Happiness
Chionesco Bakr
My happiness shines off the wall
It shines something like a disco ball
If you look at me, it’s going to blind you all
My happiness is shining so bright
I could knock the sun out of business overnight
That’s my happiness!!!
Just For Our Freedom
Eddie Lawson, 10
Participant, Phat Phun Poetry Workshops, Brooklyn Public Library
Just for our freedom
We walked and marched
Just for our freedom
We held up signs that read "We Want Knowledge Instead We Get
Jail"
Just for our freedom
We sang We Shall Overcome
Just for our freedom
We whispered and shouted "Freedom"
Just for our freedom
We fought and died
Just for our freedom
And we did all of that
Just for our freedom.
We Shall Overcome
Nylejah Lawson, 12
Participant, Phat Phun Poetry Workshops, Brooklyn Public Library
We shall overcome
Riding in the back of the bus
We shall overcome
The police mistreating us
We shall overcome
Dirty, rotten schools
We shall overcome
Not getting an education and acting like a fool
We shall overcome
Broken-down homes
We shall overcome
Being judged by our skin tones
I hope you understand
We all have to be one
To make certain changes
We shall overcome.
Nylejah Lawson
The Sweet Potato Pudding
Boo, I grubbed on the sweet potato pudding,
That you made for Kwanzaa dinner
That was in the dish your sister gave you
Sorry.
That was in the frigerator
That you were saving for yourself, no doubt.
It was so rich and creamy.
Sorry.
Naturally sweet and marshmallowy,
And it had just the right amount of nutmeg and ginger.
Like Mama’s.
Sorry.
Boo, you outdid yourself.
No wonder I ate it all.
Boo, I love you.
Sorry.
Copyright, Angeli R. Rasbury 2003