Poems

By CM

No matter how many adjectives or verbs
I’m still a voice to be heard

When my vision, to you is blurred
I’m still a voice to be heard

While I’m mentally disturbed
I’m still a voice to be heard

When my reason for speaking is absurd
I’m still a voice to be heard

When my pathway is deterred
I’m still a voice to be heard

Even when I can’t say a word
I’m still a voice to be heard

So I refuse to let go of this pen!

By CM

Momma told me that it would be days like this
But I’m pissed….why?
Because it stays like this
And now I’m in a cell
For two decades, oh well
At least I’m alive
Sh**, I coulda been in hell

So when it’s all said and done
I’m still going to be acknowledged
For sticking through when times were blue
And working my way through college

And when it’s all done and said
I’m still gone be known when burned
By holding firm for my appointed term
And encompassing my adversary

And when asked who it was
I’ll say it wasn’t neither he nor she
But all the walls, bars, and gates
That kept me from society

This experience of incarceration has completely changed my character and mindset after just one of my many years to come. You’ll be surprised how much of yourself you can find after or while going through a hardship or calamity.  Peace and blessings be upon you! –CM

By YA

Violence is the reaction of people
When they feel offended by someone or something
Violence is the pain in your heart
Violence is the uncontrollable force that wants to explode inside people
Violence is that force that some people are provoking in others

Violence comes from shattered hearts, the wanting of revenge
(If you do something to me I’m gonna get you back)
The pressure of some people on others
To do something that they don’t want to do
Sometimes wrong friends, wrong places,
Wrong times, and wrong decisions

I see violence everywhere now
It feels like everybody is trying to be part of violence
Fighting over nothing
Hood against hood, race against race,
City against city, country against country

It looks like a volcano erupting
That everybody would stop to watch/see
But you have to be far away from it
Or you gonna end up hurt or killed by it

It smells like toxic gas
That would intoxicate everybody around it
And cause many deaths

It sounds like a song that has a good intro
But the rest is something that you don’t want to hear never again

It tastes like spoiled milk
It feels like fear

Violence threw my life into a deep hole
Away from all things and persons that I love the most
I wish for everybody that uses violence to have the same point of view
And to use only two words:
“Forgiveness and Peace”

I will talk to every young man and girl and share my story
And all the consequences of violence
Violence is one of the most “lethal” diseases in youth these days
And the best weapon of destruction of the evil

Nobody is better than others
We all got qualities
We’re all important for somebody
Nobody is trying to be a victim of violence
So don’t make somebody else a victim of it

By TD

Looking for that star in the sky
Reaching for my dreams,
Wishing to be the best at what I do

Motivating me with your twinkle of light
In a world of haters
Turn on my light brighter
So my people, my family, and friends
Can see me shine bright
In a life of hell
Where I beat the Devil
By accomplishing my dreams

Even though people told me
I wouldn’t be anything
I proved them wrong

So turn up the lights
So that we can all shine bright
Like diamonds in that sky
Freeing us to be
All that we can be

Turn on the lights for us,
Our kids, our future,
Our friends, our families,
Turn them up
So that we can all see them
Shining bright

By AJ

Through all my struggles
I remain a humble man
No pain, no gain!
Sometimes it feels
As if my life is sinking in quicksand
Free Minds is always the lending hand
So much pain!
I wonder when I will gain
How could the rain last this many years?
I strive ‘n strive
In the process shedding many tears
I became a lonely soul
With little to no fears
I stop ‘n think
What’s my purpose here?
With masked emotions
I smile and keep focused
The unforgettable

By EW

My mother got so much on her mind
That she wants to cry
But she smiles
She tells me to do good
But I do it for a lil’ while
She always tells me about the world
Like Obama and a lot of interesting history I don’t know about
She don’t like the music I listen to
Because she don’t want me to be around dat stuff
She gets mad at the lil’ things
Cause if you can do something little
You can do something big
She always tells me to be thankful for what you got
Like her and my family
Even though she don’t have nothing to give me when I need stuff
She gives me love and I move on with my day
She’s smart, strong, and loving and caring for others
Even though you did something you wasn’t supposed to do
She is still with you like a mother do
She wants the best for me
Like going to school and doing what I got to do
She always tell me: ‘Leave the street alone
It’s not for you’
‘Cause I am smart and loving and caring
And I say, ‘I got it from you’
I love my mother with all my heart
It’s the time I start doing something
Before I can’t do nothing
Love you, Ma!

