STREAMS 11

published by The Waterways Project of Ten Penny Players, Inc. (a not for profit corporation)

with funding support from

NYC Public Schools, Learn & Serve America, The puffin Foundation, Syracuse University and the NYS Council on the Arts.

Barbara Fisher & Rich Spiegel, Co-editors A. Thomas Perry, Administrative Assistant

Stephen E. Phillips, Superintendent

Office of Alternative High Schools and Programs

Paul Auerbach, Norman Benjamin, Lynn Boyle,

Charles Brandwein, J.A. Brathwaite, Phyllis Brusca, Jane Califf, Judith Caputo, Deborah Cohen, Paul Douglas, Olga Economos, Charlie Ehman, Antonio Flores-Lobes, Margaret A. Friscia, Marie Genaurd, Dave Glick, George Goldschlag,

Ofelia Rodriguez Goldstein, Frank Grabinski, Toby Greenzang, Lucie Harris, Matthew Hejna-Luque, Roslyn Kaye,

Ronald G. King, Alison Koffler, Steve Konaplanik,

Barbara Korngut, Bernie Kramer, Lucy Keummerle,

Carmen Kynard, Builder Levy, Miriam Lock, Luzmila Machado, Joan Martinez, Max Mendes, Tom Mitchelson,

Anthony Montgomery, Beth Moody, John Parada, James Patton, Jeanne Pope, Julie Quinton, Kissoonlall Ramkaran,

V. Naledi Raspberry, Leila Riley, Zacaries Rivers,

Rodolfo Rodriguez, Cesar Roquez, Judith Rosenbaum,

Paul Rotondo, Glenna Rost, Yasmin Schneider, Anthony Schwab, Jonathan Shapiro, Katherine Simpson, Madeline Slovenz-Low, Maxine Spokov, Paul Takis, Wendy Thorpe, Gail Tuch,

Geneva Vera, Tyona Washington, Pavella Wesser,

Barbara Youngman, Rose Ziti

School faculty members encouraging, recognizing and publishing student poets.

isbn 0-934830-64-9

... he journeyed a whole day without interruption, when at length, emerging from the forest, he saw before him a vast mountain of dazzling whiteness. So precipitous was the ascent, that the man thought it hopeless to go farther, and looked around him in despair: at that moment, he saw, seated at some distance above, the figure of a beautiful woman arrayed in white, who arose as he looked upon her, and thus accosted him: "How can you hope, encumbered as you are, to succeed in your design? Go down to the foot of the mountain, throwaway your gun, your ammunition, your provisions, and your clothing; wash yourself in the stream which flows there, and you will then be prepared to stand before the Great Spirit."

Pontiac, chief of the Ottawas April 27, 1763

Thanks to Maritza Vega, Frances Hollon and Stanley S. Hansen, Jr. Chief of the Bureau of College, School and Community Collaborations at the New York State Education Department for support given Waterways. Many of the students represented in these pages have been involved in Learn and Serve America, a service learning project of the Corporation for National Service.

Streams has been selected by the Young Adult Librarians at the New York Public Library as a recommended book for the teen age reader for eight consecutive years. Thanks to Marilee Fogelsong and Mary Jane Tacchi at the Office of Young Adult Services.

Thanks to Joanne Rosario, Sandra Payne and Elise Cole for developing performance programs which enabled many of the poets published by Waterways to perform their work in public.

The Waterways Project is a program of Ten Penny Players, Inc. a N.Y.S. chartered not for profit 501c3 corporation.

Waterways, 393 St. Pauls Avenue, Staten Island, N. Y. 10304-2127

Printed by The Print Center

© 1997, Ten Penny Players, Inc.

ii

Student contributors attend the following NYC schools and programs:

Auxiliary Services for High Schools, Beacon School, BedlStuy Outreach, Bridges to Brooklyn, Brooklyn College Academy, Bushwick High School, Career Education Center, City As School, Concord High School, East Brooklyn Congregational High School for Public Service (Bushwick), East Brooklyn Congregational High School for Public Service (East New York), Frederick Douglass Literacy Center,

High School of World Cultures, Ida B. Wells School,

Island Academy, James Baldwin Literacy Center,

Legacy School, Lower Eastside Prep., NYC Public School Repertory Co., NYC Vocational Training Center,

Offsite Educational Services, Phoenix House Academy, Program for Pregnant & Parenting Services,

Rikers Island Educational Facility, Saint George School, School of Continuing Education, Teen Aid School, Vanguard High School, Wings Academy,

Youth Options Unlimited

Joan Ahern, Margaret Bing-Wade, Franklyn Brickler, Louis Delgado; Shirley Edwards, Judy Goldman, Carmen Grippa, Toni Hadi, Haven Henderson,

Coran James, Sharon Jones, Ellen Kirshbaum, Timothy Lisante, Jerry Long, Madeline Lumachi, Robert Lubetsky, Vincent Maniscalco, Janet Mann, Michael Mirakian, Frank Murray, Joan Perez,

Micahel Ragon, Lois Rekosh, Genevieve Richards-Wright, Sharon Santana, Steven Stoll, Colin Thomas, Marie Torchia, Harry Weinstein, Alan Werner, Loretta White,

Sherry Zekowski

Cooperating Administrators

Cover Photo

A. Thomas Perry Book Design Rich Spiegel

iii

STREAMS 11

Table of Contents

Part 1: What Counts 1-16

Uno by Steven Messina 2

The Writing Wonder by Solomon Wilson 2 Brandon Nieves 3

Music Makes Me High by Anthony Davis 4 Musicians by Marvin Williams 4

Music by Kernelee Bowen 5

Guitars by Kathy Charles 5

My Bike by Jerome Hamlett 6

My Pillow. My Pillow. by Hector Ruiz 7 William Baez 7

Erik Nesbitt 8

Joseph Clark 9

Hot Peas And Butter by Jameelah Abdullah-Grant 9 What If I Am? by Kim Rocks 10

My Child by Nakisha Yvette Patterson 11 Mother Always Said by Fatima M. Johnson 11 I'm Still Rising by Onyara Memminger 12 Statistic by Maria Polanco 13

Adrienne Hoey 14

Life by Sha-von Forrest 15

My Name Is Rodwin Allicock by Rodwin Allicock 15 The Rain by Vanessa Adams 16

Matematicas by Amalfi Cruz 16

Part 2: Models 17-36

Message To The Youth by Kelvin Francois 18 Poet's Theme by Jacqueline Sirleaf 19 Aracelis Beltrez 21

The Best Memories by Shirley Santiago 21 Waking Up by John Brown 22

Willie Toben 22

Becoming A Woman by Jasmin Sanchez 23 Advice by Mahalia Campbell 24

Raising A Child by Philistine Felder 24 My Mother by Carmen Gonzalez 25

iv

She So Fair by Judi Martinez 26 First Strike by Toi Smith 27

My Pops by Jeremy Clark 28 Rhonda Oliver 29

Monique Gonzalez 30

Ms. Greenzang by Justino Rivera 31

My Teacher, Ms. Kaye by Lucius Welcome 31 Ms. Economos by Jessica Morales 32

Mr. Patton by Derrick Lebrun aka D-Rock 32 The Great Hearted Man by Venaira Bonilla 33

My Grandmother Whom I Miss by Brian Manderson 34 Mrs. Baez by Zahira Atiya Price 34

Beautiful Woman by Shawn Pannell 35

Architect by Felicia Gonzalez 36

Part 3: Fear and Pity 37-56

Tears Of Life by John Delutro 38 Awake by Jeannine M. 39 Neverland by Jennifer M. 40

Fear Of The Waltz by Andre Vaughn 41 i shiver by Joann Colagiacomi 42

The Thing I Fear by Allison Barbagallo 43 Paranoid by Reggie Wyche 43

To Whom It May Concern by Stephanie Delaurencio 44 In Just Winter by Omoro Pinnock 45

What I Feared by Tedroy McKenzie 45

Into The Night by Gerald M. G. Jr. 46

She Doesn't Even Know by Edgar Marcel Babb 46 The Way I Feel by Michele Cruz 47

You by Christina Fleishman 48

Losing A Family Member by Janai Ward 49 Lonely by Santrice Simon 49

Sorrow by Lesliean Canterbury 50

Andre Barrino 50

Ugly Child by Cherilyn Jenkins 51 Rotten Peach by Philip Ashley 51 Not Me!! by Andrew Velasquez 52 Scared by Pinkney 53

