#podiumfoundation

(By Oneisha Green- Huguenot High School)

God

created women

from a piece of man.

He gave us a spine

so we can stand

alone.

Don’t

let a man

cripple you.

Women!

We are being called out

of our name.

But it’s kind of insane

that we complain.

Yet,

we call a girl we don’t like

a “That.”

We females should not have

to have our bodies yell

for attention.

We are worth carrying

the title,

(By Kailyn Small- Open High School)

We all want

what we can’t have.

Money. Fame.

Happiness.

Everyone struggles for these things.

I sit around and wait

for it to be gone.

For death’s black rays to be

cast upon me.

I wonder every night

what it’d be like had he not

taken to the bottle,

had she not

died,

had he not marked me

a punching bag.

After, I wonder; I hope—

hope that I

won’t see another day on Earth,

hope when I open my eyes,

I’m in Paradise,

hope maybe he’ll start

treating me like me.

But hope is just an

illusion.

When I awake to this pain

every day, it hits harder

every time.

I cannot wait until he decides

he’s tired of

my breath, and my life,

so I will be in

Paradise—

with my mother,

my angel,

away from my father

and siblings, my

tormentors.

The only way out is

a knight;

and my only knight can be

(By Justin Wafawanaka- Thomas Jefferson High School)

       Longingly, I stare at the waves. The way they move fascinates and frightens me. As a child, it always excited me when my father invited me to the beach. We would laugh and enjoy the warm weather. We would frantically tip toe across the scorching sand. I loved those times together. Not a day goes by without reminiscence of those precious memories. Unfortunately, these happy outings became the things they are: memories, memories that I yearn to have again but will never attain.

       My father’s death from cardiac arrest was a truly devastating event that affected not only me, but my family, especially my younger sister. At night, sobs and wails of despair would wake me. I’d run from my room and embrace my dear sister to comfort her. I would try to combat my own tears. Yet I always found myself inside my own room, crying for my father to return to me, knowing that my cries were forever in vain. For three months, I slept in my own tears, too distraught to even wipe them from my face.

       I throw a pebble into the ocean and watch it skip until it sinks. I sit on the slowly cooling sand, watching seagulls stand ever so quietly. As time passed after my father’s death, I regained my composure and thought about how I viewed my life. The sobbing ceased. My sister found serenity within herself. At night, I heard no wails or dire screams, but something that we both desperately needed.

       Silence.

       In my heart, I knew that my father would never want my sister or me to suffer every night. I still wished for him to return, but I also wished to fulfill his wish for the both of us: to live a happy life.

(By Taiji Smithers- Open High School)

I am from a time with achromatic decrepit pictures,

air conditioners in the windows,

and sundials being hung from dot-making nails. 

I am from houses

staring at each other like friends

glaring at each other’s glory.

The yards of my neighbors and me are muddy dirt - no grass.

I’m from times where corners of my ceiling are unfinished.

I am from the corners stores being my grocery store. 

A time when men aren’t being role models to their children, 

men not being there, nor having their pants around their waist.

I’m from a time where men see prison as their way to a good reputation.

I’m accustomed to tempers being like bubbles from bubble gum, 

waiting to get to the point of blowing,

and in my situation, 

            “Parents know best”

is a motto rather than just a saying, where

            “Started from the bottom”

                or “rags to riches”

is set into play.

But, all said and done, I’m only thing;

I am the formulation of Mary’s Creation

(By Charles Bolling- Armstrong High School) 

It hurts to see it’s broken

and we ain’t fix it yet.

Well, I’m growing tired of trying to fix it,

Cause ain’t none of y'all trying to see it.

I guess I’ll sit here and act dumb

Like I ain’t seein’ it too.

But even if I don’t see it,

(By Justin Wafawanaka – Thomas Jefferson High School)

(By Myeah Perry – Thomas Jefferson) 

This thing we call love

causes nothing but hate.

But when you run out of it,

We look for any source to heal the pain,

We try drugs

       and partying,

    and going around,

But it never works.

We listen to others say

“It’s okay, I know it hurts,”

But...it’s...not.

We confide in music, we sing

“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone,”

Hoping to move on, we look forward to a different song,

finding comfort in the lyrics and the

    Boom, Tap of every beat,

Hoping the music will swallow and help our feelings.

    ¡We use it!

to hide our feelings,

to patch it up.

Music is like a warm touch

(By Justin Wafawanaka – Thomas Jefferson High School)

There it was upon my awe struck gaze,

My eyes absolutely mesmerized,

A glass of crystal clear water.

A seemingly simple glass, in fact.

Though it appeared nothing was special about this object,

This very object seized my curiosity.

It was extraordinary.

Legend tells that the water inside this very glass

had been blessed by the Gods eons before my birth.

I reach my trembling finger towards it, slightly nervous by its presence.

My teeth rattling, heart pulsing, mind stricken with undeniable apprehension.

But my hand stops,

My movement ceased in an instant.

Why has fear held its clawed talons around me?

It’s just a glass of crystal clear water.

A seemingly simple glass, in fact.

I slowly retract my fingers and hand altogether.

Sweat cascading down my neck’s shivering nape.

Desire to touch the glass continuously mocked me.

I laughed maniacally.

It went into hysterics and gnashed it’s sharp teeth at me,

Until it finally came to an ultimate climax.

An apex of frightening proportions,

Desire was never going to control me,

I am nobody’s crafted puppet.

I am the omniscient puppeteer.

Suddenly, I found my right index finger upon the glass of crystal clear water.

My eyes were wide with surprise.

I felt enormous inside.

I was forever triumphant.