Original poetry by students in Dr. Nancy Watkin's College of Education course RED 4511, Reading, Writing and Thinking, at the SPC Tarpon Springs campus
By Kristal Hennessy
Time has gone by, but we still live in history
Hatred still brewing perpetually
Everyone must be the change
How do we sit still while a child’s funeral is arranged
Assault of a child for the color of his skin
Time to end this, a new mentality must begin!
Everyone says times have changed, how blind we have been
Until a man is man, not the color of his skin
Give everyone their voices, their right to be heard
Injustices served faster than one can say the word
Voices are our weapons, tools to be used
Every human deserves a life of dignity, not to be judged, demeaned or bruised
Where Hate Comes From
By Chloe W.
The hate you give
Comes from within.
From the fires raging inside
From your mistakes and your lies.
The hate you give
Comes from within.
From the fear trembling in your thighs
From the monster that grows inside.
The hate you give
Comes from within.
From the sadness and grey skies
From the heavy clouds behind your eyes.
The hate you give
Hides within.
Ready to drag you in
Ready to burn you down.
The hate you give
An entity all on its own,
Feeds on your soul
And withers you to bones,
Until there’s nothing left but guilt.
By Stephanee Bridges
Suspicion reveling in the glory of indifference
Holding accountability for ransom and asking why
Why should we care, why should we try
When all it gets us is pain and suffering and anger
Holding onto hope like a heavy chain nailed to the wall
Of the ship dragging you across a sea, to set us free?
No.
Enraptured with hate that your ancestors bared and you can feel
Passed down generations and reflected in the eyes
Of the white woman clutching her purse tightly as you walk by
Oh, how times have changed! They say
Oh, it’s not about race! They say.
They lie. And lie. And lie. And lie.
The fire in my belly grows and stokes the flame
running rampant in my brain
My voice is tired still, but I’ll fight and I’l’ fight
Because this color can’t run and neither will I.
By Holly Brady
Did you hear those cries?
Me either.
Let’s pretend time is infinite and we’ll be here forever.
Let’s pretend it’s all better now.
They kissed your pain so it must be better now.
If it leaves a mark, cover it up.
It’s better now, and you don’t know what you are talking about.
Did you hear those cries?
What cries?
Let’s pretend we’re in better hands and they know best.
Let’s pretend we are taken care of.
They sing sweet promises so we must be taken care of.
If they lie, don’t say a word.
They are taking care of us and you’re just bitter.
I hear the cries, they are louder now.
What cries?
The cries of the
Broken.
Forgotten.
Lost.
And Angry.
Our innocence has been stripped and we cannot pretend anymore.
We don’t need kisses.
We don’t need lullabies.
We need change.