Through The Air by Caliph Hunter 54 Afraid by Shakima Choice 54

Pain by Juliet Gomez 55

What Do lOwe You by Michelle Cortez 56

v

Part 4: Almost Reaching The Limit 57-76

Words by Sherisse Alvarez 58

Trying To Write a Poem by Rebeca Lucret 59 N atasha Morales 60

A Name by Rasheen Bonneau 60 Truth by Jeanette Castro 61 Dreams by Cynthia Stanley 61 Wishes by Akira N esfield 62

If Only's by Princess Carr & Solo Starr 63 School Daze by Brian A. 64

The Mind by Juan Peralta 65

Each Of Us by Na-Shaun Martin 65 Casey Straka 66

Walking by Das Smith 67

I Wish by Marcus Boozer 68

The Hot Room by Anthony Duncan 69

The Mountains by Dave Wiggins 69 Variation On A Sestina by Marcus Forbes 70 Seeing You by Tanya Sue Cowan 71 Natasha Evans 72

You Say You Need Space by Estelle Star Calderon 73 Live A Dream by Ralph Rivera 74

Day Dream by Eddie Rivera 74

Another Woman's Man by Jenny Gonzalez 75 Osie Fortune 76

Too Much Crack by Michael McFarlane 77

Part 5: Eternity Now 77-96

Learning From A Child by Karisma Brooks 78 My Time by James Otero 79

10:00 by Celeste Ramos 80

Mirror by Lataisha Danzy 81

Change by Daniel Bussey 82

Faces by Christopher C. Neely 83

Robert Gibson 83

Heaven by Minuchkaina Sainvil 84 Flying Birds by Anna Morales 84

Alone On A Field Of Greens by Janine Marie Krowl 85 Freedom From Worry by Eddy Casimir 85

The Frost Bitten Years by Alex Piersiak 86

For A Little While by Devaughn Salazar 87

People Come, People Go by James Acevedo 88

vi

Certain People Are A Joy to Know by Kiesha Crabb 89 Love Has No Limit by D. Del Valle 90

Our Wedding Day by Alyssa M. Mitcham 91 Eternity by Marlon Garcia 92

Eternity by Marco Suezo 93

Death by Julie Otero 93

What's Death by Derek Zachary 94

Life -- Why Do We Die? by Adam Brown 95 Death Goes On by Tyree Brown 96

Part 6 Hosting Strangers 97-123

Gabriel Bracero 98

Suggestions by Alexis Hooper 99 Sea Gulls by Fanta Graham 100 Story by Deochand Sanichar 101 Caught Between Love by C.J. 104 Judge Not by Claudius Hyatt 105 Black by Asalaam Stapleton 105 My Brother by Malcolm James 106 Family by Nicole Gulley 107

What Is It To Be Loved? by Cindy Cruz 107 Cinderfella De Rap by Wilbur Ford, Jr. 108 Nyjamilk Lenor 111

It's Time To Move On by Sha-Toya Hickman 111 Secret by Monique Bell 112

He's Not For You by Miguel Rosado 113 Why I Did It? by Tiffany Samuel 114 Why by Jennifer Leoncio 115

Still Confused by Floyd Boyce 116

I'm Breaking Loose by Tara Barriera 117 Girls Nowadays by Allen Gauthier 118

The Ones That I Love by Jessica Morales 119 No Good by Simone Shettlewood 119

I'm In Love by Sam Smith 120

I Will by Louis Morales 121

War by Vijay Rahim 121

Why Is Life So Hard? by Bryan Montas 122

A Man Of My Belief by Millie Miriam Gomez 123

vu

Part 7: Networking 124-140

A Key by Peter Hoarau 125 Doors by Baskram Mahabeir 125

My Happiest Memory by Yves Etienne 126 Going To The Store by Win del Smith 127 Can It? by Jorge Diaz 127

The Classroom by Bianca Moore 128 Crowning Jewel City by Curt Johnson 129 DeShawn Strickland 130

Millie Ortiz 130

My Home by Dwayne Cockburn 131 TV by Noel Valdes 131

Living in the Projects by Andre Barrino 132 New Beginning by Li-Mei Chen 132

Life Savers by Denisse Paulino 133 Loneliness by Courtney Harris 133

Mary Kong 134

What's The Problem? by Shawanna Waker 134 You by Jihan Lewis 135

Tell Me by Patricia Estrella 135

Our Hands by Simone Zimmerman 136 Cristina Alci.var 136

My Best Friend by Kanhai John 137 Best Friend by Chris M. 138

A Special Friend by Javaughn Clarke 139 Life Is Just Like Poetry by Dewight Smith 139 I Love to Read by Samuel DaSilva 140

Author Index

Title Index

viii

Part 1

What Counts

1

2

Uno Steven Messina

Hi, I'm a pen. I'm almost 2 and I feel that I serve a purpose because I dangle around my master's neck everywhere he goes. I'm blue, a dark blue. I'm fortunate to be living this long with fun experiences like skating 'round the paper, making curvatures at all different angles and creating all different vivid drawings with the help of my master, Steve. But, what I love the most is when we harmonize with personal poetry; it makes us feel as one. Hell, we're so close that he even gave me a name. It's Kanayo Unokiwe, but he shortened it for reference. We've been through so much together (sigh). I can hardly wait till we get his GED. I know it will bring us closer to each other, but I also know I'll be working much harder, and sooner or later, I'll die and be forgotten because he shall find another cohort. See ya!

The Writing Wonder Solomon Wilson

I am the writing wonder

who writes poems tuned to reality,

trying to run from depression and poverty. I am the writing wonder

who writes stories that deal with the real, and stanzas to express how I feel.

I am the writing wonder

who writes sentences and phrases that receive lots of praises.

I am the writing wonder

who writes about time, and home,

and about people who are violence prone. I am the writing wonder.

Brandon Nieves

The crowd cheers, screaming applauding, awaiting the music that will soon be starting.

It begins, there's a frightening

exciting hush that falls over the crowd. No sound, just music. A sweet trancestate tune playing on the speakers

not a breath or a blink of

an eye has occurred.

Everything still.

Nothing moving.

Just millions of people standing absolutely still

listening to music.

Letting the music guide their thoughts. Enjoying the feeling till it ends.

Of course, it always has to end.

It can never keep on going.

Till next time;

it will start all over again.

The same beginning, middle and end.

3

Music Makes Me High Anthony Davis

I hear the music.

It's ringing in my ears.

I feel like a kite in the sky, just going and going;

free as the birds,

soaring higher and higher.

Sweet melody keeps me steady and strong.

I feel like shouting.

The vibrations get heavy. So I echo the words

and scream with all my might. What joy it brings

to a weary soul.

Music is so divine!

Musicians Marvin Williams

The reason a musician's so unique each verse is rhythmed

whenever he speaks

but the best musician to listen to

is the one that's trying

to get a message through.

4

Music Kernelee Bowen

All around you, music fills the air. Different sounds) different lyrics, different styles, make you sing) make you dance, make you spin, make you fall.

Yes, it's music all around. Music fills the air.

It's music) pure music.

Guitars Kathy Charles

Once I played guitars

and sang songs to the sea.

I told my secrets to the waves. They told theirs to me.

Now I no longer play guitar and the waves don't sing to me.

5

6

My Bike

Jerome Hamlett

Seven years of age, getting old, right along with me.

Gets sick sometimes, and she's not able

to go out and be

ridden around Brooklyn. She's black and yellow with one blue rim. Stops good in emergencies. Rides fast down hill. Rides over glass without getting cut.

We travel all over New York.

Just like me, she gets tired and cut on her wheel after riding over glass several times in one day. She also needs air.

So we stop and I

give her air in her tire and patch up her wound and we're off to ride

all over NY again.

We have so much fun.

My Pillow. My Pillow.

Hector Ruiz

That's a good pillow. My pillow. My pillow. That's a cool pillow. Without my pillow

I won't get through the night. When I can't get through the night, it will

try to get me

through the night.

William Baez

I have no object that is of great value

except my first baseball glove, which my father gave me. That's great

value to

me.

7

8

Erik Nesbitt

When I was a child I was always active. I liked sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. As a child I played games such as 'Freeze Tag', 'Color Tag', 'Cops and Robbers', and other silly games. I also wanted to be a movie star in an action film. I liked the fact of going on a mission and saving someone at the end and being a hero. Martial Arts was a style of fighting I wanted to learn and maybe master some day. It wasn't just the offensive or defensive moves. It was the strong concentration that fighters maintain during exercise.

When I was a child I didn't like school. I hated to read and do other academic related subjects sometimes. The only thing I liked was gym. The other times I would be daydreaming in class and didn't know what was going on. But surprisingly it wasn't always like that. At times I wanted to go to school and learn something new.

