Music filled the streets of the city,
Folks dancing all around the town square. Yet I knew not what surrounded me. Was it something blue, kind of blue? Folks dancing all around the town square. New colors, notes, and rhythms all 'round Was it something blue, kind of blue? Perhaps something never heard before? New colors, notes, and rhythms all 'round The turquoise of the brass section spoke. Perhaps something never heard before, Purples of the reeds sang like sweet plums. The turquoise of the brass section spoke: Change is upon us, culture, and all Purples of the reeds sang like sweet plums. Mixing both old- and new-world concepts? Change is upon us, culture, and all; Music is a world within itself Mixing both old- and new-world concepts Others recolor all his perfect works. Music is a world within itself, Miles made it what it is today Others recolor all his perfect works. Greens and yellows for our enjoyment Miles made it what it is today Music filled the streets of the city, Greens and yellows for our enjoyment Yet I knew not, what surrounded me |
Good TroubleJanell Sutton
As a man currently lay’s six feet under peacefully the world above him is not.
Violence is something he's seen well enough in his life over the same fight Equality and Justice Good Trouble two words with different meaning depending on who you ask Good Trouble to some means violence, or protesting Good Trouble two words he knew all too well To him it meant that people in America should not tolerate both racial segregation or discrimination. Good Trouble or “necessary trouble” as he would say, he enacted both firsthand and witnessed in his life From following Martin Luther King’s Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 To view the injustice to George Floyd shortly before his death. Good Trouble two words with different meaning depending on who you ask Good Trouble to some means violence and riots To John Lewis Good Trouble meant necessary trouble, and “redeeming the soul of America” One minute he was getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom placed around his neck by the first black President the next he was lying in congress as sounds of injustice covered the world. As he believed people need to start getting into Good Trouble to make real trouble. |
Viola Davis: The One and OnlyShaniya Purchas
Is it my confidence you fear?
My success or intelligence? Or perhaps you're intimidated By the scent of sheer elegance. From my radiant brown skin To my hourglass figure I now understand the grimaces And giggles. Envy runs through the veins Of those who condemn. Who gave those such powers to Decide what’s acceptable? What was once shameful And to be hidden, I now embrace wholeheartedly With pride and dignity. There are no words to be said Nor any threats to be made That could make me Revert for society’s gaze. You may stalk And observe my every move To your heart's desire. However, I advise you Instigation is futile. Taunt as you please, Insult as you may. I will never falter nor hesitate To such meaningless canards. I am Aibileen Clark. I am Susie Brown. I am Nanisca. I am a strong black woman, Independent and successful. I am a piece of black history, Of many that complete our puzzle. |
Christmas of 2015 |
Winter Mornings |
Anonymous
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Aaliyah Nelson
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Hugging the biggest present
Grinning when I see my Kinetic Sand kit Showing off my new clothes Anticipation in my eyes when I give my mom a gift My mother crying from the picture I drew of us Feeding ham to the dog Counting cash I got from cards Joy, excitement, awe, laughter A soft smile grazes my face I continue to flip through the photobook Titled “Christmas of 2015” |
The grass moist with dew
Crisp air and blustering wind I love the morning |
Winter Acrostic |
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Aaliyah Nelson
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No Snow |
Wondering when it will snow
Intertwining hands to keep warm New year’s resolutions Trembling from the cold Estimating how many gifts you’ll get for Christmas Reaching for a mug of hot cocoa Chinese Title: 新年喜庆 (Xīnnián xǐqìng) English Title: New Year JoyAnonymous
The Chinese Version 新年来啦, 红灯亮啦 烟花美景, 祝福多啦 亲朋好友, 聚在一起 喜气洋溢, 笑声传啦 红灯笼照, 雪景美啦 鞭炮声响, 天空响啦 龙舞跳跳, 庆祝佳节 美食美味, 满桌摆啦 新年新气, 家庭幸福 田地丰收, 福缘多啦 家人快乐, 喜庆相伴 祝福美满, 幸福长长 -------------- The Pinyin Version xīn nián lái la , hóng dēng liàng la yān huā měi jǐng , zhù fú duō la qīn péng hǎo yǒu , jù zài yī qǐ xǐ qì yáng yì , xiào shēng chuán la hóng dēng lóng zhào , xuě jǐng měi la biān pào shēng xiǎng , tiān kōng xiǎng la lóng wǔ tiào tiào , qìng zhù jiā jié měi shí měi wèi , mǎn zhuō bǎi la xīn nián xīn qì , jiā tíng xìng fú tián dì fēng shōu , fú yuán duō la jiā rén kuài lè , xǐ qìng xiāng bàn zhù fú měi mǎn , xìng fú cháng cháng ---------------- The English Version New Year's here, red lanterns bright Fireworks and cheer, blessings in sight Family and friends, all gather round Joyful moods and laughter, all around Red lanterns shining, snow scene so grand Firecrackers popping, in the sky they expand Dragon dances prancing, celebrating this feast Delicious food and treats, tables all a feast New year, new energy, family happiness Harvest fields bountiful, luck and blessedness Family together, joy and cheer Wishes of happiness, forever
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Laura Masic
The weather outside isn't frightful
The sun's shining is delightful There's no snow on the ground Only coldness around Christmas songs have me feeling spiteful Single Awareness DayAnonymous
Roses are red
Violets aren’t blue Why does everyone say they are? When everyone knows it’s not true? Valentine’s Day is odd Love feels like a too long, too far quest It’s Single Awareness Day ‘Cause being single is the best Ode to the FloorAnonymous
Keeping my feet on the ground
What a thought, so profound To look down and see a friend There's no need to pretend My appreciation, like a roar My appreciation to the floor Fall and WinterAnonymous
Wake up, sick No fever, just me Thinking Worrying Tired. Four months in school Everyday is the same Different class, different hour I sit back, separate myself Observe Watch Hide. I can’t remember or recall The past 2 years It doesn’t feel real Am I still here? Out loud it sounds crazy Stuck in my own head I miss the old me Talkative Carefree Happy. Seasons are starting to feel similar Holidays don’t feel the same Everyone around me laughing, smiling Is there something wrong with me?
