Jacquelyn Boyette was my ninth grade English teacher. In her class I earned my first-ever F (it was a pronoun quiz). She asked me to cut my non-dress code compliant hair (long on top, shaved bald all around). She often reminded us that po/em has two syllables, and that as our teacher and due to age difference, she could never be our friend. If you dared to write “grammER” instead of “grammAR”? Well, good luck.

We were required to recite a poem for the class from a list she had provided. Many of us chose one of the two shortest poems for the sake of our memory banks: Samuel Allen’s “To Satch” or “Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes. I honestly can’t remember which one I recited, but I know it was one of these two.

This Saturday, I will be reading my own poem inspired by the latter, “Langston’s Leftovers,” along with a few other poems, at the @kearnystreetworkshop #APAture 2018 Literary Arts Showcase. The event is at Arc Studios & Gallery, 7-10 pm. Get your tickets on Eventbrite, link in bio!

This year’s Literary Arts Showcase presents 8 talented writers and poets from around the Bay Area, which includes featured artist Janice Lobo Sapigao. You can purchase tickets on the #APAture2018 website (www.kearnystreet.org/apature).