Odell Armstrong

1~ A Wate.rways .. Project

~ ~ Publication

Odell ~

Annstrong Richard Spiegel

Barbara Fisher codirectors Thomas Perry administrative assistant

James Patton teacher

Bedford Stuyvesant Outreach CoranJames, director Frank Murray, principal i.a.

Stephen E. Phillips, Superintendent, Alternative High Schools & Programs

© I99 6 Ten Penny Players with funding support from

the NY State Council on the Arts

SCHOOL

writing for school

must take place during the day

if I were to write at night

it would feel empty and meaningless

I must write all together

2

MONSOON

the sun sets over the pale sky the ground is moist and damp

the living walk this' wet land searching for food

3

SOUNDS

hearing the birds sing seeing them in mid-air excites sound in sight

they dive to the water

for their catch of the day to feed empty bellies or starve

4

CONJUNCTION

the garbage cans go bang the oyens go clang together you get noise

I walk in deep darkness everything turns black and cold

I fear death may ride behind me I dread looking back

I keep straight ahead in order to live

5

SWEETENED

ice cream and candy two of nature's delights to children's tastebuds

grease and fat

I stuff down my throat with delight

ignoring near danger .

6

WOMANHOOD

females go from baby to infant suddenly ladies

, days I wake, proud

I'm a male in the twentieth century

7

FEELINGS

living for love is like a narrow hallway you must go straight to succeed

white silky materials

remind me of chalk off a board as it settles on your hands then disappears

8

HELL

smoke fills the air

fire erupts from the house gas fills the air when

ligh t heads towards it

you see clothes burning toys and books you love

so much and nothing you can do but watch in sadness

9

l\1A TERIALS

pencil, pens, notebooks erasers all I need

for a working school day

I must learn more

aim higher, reach goals

go forward, never sideways or back

10

. CULTURE I

rich men are never really happy

with just money and no heart

they can deny it but it is a lie

t· I

II

CULTURE II

a wise man says,

a bathroom is like good friend always there when you need it

12

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:.L9",a::o..,c ~ a waterways project publication

I n Search of a Song Volume 261

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