversation
MLK Weekend Celebration
Visual Arts and Performing
Arts Dining Jonathan Mannion
The Wiz
Roots
Jay-z
Tajia Williams

51

Postcard Poem/ Found Poem

Gray
Jayon

Postcard PoemObama the first black
President. Our other President
Was Abraham Lincoln. I love
how the flag is. Lots ofpeople in the United States.
Kids happy and excited.
People chanting peace peacein the air. Obama’s nameeverywhere. Ice Pops.
African-Americans.
Little pretty sad kids.
Dresses everywhere.
Band exploring.
Back in the days for blacks
Black and white colors.
Jamaicans be wild.
Wild hair wild colors
Art around the world.
Fathers and Kids reunited.
Soul In the City.
Glasses are everywhere.
Jay-Z is ugly
Gorillas and Monsters
Poetry all the way
Erica McCrae

52

Barack Obama’s face painted on a wall
Barack Obama under construction
A peace sign
Two ladies
A car zooming past
Boy eating a ice pop
A girl in a little pretty dress
Ugly tall lady
A night club
A young man serving someone
The water front
An ugly man
A crazy hair style
Father and Son
A headless person
A geek
Jay-Z
Poetry Out LoudClassic Art
A lady trying to kiss the earth
Dante Lewis

What its like to follow
class rules for those who don’t.
In this poem Lakeesha Jackson
doesn’t like to follow rules. Everywhere
she goes, different schools and classes
or moving in with her aunt or grandmotherand friends when her parents pass away.
I hate classroom rules cause you can’t
Do what you want to do
But if you want to pass your grade
and get to college and get a good job
so you got to DEAL WITH IT.
Lakeesha Jackson

What its like to have aname like Jasmon
for those who don’t.
Its kinda fun sometimes
to have this name.
It has its advantages.
Some people misspell
my name with a Z or a E
and sometimes I.
But it don’t botherme as much and sometimes
they pronounce my last name wrong
but I correct them.
But my family pronounces itright.

Recipe Of Anger

So I’m fineJasmon Gassaway

Find two big mouths that don’tknow nothing. Add a teaspoonof jealousy and some cream of hatering.
A cup of swagger and dirt.
Add a spoonful of don’t hate
Congratulate
Erica McCrae

l-r: S
telitaBetter, Lak
eisha
Thom
pson,
Kierr
a Par
ks

53

School, is that worth knowing
Fighting, who has a baby, HIV, AIDS, crabs
lice is that worth knowing
before we find out what is worth knowing
what is knowing, knowing is remembering
is what you remember is what you know
now back to what we was talking about
what do you have to know, one thing is when you
going to die
Is that worth knowing, I hope you said yes, if you
said no, smack yourself. Just joking
do not hit yourself, but do not be like melive your life you
only get one do not be a follower be a leader
If you live in D.C. stick out not in
Do you know what I mean
I mean they might test you but it will be worth it
now that is worth knowing
you know all around the world schools are being
closed so take advantage do something with yourlife get a summer job when you can
Is that worth knowing.
Forrest Elliot

The I Hate You Blues
You need to shut up cause I hate you
I said you need to shut up cause I hate you
I hope you fall down the stairs and break your neckI said I hope you fall down the stairs and break your neckI’m laughing at you now while you
falling to the ground.
Torrence Miller

My BoyBlues PoemHe’s mine even though we’re not
together any more.
I still have love for him evenThough he doesn’t know it.
He loves me and I love him but
We just faking on each other.
I have to move on he has to move on
But deep down inside he’s still my
Boo.
Keaira Moore

My last day
If I were to die
I’d break out and fly
The world could see my shadow
Even if I die
My ashes would burnEven if I see the light
The sun would burn at my sight
The world would shatter in the night
I would become numbLike the stop of a drum
Like a breeze
I’d blow away
Swaying on a hot day
Forever gone on that day
Jovan Hale

54

Bad NeiceMy niece keeps messing up my room.
I said my niece keeps messing up my room
Next time I’ma need to get the broom
Do I want to lock her out
I said do I want to lock her out

Listen To My Words
I, Karl Gafford, in 10 years I will bean entrepeneur, a real estate
Agent sellingHouses, mansions, the world.
Like Scarface.

No cause when she starts to cry her Daddy screams and shouts.

Yes because she will go to sleep just in time.

Listen to my moneytalking: Karl paid,
he got more ones thana dancer at the Chipotle,
he got money like Scarface

Daja Leonard

Karl Gafford

Am I losing my mind
I say am I losing my mind

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