I was very close to my family, yet I used to always argue with them. My brother and sister always argued and fought with me. My mom and dad would teach me right from wrong in life and how things function.

There were many things I wanted to be when I was a kid. I preferred to be a kid back then instead of now, because I would probably be worse off if I had been born any later. I would probably have been a murderer in the state pen! Now I understand the real meaning of life. I realize that in order to be successful I have to study hard and concentrate.

Joseph Clark

When I was a child I liked to hang out with my father. I would go every where with him. He worked at an auto body shop. I liked to see him fix up broken down cars like it was nothing.

When I was a child, I thought at night someone or something would grab me under my bed. I would be scared to leave my bed. So I would jump on top of my dresser which was next to the door.

When I was a child I used to play Manhunt with my friends. Manhunt is another word for tag. W( used to play in abandoned buildings. You'd have to try to L .de from the Manhunter. If the Manhunter catches you he punches you for a number of times on your arm.

I also played video games and tackle football on the streets. I think the best game I ever played was doctor. My friend would be the doctor first. I would come into the room and she would give me a complete physical. And then I played the doctor role.

Hot Peas and Butter Jameelah Abdullah-Grant

Hot peas and butter

come and get your supper were the words I used to say. Thinking back on childhood

that was my favorite game to play. Everyone running, skipping, and laughing. Oh, sometimes I wish I were still young

so I can have fun

playing hot peas and butter.

9

What If I Am?

Kim Rocks

What if I am?

Nine long months,

but I'm still so young! Love, caring, spoiled etc ... That's what I must give! What if I am?

Will he still love me? Would they accept me? People might talk would he walk?

All of these question! What if I am?

So little it would be.

So much money it would cost! Would he help?

Would I treat it good?

Would it be good?

What if I am?

Would I continue my education? What would I be able to offer it? Unprotected, hot passionate loving that's how it all began.

Now I'm late!

What if I am?

10

My Child

N akisha Yvette Patterson

I don't know whether you're a girl or a boy yet but I know that I love you very much.

The love I have for you is stronger than the love I have for anyone else.

You are part of your father and me; a special bond of us together.

There are so many things I have to offer you; so many things I have in store.

God has blessed me with your presence; and as your mommy I promise to love you, honor you, and spoil you from now until...

I shall always be there to make things bearable.

Mother Always Said Fatima M. Johnson

Mother always said wear socks everyday because if you don't your feet will begin to stink; and when your feet become stinky

no one will be able to stand next to you.

People will not want to go into the same room with you and everyone will begin to laugh at you when you go by. Then the teacher will call me

to complain about your feet smelling

and they will think I don't buy enough soap for you to wash your feet.

11

12

I'm Still Rising Onyara Memminger

I remember that day very well.

You told me you loved me and would always be there. Yet, your actions do just the opposite.

You spent half of my life in prison.

Yet, when you came home I always accepted you.

Time and time again you played a distant role in my life. When are you going to let the Big Kid go and be a man? You brought forth five seeds but don't water any of them. Still I rise and let my sun shine on you too.

N ow I have a little blossom that wants you in her life. But, once again you pushed me away.

N ow there's an epidemic that holds your life in its hand. I would like to be there for you,

regardless of the tough times,

but I remember that day very well;

you told me you loved me and would always be there, but you put a knife to my throat

and that ended my sun shining on you. There's just one thing I want you to know. I'm still rising!

Statistic Maria Polanco

Another one just left.

Her pregnancy test came out positive. I saw the tears in her eyes.

Her emotions she could not hide. I gave her some alternatives, but she wouldn't hear of it.

She looked at me

with such despair

but it's not like I didn't care.

I have to deal with this every day, and another will come today.

She, too, will look at me

for shelter or comforting.

Then she'll be gone

and then there'll be another one.

13

Adrienne Hoey

I find myself stuck in a world; somewhere on that thin line between love and hate.

And, I have determined that

who I become can only be my fate.

And, must it be that my train of thought is always focused on one thing: a love I lost?

I know nothing is free, everything has its cost; and mine was

the memory of you.

But, why should I settle? You're not the best; nothing too special; just like all the rest. Only you fooled me.

Can this happen again?

Only if I let it. I remember what happened the first time; and I'll never forget it.

14

Life

Sha-von Forrest

Life is kind of hard. We are struggling, paying bills,

keeping food in the house, having a roof over our heads. If we keep on doing this,

things will get easy in the future. Keep trying.

Keep trying.

Keep trying.

My Name Is Rodwin Allicock Rodwin Allicock

I have three brothers and three sisters. I work at a food shop.

My mother and father

go to market every Sunday. Some days my family and I

go to the river to catch some fish. My mother and father

work in a market and

my brother and my sister cook the dinner every day.

15

The Rain Vanessa Adams

They say we all should love the rain that beats upon the window pane.

They say it makes the green grass grow, and all the little rivers flow.

Matematicas Amalfi Cruz

Maldita sea la hora que inventaron 10 que se llama Matematica.

Numeros aqui y alla

confusion, division, multiplicacion, resta, suma.

Pero 10 mas que me molesta

es que siempre esta en todas partes, hasta en mis suefios aparece la maldita,

16

Part 2

Models

17

Message to the Youth Kelvin Fr-ancois

(Mrs. Fleming of the Concord Nursing Home inspired me to write this poem)

Everybody cannot be a king. Everyone cannot be a leader or ruler. Somebody has to be a follower.

Everybody cannot be a sun. Everyone cannot be a star. Somebody has to be the moon.

Everybody cannot be a lawyer or a doctor. Everyone cannot be a priest or pastor. Somebody has to be a messenger.

Everybody cannot be the highway or the byway. Somebody, somebody has to be that crossroad.

Everybody cannot be an architect. Somebody has to be a fisherman. Somebody has to be a farmer.

For, if we have everybody doing the same thing what a world we would live in.

Everyone has their own little light to shine. Wheresoever that light shines

may it shine on the right pathway;

and whatsoever talent you've got, use it wisely.

18

Poet's Theme Jacqueline Sirleaf

Everyone is a poet in their own heart. We all know how

to put lines together for love; and we know how

to tear them apart.

We can make the roughest sounds be heard so gentle and sweet, turn the sweetest words

into something you never want to hear.

We can place you on an island and leave you there;

or change the setting and put you somewhere colder if we dare.

A poet's imagination is her strongest point. She can always use it to her advantage and make you see and hear things

you usually wouldn't.

A poet can put your mind at rest or make it ill at ease;

turn nothing into something with just the touch of a pen.

When you think about poetry it's not just rhymes, words

on top of words, so divine.

It's hours, sometimes days

of pure stress, to make little words become so beautiful to turn out like this.

19

A poet's life is a hard one, we must work harder than

some people and less than a few.

Not physical labor, or a million dollar scheme, but thinking upon thinking to make each line be so clear.

Poetry is an art

many people don't fancy

while we poets think it's so dandy.

U sing words to describe everything and anything like artists do

in their sketch book.

It's something I love and cherish

so dear and wish everyone around me could grab a glass and cheer.

Poetry is my talent and a talent indeed; I have mastered this art

as the rich master the art of greed.

So with a kiss upon your cheek, I lay down my pen

and search my mind next time to begin again.

20

Aracelis Beltrez

Writing a poem is hard to do, when you have nothing to say,

when the mind struggles to stay alert or you have no feelings to write about. Writing a poem is hard to do.

A poem doesn't have to rhyme. A poem can be long or short.

Just write away until you find yourself. Maybe, if you let your mind run wild ... Maybe, if you let your pen touch your hand ... you could write your life away.

The Best Memories Shirley Santiago

No memory is ever lost, a favorite song, a quiet place, or even a special picture.

To dream of memories, think of good times with friends, or anything special.

People are the best memories;

ones you spent time with,

ones you loved,

or ones you just talked to.

Some memories make you laugh. Some make you cry.

But, no memory will die.

21

Waking Up John Brown

Woke up this morning six-thirty. I started yawning, shoulders aching,

half-dead crack of dawn and

looked around. Took my doo-rag off my head. Fled from the bed,

eyes low-burning and dark red.

Gathered my things - washcloth, towel and soap. Slid my feet into my slippers.

Acting off impulse

headed to the shower, stomach growling put the muzzle on.

Ain't no time to start howling.

Shower over, sat on my bed and got dressed. Smoked a cigarette in the dayroom

'cause I was stressed.

Willie Toben The weather was nice and cool.

The day was almost dark.

I waited for awhile with nothing to do; so I went for a walk in the park.

I made my way around the lake

and began to watch the ducks lounging without a worry in their minds.

But, we humans face many troubles everyday and all kinds.

Ducks must live a great life;

just to swim and fly.