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A piece of paper sat carefully atop my bookbag, waiting to be opened. My bag was lying on the bookbag racks that lined the halls to hold students' bookbags.
A note. A note that had been left there with big dreams. A note that had many feelings conveyed in a sentence. A note that would lead to so much, yet so little. I walked out of my math class at 9:15, as I did each and every day. I went to my book bag and noticed something sitting on top of it. I ignored it for a minute and put away my math books and got out my science books. I then set my books on top of the empty space on the book bag rack, next to my bag. Then I opened the note. I read it once over and my face turned an apple red. I then shoved the note deep into my book bag and quickly ran to my next class. I could not keep my thoughts straight. I tuned out my science teacher for almost the whole class I could hear “Photosynthesis…………………CO2………….” and then I thought again about what I had just read. It was everything I thought I wanted. |
In RestAnonymous
There isn’t much thought going around my head these days. I blink and I breathe and—by technical definition—I suppose I live. But is consciousness the only requirement for life? Is there use in putting value in something like that? I’m awake—I think—but what is the alternative? A dreamless sleep is more peaceful than a lifeless wake.
Sometimes I think I’m just tired. I’m tired of “waking up” with no thoughts and no tangible emotion and an empty, crude understanding of what it means to be alive. I just want to feel again. I want to live as I do only in rest. – Inspired by “Sketch of the Unknown” by The Blasting Company Movement Beneath My Skin.
Anonymous
I feel disgusting. There’s something breathing under my skin and it’s not mine. It moves my body to its own will and makes me watch behind a wall of my own glass eyes. It takes my hand and deletes your message. It takes my mouth and tells you to leave. It takes my legs and walks me far away from you. There is nothing I can do. It’s in me. It is me. It feels disgusting, but sometimes so do you.
– “Can’t You See I’m Lonely (featuring C.W. Stoneking)” by Over the Garden Wall & The Blasting Company |
Her heart raced as she saw what was happening. Thoughts filled her mind as she thought about the worst possibilities.
Was there someone in the house? Could she help them? Would they perish if she didn't try to help? Would something happen to her if she went in there? If something happened and she didn't try, she would have to live with this feeling of regret for the rest of her life. She had made up her mind, she needed to see if anyone was in that house. She started to walk towards the house. She looked up to see it almost entirely engulfed with flames. “There isn't much time” she thought. She started to sprint towards the house. As she was running the woman heard a man's voice call out to her. “Laney, don't do it!” This man exclaimed. She turned back to see who it was, but she was now surrounded by the smoke that was dancing off the house. With every step she took her heart began to beat a little faster. Once she got into the house she could no longer see because the smoke was too thick. She cautiously tried to move forward to find what had started this problem. She took a step forward. Then another. And another step. She heard a beep. She took a step towards it. "Beep" it went again. She tried to follow the sound. She was able to see a faint red light amidst the smoke. She walked toward the light. "Beep" it went for the final time. Suddenly everything around started to rush past her. She looked to the ground but her feet were no longer on the floor. She could feel her body being pushed up and then out. She couldnt keep her thoughts straight as she questioned everything that had just happened. “Is this what it feels like to have no gravity?” “What did that beeping mean?” “Is there anyone else in the house?” “What's going to happen to me?” “Who was that who called to me?” “Could it be him?” She thought. At last she could finally see through the smoke, she felt weightless, she saw a white light getting clearer and clearer and then that's all she could see. “Is this heaven?” she wondered She felt herself lying on the ground. She could not see anything around her. But the women could feel someone pick up her still body. She then heard a male voice choke up and say, "Don't leave me". She wanted desperately to see who this man was. She felt a feeling she had never felt before. She felt safe. Comforted. Loved. She wanted this feeling to last forever. |