|
The Wall
 |
Illustration by Jasmine Gallman l VOX Staff |
Singledom
I have a feeling in my gut
That I can take in the long-run.
Feeling like something’s begun,
It feels pretty awesome.
I don’t know why.
Something about me being this way
Makes me wanna cry,
Makes me wanna die
This way.
I won’t have any worries
for the rest of my days.
For the rest of my life
I guess I decided to wait.
When one gate closes
There’ll be million of open gates
Left.
But today I feel different.
I feel like I can deal with what I already have.
It doesn’t make me feel happy,
But that doesn’t mean I’m mad.
I’m just patient and hopeful,
Words that never described me until today.
Something that makes me feel over joyful,
Wow, the single life
—Aja Hall, VOX Staff
Die In love
I rather die in love, in a sky much higher above
Where there are no stereotypes, and they won’t label me a thug.
A black man that starts every sentence with “I AM”
Because he know where he is going,
And labels himself as a real black man.
But every real black man isn’t ready to do.
Look into those outs that dwell because you aren’t ready to fry.
Why fry when you can be free as the birds in the sky high above?
Feeling so free that I rather die in love,
Amongst the sound of doves.
—Christopher Bell, Tech High
Forsaken My Interior
My body is a temple, and though I’ve taken care of the outside I have forsaken my interior
Not only concrete but also spiritual
Giving easy access to diseases and the devil demons and becoming inferior
Soul aching, head aching, the cost of being pretty
You look at me with awe but my psychologists
look at me with pity
They sympathize for my soul and mind
Knowing I am running out of time
But I’m more beautiful than ever right?
External beauty is worth my life
That’s basically what you told me
To succeed and get me where I don’t need to be
But since I took care of my body I caught your eye
Insecure because I didn’t work on my insides so I’m losing my life
But is it really all my fault?
What about my family or society who built the foundation of my temple?
Yeah the front looks good, but my temple is missing walls
That’s probably why I overlook my conscience but notice pimples
I tried to stand up, but it was nothing to knock me down as I started breaking
It only happened because I took care of my exterior but my interior ... I’d forsaken
I washed my windows but didn’t clean my room
You left fingerprints on my window and blood in my room
I know it seemed like I was strong but I’m fragile and weak
I wouldn’t dare let you scar my face but now my heart don’t beat
But once again it’s because I have forsaken my interior
Slipped and fell and let the wrong one become superior
Guess what baby boy? That was the old me and I’m new
I refuse to do what I don’t want to
I have been blessed, anointed and saved in church
My interior is no longer a storage for hurt
I love my whole self and am more beautiful and less bitter
All because I have finally stop forsaking my interior
—Octavia Fugerson, VOX Staff
Sunset Strip
As the sun set over the strip
We’re all ready to head out
Driving but we’re losing our grip
Forgetting what our life’s all about
And we are set on leaving
We just want some company
Someone to make us happy
With windows down but hopes are up
Hoping that you still show up
And I’ll still be here for you
Alone but there’s room for two
Just get in and go, go, go
Until you have nothing left
Nothing to show
This is where
We say “Hello”
I’ll be for a long, long tome
I just wanted to make you mine
Before I leave this place for good
And you’ll be wishing that you could
And I’ll still be here for you
Alone but there’s room for two
Just get in and go, go, go
Until you have nothing left
Nothing to show
This is where
We said “Hello”
Ten years to the day you ran away
From this amazing place I call home
Now I’m back with my dream
But it’s not what it seems
Cuz’ I’m not leaving without you
I’m above the clouds
I’m above the crowds
Getting misty
Thinking about how you missed me
We were too young back then
And you didn’t know to kiss me
But now that I look back
We were to young to know love
And I’ll still be here for you
Alone but there’s room for two
Just get in and go, go, go
Until you have nothing left
Nothing to show
This is where
We said “Hello”
—Craig Lam, Independence High
Love Sucks
A man
He believes in cheating and sometimes beating
Drugs and thugs
From teenager to adult
Then to assault women
Running around with other men
With bruises on their face
All women have to is embrace
From shelter to rehab
Kids in DHR
Husband behind bars,
Kids back at home
Gone to the GA Dome
Single mother
No father
Why bother?
—Rachel, VOX Girls Group
A Slave’s Memoir
Our blood spilled to nourish the ground
Only thing found is a lifetime of pain
Our wounds scream loud but no one can hear the sounds
The suffering and sorrow of a being unnamed
How we must fight our way out to survive
Forever to be tortured in a sea of hell
The death on our skin
The decaying of souls
The tears in our eyes
A voice unknown
Once labored this body and linked us to chains
Watched by eyes that pierce my soul
Ignored our hurting and spit on our name
Creating a thriller that’s bound to unfold
They poisoned our being with drugs and lead
The rope on our necks; the offing of heads
This battle cut us deep like a blade or a sword
We open the treasure and reap no rewards
They paved over our bodies; tried to erase the past
But it can’t be ignored the memories will last
The spilled blood is dried
The screams still heard
Nightmares reborn
Harsh words returned
It always seems that our pain’s on the menu
I’ll devise an escape and --
To be continued…
—Chernail Arnold and Kamalia Blunt,
VOX Staff
Body of Voice
The voice of my body
What will it say?
A high on life,
What was that a yea or nay?
We fill our bodies with bread
Depressed situations make our bodies feel sad
No don’t do that
Cry my heart and my lungs
Grrrr goes my stomach
Dinner is done
My arms wail and flail
My legs kick and move
Don’t stop now
My body’s got the groove
My body is talking
With no mouth or else
Our bodies conjoin with no simple self
We sing, move, walk and talk
But the question is
What would we do if our bodies couldn’t talk?
—Chaungare, VOX Girls Group
|