It sure beats a life of troubles where people just get high.

22

Becoming A Woman Jasmin Sanchez

As the lazy morning sun peeks

through the sheets of green moist earth and awakens me,

I notice there is a difference

in everything surrounding me.

I look again and observe everything with keen eyes, but nothing has changed.

I then feel upset for not being

able to understand why my eyes at first deceived me.

I sit up and unconsciously examine myself. Today and yesterday

I suddenly realized that things which meant nothing yesterday, had so much meaning today.

Going to school, was something done to make Mom happy and proud of you.

But today it was done because of a need which burst from inside

The need to become the best I can become.

But why?

Why am I always ignorantly doing things that I know I shouldn't?

Why when I go to school, I find that I am no longer understood by the friends who promised to be my life long friends?

Why do I always end up hurting the people I love most?

23

As I rise from my bed asking all these questions with tears in my eyes

I notice a huge reflection on my bedroom door, which answers my questions,

I'm becoming a woman.

Advice Mahalia Campbell

My friend Tiffany, it is hard to

be a mother, but you can make it.

I know the situation you are in,

but you can make it through.

I have been in the same situation. Just have faith and hope.

You will get through.

See, I made it through, and now I am aiming for my future and you can do the same.

Don't worry, be happy.

Don't worry about Jose leaving you.

You will find someone who will love, care and make your life happy.

Raising A Child Philistine Felder

Raising a child is hard. Doing it on your own is harder.

24

My Mother Carmen Gonzalez

Born December 25, 1939, Luisa E. Rosa was one of eight children that my grandmother Francisa Rosa gave birth to. My mother was born in The Dominican Republic in a small town named Santiago. There they lived in a small town house and were a very poor family. But poor or wealthy my grandmother raised all her children to be grateful, humble, generous and very kind to everybody.

My grandmother was a housewife and my grandfather Amadeo Santo was an employee at a cigarette company. They all had very little but they managed with everything that they had. My mother's family was so poor that my mother had to drop out of the sixth grade at eleven years old to help her father support the family. There she also worked with her father at the cigarette company.

When my mother was twenty years old she met her first husband, Pollio, and they had two boys. Unfortunately her first son died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) at ten days old. His name was Rafael. Her second son was named Edward. When she was about twenty three she married again. Out of that marriage she had two daughters named Aunsucion and Niuca. At about twenty nine she met and married her third husband, Eddibaito, and she had a son with him, and his name is Eddibaito Jr .. One year later she migrated to New York leaving her four children in The Dominican Republic with my grandmother until she was well on her feet.

When my mother came to New York she lived in Brooklyn.

There she lived with one of her sisters, Guillma, who moved to New York about five years before her. About two to three years later, her other sister, Patra, came and moved to Brooklyn, New York also. Tragically my mother's oldest sister, Guillma, the first sister to migrate to New York, was mysteriously murdered and found in a garbage dumpster about three blocks from her apartment. This put a shadow over the whole Rosa family.

After my mother's sister's death, she began to work at a clothes factory. Only making minimum wage she managed to

25

afford her own apartment. After she settled down in her own place she met her fourth husband Rafael. After about two years of marriage they had a little girl named Carmen. Unfortunately Rafael died of a heart attack when Luisa was five months pregnant. When her daughter, Carmen, was eight months old, Luisa moved again to The Dominican Republic.

When Luisa returned to her country, she saw her four almost grown children. They were very happy to see their little baby sister. Three years later, Luisa came back to New York with her daughter, Carmen, and her mother who had migrated with her. They moved to Marcy Projects in Brooklyn. There she met her fifth and last husband, Luis Morales.

In 1988 tragedy struck again. Luisa's mother died of a heart attack. Luisa coped with her mother's death as much as she could. Then after a while she put her mother's death behind her. After that everything went smoothly, not the same, but manageable.

Now this is 1997. All of Luisa's children are living in New York. She has been married to Luis Morales for eleven years and she is doing great. And that is my mother, Luisa (E) Rosa Morales.

She So Fair Judi Martinez

She so fair

Her sweet smile

Her short sweet smelling hair Her beautiful eyes

Her radiant glow

But she so fair

Is in a wheel chair She so fair

Is my mother

26

First Strike Toi Smith

My first job was doing maintenance at the George Washington Bridge Port Authority Bus Terminal. I started working when I was sixteen years old. I got the job because my father is the supervisor and shop steward there, and he hired me. My job is very hard. I mop floors and sweep and clean offices. The bad part about my job is dealing with the homeless people. They can be very rude and disrespectful, and they like to sleep in the bathroom and wash themselves over the sink. One lady even came into the bathroom to shoot up drugs. I like my job because I meet a lot of new people, and see and learn a lot of things. I learned to buff floors and spot mop. People are always coming to me, asking me about how I got the job and where can they get an application. I always tell them that they have to go down to Forty Second Street to get the application. I know sometimes they really don't believe what I tell them, but I do my best.

In December, the workers on my job went on strike, and I had to stand on the picket line because my father said I had to do what everyone else did. When he told me that I was furious, because it was really cold outside and I just didn't want to do it. My daddy stood on line too, but because he is the shop steward, he had to go around to other sites to see what was going on. After checking the other picket lines he would come back to our site. We had different picket line shifts. One from seven a.m. to three p.m., another from three p.m. to eight p.m., and the night shift comes on at eight p.m. and goes to seven thirty a.m. My shift was seven a.m. to three p.m. I never really stayed. I snuck off when my father was not there. When I got home I heard my dad's voice on the answering machine saying, "You think you're slick! II I did strike

duty for four days. I was going back to stand on line on

27

the fifth day but when I got there my dad said the strike was over. I was glad it was over because I wanted to go back to work.

During the strike a lot of people came down trying to replace us on our jobs. The company announced on TV there were job openings. Flocks of people started flying to the job like they had wings. The homeless threw wet toilet paper on the ceiling and helped me dirty up the bathroom to make the job harder for the scabs (replacement workers) so they would get frustrated and leave.

The homeless people helped us because they didn't want the scabs to take our jobs. We always treated the homeless with respect. Sometimes I lent them money even though I knew they wouldn't pay me back. I never expected them to help us but they did. They really did appreciate us. And they didn't want any new people taking over our jobs. My father's leadership helped us stay united and strong, and after everything was over we got our jobs back.

My Pops Jeremy Clark

His deep baritone voice His short curly black hair

His whole demeanor rough like a bull, strong and aggressive

In his eyes you can see a fire

An eternal flame which symbolizes the love for my family

28

Rhonda Oliver

The story I am about to tell you is to help you learn about trust. Some people have problems within their families that they feel cannot be shared with others. But you are not alone. Everyone wishes they had someone to be there for them forever. Unfortunately it is not possible. By sharing my story with others, I hope to help people realize they don't have to hold their feelings in. If I can tell someone, so can you. I think it can help.

I was about eight or nine years old, living with my mother, older brother, and maybe two or three other family members. My father was living in another country with a life of his own. We talked on the phone quite

often. Just about every other day. He and my mother were going through problems but they were trying to work it out for the sake of us, their children. In school, I bragged about my father a lot. I loved him a lot, but my mother couldn't really understand why. You see, besides us being in two different parts of the world, I don't think I could've recalled what he looked like. My mother often made the remark, "You barely know your father." But who cared? He was still my father. Just like everyone else I had a father.

One day coming home from school, I got into a fight with two girls who dirtied my clothes. I was scared to tell my mother because she would definitely be upset. She had more important things on her mind. First she had to find a way to tell us that our father was gone, then she had to be able to comfort us whatever way we needed.

The next move we made was mother, daughter and son on a plane to Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. We had a funeral to go to. None of us thought of this as a vacation. We all were taking it pretty hard. On the plane I remember telling myself that I would not cry. After all, my mother was always telling me that I didn't know him

29

anyway. Why should I cry for someone I don't know.

Now here we are at the funeral and everybody's crying. I am not. I have absolutely no reason to cry. The service went on without a tear from my eyes. I was kind of proud of myself. I managed to get through the funeral tear free. The only thing left was the burial. So far so good. Everyone gave their last word, said their last goodbye, shed their last tear, and threw dirt on the big pretty box with my father in it. As they began lowering him into the ground I began to realize this was it. This was the end of all my phone calls, birthday cards, surprise visits and I love you's. Now it was time, time for me to cry. I found myself standing there with enough tears to fill a stream. Everyone else was leaving, but I wanted to stay until they completely covered the big box with dirt. All by myself I stood watching them complete the burial. There was nothing I could do but cry. All I could think about was my friends. Would they do to me what my father's friends did to him? Would they stab me in my heart and take me away from my family? Would my children stand someday like I am standing here? That can really make a person lose trust in other people very easily. Maybe that's why I don't let people get too close to me. They too might be taken away just like my father was.