By JC

Finally Home
I can finally do things on my own
I can finally do what I wish to
I can finally depend on myself
I can finally not take orders from someone else
I can finally make my own decisions
I can finally live the way I want to be living
I can finally enjoy this wonderful feeling
I can finally just be free
Freedom
Free At Last
Free At Last
Thank God Almighty
They Finally Freed Me

By RW

I grew up without a father
I lost him to the pen while I lost my mother to the clubs
Hence, I was raised by my grandma
Then she lost me to the streets

Everything started off good
Then ended up bad
Many times I have been happy
And plenty times I have been sad

Every relationship I was in I never took it slow
My fear became me because I thought I was going to lose the race
Tears became the best friend of my face
It’s hard for me to trust, because I always been betrayed

In life there are two things you don’t get back
That’s time and health

I may not change the world but I can change myself

By AH
Dedicated 2 my ex-girl Erica

When u love, it’s hard 2 explain
I knew u was the one the moment u spoke my name
But I was so addicted 2 hate and carnal things
And fighting against love and my own growing pain
That I was left stuck and feeling drained

As reality set in that we were no longer one
I felt a sharp pain thru my body like I was shot by a gun
What is it about love that makes u fall every time?
Discretely trying 2 crack the code 2 your loved one’s mind

And it’s hard 2 face what u hate
Love is above all a chosen fate
One that the ignorant can even comprehend
But our relationship was over before it began

There was 2 much lust and not enough love
But we carried on dragging our hearts thru the mud
In hope of change like the seasons
In hope of oneness like our breathing
So, let that be the reason
That we can’t collect our thoughts
As we carry around a jar full of faults

It was both of our loss
Or was it just mine?
Maybe I should have counted the stares
Instead of dollar signs
Or maybe I should have held back my feelings
It’s crazy how u claim 2 be hurt
When I’m the one in need of healing
A Tina Mari voice
You wasn’t that hard of a choice
You just didn’t hear the love within my voice…

By AC

Take your paint brush and stroke
Deep past the surface
Paint a vivid image
Of this beauty
Without reflecting the pain.
Color me in with ambition
Erase any blemish of worry
Fade away these lines of regret
Make me over
Make me over
Create a new me.
Sit me on the doorstep
Of my Lord
Tell him that this image
Tell him that this image
Tell him that this image was created
Just for his keepsake.
Tell him that this
Tell him that this
Tell him that this is love.
Paint me underneath
Clear blue skies
Tattoo butterflies on
The soles of my feet…
Let them lift me to new heights.
Draw me a new world
Draw me a new world
Sketch me a prophet
And sit him in the
Palms of my hands.
Make the world listen
Make the world listen
Make the world listen to my message
Make them see the beauty…
Make the world listen to my message
Paint me a brighter picture…
Paint me…
A brighter me.

–Dynamite

BY AC

When your soul cries out
It sounds something of
An ocean roaring
The soles of
Feet clattering
The talk of
Toddlers chattering…
When your soul cries out
And speaks its true name
It sounds something
Of the heavens falling
And the angels
Swinging from Gods hip
Something like an ambush
Something like this
Something like this…
When your soul cries out
Listen.
It will teach you
The music of desire
And the pain of silence
It will show you
Your way to happiness
And outline your path in gold.
When your soul cries out
Grab a pen and
Make this paper your own
Let your tears pour
Through the ink like
The Egyptians poured
Their secrets into tombs
Let you hold close
Your stories that only
Dead ancestors understand
Let you hold close your love
And new understanding of their hate
Let you hold close
Your true meaning
Let you help yourself
To the doorstep of Elijah
Let you make
Your own religion
Let you speak the
Truths of a liar
Let you be who you are
Let you be who you are…
When your soul cries out
Stay awake
Do not be frightened
By what you’ve become
Do not be worry of
Who you are…
When your soul cries out
When your soul cries out
When your soul cries out
LISTEN!

-From the ancient voice within…
– Dynamite

By AC

Whether I am acknowledged…
I will be who I am
Remember what I was
Enjoy what now has come
And fight till the blood

Whether I am discovered…
I will strut like the lion
Sway like the trees
Bow only to the Nile
And smile with an ease

Because I am…
As deep as an ocean
As pure as the womb
As bright as the stars
As distant as the moon

Whether you ask or not…
I will speak with conviction
Follow my truth
Lead with a purpose
Inspire our youth

No matter if you care…
Life is a gift
Love more than a game
Time of the essence
Pain equals change

When I am done…
Peace be unto you
Faith be your guide
Destiny you’re holding place
Honor be your ride
Whether…

You are acknowledged or not!