Monique Gonzalez

My father left me just like you. But, it is all good. Have a good life. I know

I will.

30

Ms. Greenzang Justino Rivera

Thank the Lord for this beautiful woman,

plain and simple, understanding, very demanding

and I will never abandon.

Those kind words you gave to me will keep me close to you.

I have not known you for years but I am honored being

one of your students.

Ms. Greenzang,

You silly mean thang - I'm gonna miss you and the gang.

My Teacher, Ms. Kaye Lucius Welcome

I like Ms. Kaye because she is so nice to me. She is a nice teacher.

She teaches me to understand. She wants me to be somebody.

31

Ms. Economos Jessica Morales

She's one of the best teachers in EBG.

She's always there when you need someone. You don't have to believe me.

Just come to EBC

and you will see.

In Ms. Economos class we have a lot of fun. We read stories and do a lot of projects. Whenever she notices we're having fun her eyes brighten up like the sun.

Ms. Economos is like one of the girls. We tell each other our secrets and we joke around. Sometimes she even has bad hair days.

So we know she's not perfect,

but in her own way

she is to us.

Ms .. Economos will always be one of my best teachers at EBC.

Mr. Patton Derrick Lebrun a.k.a, D-Rock

I have a very nice teacher for my 4th period class.

His name is Mr. Patton

and he stays on my grass.

He can be smart, intelligent and all of the above.

And when push comes to shove, Mr. Patton always spreads love.

He changes my poems,

but it's okay.

I'll stick at it faithfully 'till my dying day.

32

The Great Hearted Man Venaira Bonilla

Looking at him I see his beauty within. With gentleness and honesty,

his presence reminds me

that no matter what

I'm not alone.

He is filled with warmth and gratitude.

No longer do I have

that void and deep need for company. My heart is pouring forth

it's affections to him. I appreciate him for what he's done

and for who he is.

The affection that flows from my heart cannot be frozen by adversity.

He's the most solid thing I know. 'Cause I know he's real.

He affects the nervous system of those who have no heart

and were once a subtle delicacy. People who begin avoiding intimacies and eventually speech altogether.

Let me be a friend

and share the sorrow that you feel, if not I should feel it bitterly.

No distance of place

or lapse of time can lessen the relationship we have of each other's worth.

33

My Grandmother Whom I Miss Brian Manderson

Grandma, even though we are oceans apart, I still love you.

Sometimes I ask myself,

"Will I live to reach your age?" I don't know.

Grandma, when I was little and crying, You would rub me on my back and say, "It will be O.K."

Many times I sit down analyzing, looking up in the sky,

Thinking about how you raised our family to be successful.

Grandma, you're 87, and you're still strong. Keep the body healthy and live on.

Mrs. Baez Zahira Atiya Price

The coffee is cold, the cups are dry.

She stands there lonely, but will not cry. The days are long and also cold.

Then, of course, she's getting old.

No one understands her.

They don't feel the pain.

All that's left is the waitress job which remains. All those people gone. Oh! how she loved them so. But, her dignity is kept because she won't go.

She is well respected, great in every way.

But the thing that's best of all is that she's gonna stay.

34

Beautiful Woman Shawn Pannell

When a man has a beautiful woman does he know it?

When a woman tries to please him does he know it?

Why is it when a woman is beautiful he doesn't realize it until she's gone?

Why are the beautiful women always getting hurt?

And why is it that a man

never tells his beautiful woman how pretty or attractive she is?

I guess no man has the courage to tell his beautiful woman

how he really feels around her.

The only time a beautiful woman would hear these things

is when they Ire getting ready to make love.

All he says is, "Baby, you look good!"

35

Architect Felicia Gonzalez

Pencil in her hand, thinking up ideas, fiddling with the tools, staring at open space. Hand starts to move. Ideas come on paper.

The drawing starts to move. She's about to erase.

Looking up at a pencil in a hand, the eraser is coming at her.

36

Part 3

Fear and Pity

37

Tears Of Life John Delutro

Tears are something we all must show. But, the hardest part was to let them go.

Tears showed weakness

and I fought for years

to hold them in, because of fears.

I never showed people the feelings I had. I acted happy when I was sad.

Emotions were something I tried to hide. When I pretended to laugh, inside I cried.

I must always remember that everyone cries. It's better to share than to sit here and die.

I have to remember,

no matter how hard I fight, that a room will be darkest before there is light.

When I started letting those tears roll down, little by little it all turned around.

Doors opened up,

when I was certain they closed,

and all this because my tears were exposed.

Sometimes I sit and wonder how

my life has changed from then to now.

So when I feel my pride knocking,

I must never get lost.

I have to stand like a man

and let my tears take their course.

38

Awake Jeannine M.

Is this a nightmare

I'm longing to wake up from?

Sweat drips off my head,

and the salty sweet taste lands in my mouth. Heart racing like I was on speed.

I'm running.

Running from what?

From who?

There's no escaping, for it's not a dream. I'm awake,

and all this time I've been running from you. There's no room for you inside of me.

I've been punished.

See ... .love wasn't meant for me. This old heart

has been brutally torn apart. And I'm left to live in agony.

39

Neverland Jennifer M.

Cold flesh touches my hand. It's the dead.

The dead awakened from the promised land. The place of nightmares

And broken dreams.

You'll cry out for help.

OhmyGod!!

No one hears.

I don't understand why no one hears. Dreams of agony and of rage

bounce and echo off every wall.

I'm trapped and no one hears.

Help me!

Please God help me! Escape the only thought,

the only thought that runs through my demented mind cold and icy. I can't see.

Drips of blackness drop behind my eyes. My body is trembling with cold chills

running up and down my legs.

Icy points are picking at my brain.

My stomach is knotting and curling all around me. The walls spin and turn on crazy angles.

Fear is a constant pounding

of emotion in my head.

As I lean my brow against the suspended stone wall.

I wonder ....

when will this end?

OhmyGod!

When will I end?

40

41

Fear Of The Waltz Andre Vaughn

I came home intoxicated, noticed in plain sight

my wife and son stared, looking on in fright.

Because they knew what

I wanted, as I smiled and raised my hand. My son's eyes filled with anger,

because he hated the dredful dance.

Still the dance went on,

my son's fear of it, not known to me, or maybe I did know, but

this liquor has got a hold on me.

I thought he liked the "Waltz" as much as I enjoyed it.

But as he lay crying in bed, all the love, trust and respect for me ...

Tears let me know I destroyed it.

i shiver Joann Colagiacorni

precious nevers

how they tick towards nothing floating

under long lost imaginary friends my darling dear

i forget to remember you sometimes in your spinal twist

your unborn madness, an aborted love affair

how long has it been

since i've had a home-cooked meal these words destroy me-

shiver down

invade my little dreamcage

dare to tell me all your sometimes tales you keep it coming

nagging dragging

down past things so

dull and numb, a fury

as you see fit, yes,

destroy me

once again, say,

for memory.

42

Paranoid Reggie Wyche

The Thing I Fear Allison Barbagallo

The one thing I fear is that I will never get out in the real world, because

I don't have the skills to move on yet. But I know if I

put one foot in front of the other I know I will reach

my goal. As they say, if you face your fear you will become a stronger person

Every single person is staring on this train. They look and look away - messing

with my brain.

They mutter under their breaths about how I smell.

They give secret glances - they laughed when I fell.

They radio cops, they go through my pockets.

They're stealing my money and all of my chocolates.

What's this guy staring at- I didn't do nuthin' One more time - I'm gonna have to snuffhim.

43

To Whom It May Concern Stephanie Delaurencio

To whom it may concern,

My life is full of pain and the rain just won't go away.

To whom it may concern, My sister is dying of AIDS. I feel sometimes like I'm the one to blame.

To whom it may concern, My feelings are coming out.

I never thought that it would be what I was writing about.

To whom it may concern, I'm going crazy in this self-inflicted hell.

Won't someone help me and unlock my cell?

To whom it may concern,

My laughter is not all

that it's cracked up to be,

but I put up a shield so

people won't see.

To whom it may concern, I'm losing my best friend and she always said she'll be with me to the end.

To whom it may concern,

I have nothing more to say.

I just wish these feelings would go away.

44

In Just Winter Omoro Pinnock

When the world is

frozen

the cold hearted ice man screams

near

and fearfully

the scent of death is upon us

walking in concert and the smell of pollution fills the air.

It's

winter.

When the world is screaming loudly and full of pam

there was nothing for you to gain.

What I Feared Tedroy McKenzie

I remenber when I was little I was afraid of the bulldozer.

When it was coming I would run away scared to my mother.

She would hold me to calm me down. I was crying and screaming.

I was crying, "Mom, Mom, it is a monster! It is a monster!"

She held me and said, "It is not a monster, son. lt is just a big machine."

45

Into The Night Gerald M. G. Jr.

Into the night, they stepped with haste.

Into the night, they went pace by pace

trying to find some peace or grace,

confronting their fears which have no face, walking through the dark feeling out of place, feeling the deepest stare of their darkest fear. Coming closer to danger and they both realize, I'm walking with a stranger in a clever disguise, for into the night, we're into the dark.

And into the dark, you can't tell us apart.

So they saw their faces and dared to compare our darkest fear is the one that's near.

So they faced each other and turned their backs. Both of them trying not to react.

And though it stood clear, that their fate was near, the heartache and the pain split quick in the air for into the night was the only thing there

-- into the night.

She Doesn't Even Know Edgar Marcel Babb

A secret admirer, I'm Mr. X.

Like a school yard child I leave notes on her desk. I love her, at least I think I do, and

she's my girl but she doesn't know it yet.

Oh no! She sees me, and she's coming over.

I hope it's not to talk to me. Please God, no! Whew! She's gone, and she still doesn't know.

46

The Way I Feel Michele Cruz

The way I feel about you I have to hide.

All the words I have to say, I keep inside.

I'm scared of rejection as I say nothing at alL

I think I'm waiting for you to make the first call. Maybe it's too soon, nothing could tell, but

maybe the stars and the moon There is a fear deep within me, there is no possible way

that you could see.

My love is here to say

I wish I knew if you felt the same way. I'm scared that if you hear what

I have to say

you will just hurt me and run away.

I'll be there for you

through the good times and the bad. I hope you'll be there for me

when I feel sad.

All of these feelings I've expressed are true. If you add them all up they say

I love you.

47

You Christina Fleishman

You come

but you don't want me. You're blind

but you can see.

I love

but I have no heart. I hate

'cause I'm torn apart. You feel

but you have no feeling. yourre awake

but you are dreaming. I speak

but I have no voice. I lie

but I have no choice. You sit

but your heart's walking. You stop

but your tongue's talking. I wait

but time is flying. I laugh

'cause I'm tired of crying. I scream

without a sound.

I cry

without a tear. I laugh

without a voice. I'm afraid

but I have no fear.

48

Losing A Family Member Janai Ward

Losing a family member really hurts. It's confusion, pain and stress. You don't know what to do with yourself because you are hurting so bad. Sometimes you think that you want to kill yourself. You are going to miss someone very dear. You start to look at an old photograph and think. You start to cry and cry until you fall asleep. You wake up and can't believe that one of your family members is really dead. You say to yourself that you need to take a walk. You go outside and you say you have no one to talk to. You're all alone and you say to yourself that losing a family member really hurts.

Lonely Santrice Simon

Ever since my mother left I've been spending

the majority of my time with my new best friend. She is always sitting beside me,

giving me all of her attention.

She is very dedicated to me because there is no one else but LONELy ...... I expect her to whisper in my ear, which makes me cry tears of pain.

I understand her clearly even though she's inaudible. But with her unconditional love

comes an abundance of problems:

Suicide, Depression, Crying, Worrying, and absolutely no real friends.

It seems LONELY gets upset these later days. Is it because I'm found with souls,

with whom I enjoy myself?

So my best friend LONELY ran to a new friend ... a victim.

49

Sorrow Lesliean Canterbury

I am so sad, I cry. My face is sour as a rotten lime.

I am so sad when I cry.

I look like the color of pink.

I was sad when my great aunt died. I broke up and started to cry.

I am sad.

I am sad. I can't take it any more

Andre Barrino

The basement is lonely because nobody comes down here. The basement is so depressing, cold and - as I said at the beginning - lonely. But, I don't stay here all day. I go upstairs to the eighth floor to do work. The work that I am doing is construction; like taking off the floor tiles and putting new tiles down. But, after the work I do, I go right back to the lonely old basement; depressed and cold.

50

Ugly Child

Cherilyn Jenkins

Sitting upon a wooden shelf an old dusty book

closed and all alone

no cradling arms to lie in and no soft voice to hear. Showing its ugly cover its chapters have been wasted away

to decay and mildew. No one dares to take a look inside,

left alone forever with secrets never to be told.

Rotten Peach Philip Ashley

Orange reddish,

glistening with dew drops, so tempting,

mouth watering,

looks delicious.

Take a bite!

I find

Dead Worms.

51

Not Me!!

Andrew Velasquez

AIDS- hal Not me!

Those people should be put away. Go away!

To an island.

Go away!

You deserved it. Go away!

You are disgusting. Go away!

Who, me? Not me!

Oh no, it is me. Why me?

Oh no! Not me! Where do I go!?

52

Scared Pinkney

Why do I keep coming back to jail?

I ask myself every time I come back,

but I can't find the answer to the question. So I am still asking myself. Why?

Must I look deep into my soul? Or am I too scared of the truth?

I must be, because I am back again.

When I was out, I didn't follow the rule that was given to me; and now that I am back inside

I blame everyone but myself. Why?

I found myself on a mission doing things destructive just to be doing them.

Now I question myself. Do I love myself? Because I know I am not dumb.

53

Through the Air Caliph Hunter

Stop, look and listen. Through the air, shots are ringing, but I'm not scared. Nothing but crack heads in the

park doing their

thing, hiding from

the cops. Bullies are found on the corners, brothers killin' brothers. Please no more horror.

Mraid Shakima Choice

You don't ever have to be afraid.

Don't listen to what anybody tells you, because all they're going to do is try to make you afraid. If you listen

to them they're going to make you afraid. Don't ever be afraid in life. Stand up

for yourself and say, "I'm not afraid

of you."

54

Pain Juliet Gomez

To the one with the pain that won't go away

and the mother with children that are always astray.

To the girl with the bruises that last so long

and the boy who can't see what he's doing wrong. To fatherless kids

and homeless as well

and the mothers who think it's their fault they're in hell. To the young mothers,

their innocent offspring

and the ignorant people

who don't know a thing.

To all the "halfbreeds"

and the confused ones

and to all the times

they've become undone.

And, finally to those who feel it's really not worth it and to the ones who stopped fighting and just gave in ...

55

What Do lOwe You Michelle Cortez

What do lowe you

that you find it necessary to stare at me? You clowns!

I don't like your eyes undressing my body and, following my curves,

the little of them I've got. Stop looking this way.

Making me feel as small as a mouse with a cat trying to stare me down, either just to scare me

or getting ready to pounce. Sneaking peeks through the crowd, invading my space,

invading my mind,

annoying eyes.

Silly face!

Stupid smile!

Disgusting taste!

You know you really put me off with your silent sexual harassment. Stop looking at me,

I scream!

Stop glaring at my cheeks and hair, Making my face hot as my anger rises.

I hate men like you with your obscene gestures and remarks.

What do lowe you?

I think you owe me an apology!

56

Part 4

Almost Reaching The Limit

57

Words Sherisse Alvarez

The words gather in the palate and somehow, I forget to speak

I cannot explain what these tears signify why they run and wet my cheeks

and never learn to cease

I can't explain

because they rob me of all feeling of all life of all sensation

They leave me helpless staring into the eyes of you

Mute, hearing your questions unable to answer

The words still trapped at the throat swallowing the breath

that does not escape the lips

The soul becoming numb through the cries and choking of the passionate tongue

I can't seem to simplify the complexity of us

I've stopped trying to understand the mystery of your hands

And the ritual of our love-making that buries me deeper into oblivion 58

Trying To Write a Poem Rebeca Lucret

lam sitting here trying to write

at least

one poem before I go to bed tonight.

I don't know what form I'd

like.

nor do I

know about what to write.

I wish to finish this poem by ten.

Oh how I wish magic could come out of this pen.

I think

I'm running out of

time.

I think

I've made quite a few rhymes.

59

J

Writing a poem is very much a task

I have to finish.

I no longer can make this poem last.

Natasha Morales

Truth is uncertain.

It may at times leave you lost with no words.

A Name Rasheen Bonneau

Even as a little child

the name Rasheen is one that shines like the sun. It flies through the air

like ghetto birds over Project YOU. It sits there and wants to be awake.

60

Truth Jeanette Castro

Behind each poem lies a truth.

Just read it slowly word by word. There1s a lesson to

be learned in each poem if you just open your eyes and look.

Dreams Cynthia Stanley

Dreams can take you to a place where flowers bloom

as far as the eye can see.

Dreams can take you to a place where people live

color free.

Dreams can take you to a place where I can love you

and you can love me.

So, here's to your new dream.

61

Wishes Akira Nesfield

I wish this world was drawn in pencil, so I could erase all the hate and pain, and the color of your skin would be the color of my skin, and love would

pour down like rain.

I wish all people were color blind to the color of peoples' skin.

In order to make a perfect world, this is where we must begin.

I wish the people would stop all the killing because the world around us will die.

But what is the use of these wishes

if people do not try?

62

If Only's Princess Carr & Solo Starr

If only there were enough tears

to wash away my hurt.

If only I could walk away

and forget about the dirt.

If only I could heal my pain as well as I heal others.

If only's are a part of me,

and I have known no others.

The pain and the heartaches and the life long memories are a very vital part of me because they have

to be.

If only's are a part of our life,

that everybody knows.

If only's are a

part of the world where everybody goes.

63

If only's are the

name of every love song. If only's are the

grounds for every broken home.

If only's are the things that we can't escape.

If only's are all our mistakes.

If only I'd known then what I know now.

If only ... If only ...

So many if only's.

School Daze BrianA.

I remember I first saw you in school. I was the class clown. I was the fool.

Because when I saw you, I wanted your attention.

To gain your love, I'd suffer through a suspension. But then I realized, that wasn't the way to your heart because all of a sudden, we were spread apart.

The bell rang, and it was the end of class,

and I ran behind you trying to catch up fast.

But, I lost you through the parade of kids.

N ow damn, I wish I never did what I did.

I like who you are. I like your ways.

This is why I like these lovely school daze.

64

The Mind

Juan Peralta

It is to fascinate and share ideas with others.

It is a burst of notions.

And a stream of abundant imagination.

It's like a monstrous vacuum inhaling all

kinds of knowledge.

For knowledge is as infinite as God himself.

Each Of Us Na-Shaun Martin

(Dedicated to Shaun Moody)

Each of us with our secret gift,

magic potions, secret notions;

each of us a half, a whole, a mind, a soul,

a heart, and yet a part of a better, richer more; looking for the door,

the key, the you, the me;

the weed growing day by day, looking for the way

to find what I'd always dreamed, but never seen, always hoped but never been,

always thought but never knew,

until at last I discovered the gift

I'd always thought - it's you.

65

Casey Straka

I sit and look out the window and watch cars and people go by.

The people don't even know I'm watching them. I don It know that someone is looking at me. The window separates me from the world,

and yet it connects me with the world.

If there were no window I wouldn't

know what is outside.

I perceive anything on the other side as outside.

Yet, this house is outside. The street is outside.

Yet, the street is inside this planet. There is a man looking into my window and smiling.

That's strange, I live on the sixth floor. Since the window is in between

would the window be considered

inside or outside? What about the walls? Maybe humans are too stupid to

realize that existence has no

boundaries and never will.

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Walking Das Smith

When I am out walking

I see people walking, running,

or even playing around with each other. I am going no where,

I am just walking thinking about tomorrow if there will be a tomorrow.

I see a lot of violence and happiness but never peace.

I'm blinded by peace because I can't see peace.

I also notice a lot of bad smelling odors polluting our air.

The world would not be a nice place without our healthy oxygen.

When I'm walking

my favorite place to walk is down a path.

The Pocono Mountains in Delaware, Pennsylvania, are the most beautiful place in the world

to me, yo!

There I was walking with my fiance Dawn, whom I love to death.

We had a beautiful time.

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I Wish

Marcus Boozer

I wish I could have been home for my birthday I wish I could be home with my baby

but I can't because I'm locked up.

I wish I could go back through time and stop myself from doing wrong.

I wish I had the power to bring my grandfather,

my aunt and cousins back to life.

I wish I never got locked up in the first place. I wish I had someone to look up to.

I wish my mother would

go back to her old self again.

I wish I was married and had two kids

who looked up to me.

I wish I could stop people from killing each other and come together as one.

I wish I had the ability to stop bullets and change people's lives.

I wish I could just lay back and just relax and chill and have a peaceful life with no fears.

I wish I could make a cure for HIV and AIDS. I wish I had the ability

to make all people's dreams come true, as well as all of my dreams.

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The Hot Room Anthony Duncan

I feel so hot that I could go to sleep.

This room is so hot that I feel like the devil in hell. I feel so hot that I want to sleep and go to bed,

and my teacher tells me not to sleep

and to do my work.

I feel as hot as a flower drooping.

I feel so hot that I would like to take a cold shower. I feel so hot that I would like to take a walk.

I feel so hot that I could stay in the water

the whole day.

I feel as hot as burning metal. I feel so hot that I could drop.

I feel so hot that I could sit on a wet mop. I feel so hot that I could melt.

Sometimes we feel so hot that we lose our minds.

The Mountains Dave Wiggins

If I lived in the mountains, I would raise some animals. It would be windy and chilly. You understand what life

in the mountains is like.

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Variation on a Sestina Marcus Forbes

She said, "What is your fantasy?

to persevere? or perish?" That's not fair.

I need love

forever meticulous.

Be very meticulous when you choose love. Life is not fair

and soon may perish. My eyes see a fantasy

and my mind answers, "what?".

Life as we know it may perish. So, if I am meticulous

is the world being fair?

And, I ask myself, "what?"

Can we get truth out of fantasy when feelings are strong as love?

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Seeing You Tanya Sue Cowan

Seeing you in the mornings brightens my entire day.

Your radiant smile and seductive eyes bring me alive in every way.

Seeing you in the evening helps me to go through the rest of the day

with a beautiful smile

on my face as if I've seen God.

Seeing you in the night

makes me go to bed more relaxed and satisfied knowing

that I've seen you three times for a day.

Seeing you in my dream making passionate love to me makes me want you even more

although we promise not before marriage.

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Natasha Evans

How do you know when you're in love? What does love mean to you?

Who knows and who cares?

You know when you're in love

when your heart skips a beat,

when you feel sick to your stomach,

when you happen to see this person you're in

love with.

How do you say I love you?

These are the three hardest words to say,

for if one waits too long the words mean nothing. Say them too fast, they still mean nothing. When do you know when to say them?

You should feel it in your heart and soul

and let them come out naturally.

Oh no, don't think about them, let it flow 'cause if you do, fear won't let you say them. This is my advice to you.

Please take it very seriously.

If not, read at your own risk.

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-

You Say You Need Space Estelle Star Calderon

You said you need space so I'll give it to you.

I'll give you all you need, if what you say is true.

Everybody needs some time to be alone.

Just don't let it be too long. H it was up to me I'd spend all my time with you.

But as it turns out--that's not what you wanna do.

I'll give you some space, if you really need it.

But if you take too much, somebody will come and fill it.

I know to you that might sound wrong.

But you need space and I don't like to be alone.

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Live A Dream Ralph Rivera

I often lay down and start to dream

of beautiful rain forests and gentle clear streams.

As pictures of beauty just flick in my mind, I see dreams live lost which seem so divine.

The dreams I have dreamt which seem to have died through work and through effort I have surely survived.

So live out your dreams even if things get too rough,

'cause if you can't reach your dreams you'll never be happy enough.

DayDream Eddie Rivera

Taking a bath in a river on Mars I looked up to the heavenly stars. They shone so bright,

the glorious light,

I got lost in my mind that mystical night.

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Another Woman's Man Jenny Gonzalez

Cold and lustful, that is how I'm feeling, because I know when I think of you

I am only dreaming

knowing I'll never be able to feel your body above mine or the taste of your love

so sweet and divine.

If I had one chance to love you the way I'd like I'd push you down on the bed

and kiss you down

starting with the top of your head.

I'd run my fingers down to the point of no return. I'd make your body feel fire.

My desire will make you burn.

And, after I'm done

it will be your turn

to show me what you've learned.

But, from a distance I can only admire you,

tall and sleek with a hidden treasure in between that I'm so desperate to seek.

Eyes the color of piercing green, a color which I've never seen,

lips so juicy and sweet

the kind I'd like my own to meet.

But, I know when I must admit defeat for you are someone else's special treat!

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Osie Fortune

Visions of me being dead or gone off the face of this earth

like I was never born.

Call me golden, I'm hoping I'm not the one that's chosen, but if I got to go

I better die with my eyes

open.

With so many stories

I hold hot like pure hell.

My intellect plus voice speaks well.

Forever we face troubles, sweating till we soak.

I don't smoke wool, sniff dope or do coke.

Too Much Crack Michael McFarlane

I once knew a boy

He thought he could fly Until one day he tried And he died.

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Part 5

Eternity Now

77

r

78

Learning From A Child Karisma Brooks

Poor old you. Grew up too fast in too short a time. You don't even know

what it's like to be a kid.

You look at the world from an old woman's eyes. You've seen too much for being so young.

You've heard too much for your young virgin's ears. You have too much hate for everyone and everything

for such a small heart.

You look at children and wonder what they see and how they see it.

You are amazed at how easily

they can block out what they hear.

You see all the shine and hope and love in a child's eyes and realize

that a child sees everything as though he were seeing it for the first time.

Stare hard enough, look deep enough for that shine and you too will look at the world

through a child's eyes.

You too will be able to block out

all the unpleasant noises and most importantly you will learn to love, with a child's heart, unconditionally.

My Time James Otero

If only I could stop time for a minute, I'd devour every second of silence, memorize the stillness on earth,

capture it with most endurance and pleasure and save it to tell!

If only I could stop time for a minute,

I would touch the bird that flies over me, absorb the leaf that's in front of me, secure the magic that beholds me.

I'd scrutinize every smiling face.

I'd examine gestures all around the place, read signs that I never notice,

study the world with attentive focus.

If only I could stop time for a minute,

I'd touch the hands that have never been touched, meet each eye with robust lust,

kiss the lips that are full and sweet, comb each hair so nice and neat.

I'd sing the song, dance along all the way to the top.

I'd shout so loud and cry somehow just to show some sense of peace.

If only I could stop time for a minute, what a minute that would be,

filled with wonderful memories

that would be for me to keep.

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uu

10:00 Celeste Ramos

Two people meant for one another may be meeting now.

A faithful man to family and job may be cheating.

Someone desperate in society is committing a first crime.

Someone who never thought of it is dying somewhere.

People are enjoying the raptures of youth in a nightclub.

Someone is having sex for the first time willfully and vice-versa.

Someone is crossing the street taking that slight chance.

Someone is committing murder

and can't decide the fate of the body.

Someone is just being born already missing a mother.

Someone is in pain.

and has no damn aspirin.

Someone is sick

while her sibling's just fine.

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Someone is doing

terrible things for money.

Someone is being arrested

for a crime the officer committed.

Someone is hungry

with money in his pockets.

Someone is watching over us

and we can't see who we worship.

Someone is swearing

that this would be the last time.

Someone is missing you

and you don't know who it could be.

Mirror Lataisha Danzy

(( (inthismirror Iamenclosedasaliveandasrealasyou; imagineangelsnotlikingtheirreflectionsinthismirrorIam -whatdoyouseewhenyoulookinthemirror?»

81

Change Daniel Bussey

Usually not well liked. Usually not well accepted but always inevitable.

What shall I do? What steps should I take? Confusing sometimes.

Hurts like hell .. Heals like heaven.

Cuts like a knife. Soothes like a sponge. Where do we go from here?

"I was so sure of this ... "

"I was quite certain of tho .. " "But what .. ?"

"I thought ... "

"How .. T'

"Why .. ?"

Not totally sure of the necessity, but it has to be dealt with anyway. "It's for the better, right?"

Yes, of course!

Of course not!

Where do we go from here? On.

82

Faces Christopher C. Neely

I want to see faces of all races: winning faces,

faces that face God in prayer, faces uplifted and proved, faces of joy of being in love,

faces of yesterday, today, now and tomorrow faces faces that erase war

faces destroying ignorance, disease, drugs and hunger, faces that face the tasks and won freedom faces,

faces of one nation

that nation

is Human Being, congregation of faces freedom faces

I want to see faces I want to see faces

Robert Gibson

When I'm sleeping I feel so very nice. As my body rests, I cuddle up tight. My dreams carry me faraway deep. Sleeping deep feels like I'm in heaven.

So please don't disturb my good night sleep.

83

Heaven Minuchkaina Sainvil

Pa didn't come home for an entire week. I sat on the porch steps late one night and stared at the stormy sky.

There had to be a better place

than here

for me.

Somewhere, a better place. An owl hooted,

followed by the howl of a roaming wolf. The autumn wind from the north shrieked and whistled

around the forest trees, whipped

around the trembling cabin and tried to blow it away.

Flying Birds

Anna Morales

On the top of the tree are birds. Birds that soar

and birds that sleep,

birds that make the earth complete; they are one with the wind,

with the grass and with the light; and leave this earth with one flight.

84

Alone On A Field Of Greens Janine Marie Krowl

Naked, let's listen to the chirping birds that have come to kiss our eyes and make us see what beauty lies in just being.

Hours go by and still we sit. Observing me in all my naturalness.

How mesmerizing to touch a growing sunflower and turn me on with a long leaf that tickles

my toes and itches my nose.

Just the two of us. The rest are gone.

Our golden bodies always warm and ready to embrace freely.

Naked and unknowing is what we are and that's powerful because we are both wanting.

We two are the souls of all people waiting to rejoice in the spirit of love, peace, happiness and nature.

Freedom From Worry Eddy Casimir

When you worry, it is not because it is human nature for you to do so. Worry is not an instinct or a trait you were born with.

Worry is a habit; it is learned. Worry is not constantly in tune with the positive

-it is bright, cheerful, enthusiastic-

and full of good, positive thoughts and ideas.

85

The Frost Bitten Years Alex Piersiak

Time has frozen, in a place I hate.

But I have already learned to love it. Think deep, go far back into your mind. There's a place everybody will find. Everyone.

My place is dark, so dark.

If you tried to find me you'd mistake me

for one of the shadows that walk around here.

My self pity has taken its toll.

I await for the black carpet to unroll. The chaos cannot be controlled.

My soaking wet hair hangs in my face.

The misery in my eyes that no one can replace. My aching memories cannot be erased.

Confusion comes in whirls. I'm getting dizzy.

I'm sick to my thorn torn heart. My arms and legs outstretched, I'm being pulled apart.

When will the pain end? The years flew by. Where did everyone go?

Now I'm dead and still alone.

86

For A Little While Devaughn Salazar

For a little while,

we know what heartache is and we feel that hurting from the pain this greedy world can sometimes bring.

For a little while, we cry in the night

without a single song to sing. But one day all will change There'll be no more stormy rain Then at last we'll not feel shame

For a little while

you lose someone you love and miss the times together that you shared.

You'll feel all alone and scared.

For a little while

there'll be no one to hold.

Oh, the night will grow long and get cold. But this feeling of loneliness won't last. Because in time this will all pass.

So if you're in the valley

where life is so unkind

and if the tears keep tumbling down your beautiful but tired eyes, ifburdens seem so heavy

and it's hard to smile

then just remember

"1 Love You" and it's only for a while!

87

People Come, People Go James Acevedo

Dedicated to Israel. We love you and miss you.

Rest In Peace.

All those times and nights that we

had spent together laughing and joking I would never forget.

The memories I have with you will always stay in my heart.

Now that God has taken you to a better place,

I know that in heaven I'm going to see your face. The gun they used on you didn't work

because in our hearts you will always live

and be by our side

We love you. We love you. We will always love you.

But sometimes I ask myself why did God have to take you in a way that was so cruel?

People come, people go,

but your soul will always glow.

88

Certain People Are A Joy to Know Kiesha Crabb

People who know how to brighten a day

with heart warming smiles and kind words they say. People who know how to gently impart the comfort

it takes to cheer someone's heart. People who know how to

always come through

when there's anything they can't possibly do.

People who know how to willingly share.

Certain people

are a joy to know.

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Love Has No Limit D.DelValle

Love is infinite, never ending like time, constant like the wind and as the sun rises;

love is the highest elevation in this heart of mine. Understand me, love me and you'll be wise.

Love is a bond between two individuals sharing, communicating, more than a reaction. You should know, love is more than visual. Find that love and smother it with affection.

In one's life, love is a primary factor. Two hearts as one can come together. Some think loving does not matter.

If you think it isn't real, then just keep stepping. In this poem I've expressed my views.

It's love and affection, then a walk down the pews.

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Our Wedding Day Alyssa M. Mitcham

The day I walk down the aisle

my soon-to-be-husband will be waiting for me. Awaiting for my arrival the closer

and closer

I step to extra happiness with my one and only love. He looks wonderful in his black-and-white suit.

The smile on his face

I know I've brought before. It's in constant memory.

I know I'll see it for

a long while

but I'm not complaining because

his smile is beautiful. It can light up a room. It had lit up my heart after just one look

and he does to this day. Every time he smiles

my heart sings.

There are a million butterflies in my stomach. I forgot what I wanted

to say.

My hands are all

sweaty. I open my mouth and remember what

I want to say,

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