summer 2011
Untitled
By Richaud
I am like a jaguar because I am territorial
But want to be free as a bird.
I am like a panther, sneaky, but trustworthy
As a dog
And unaccountable like fish
I am like the color purple, mysterious
And stand out like turquoise
I am a lion who lives alone as an adult male
But wants to live with women like an elephant
I am a tiger who hunts solitarily
But moves in a pack like a wolf.
Like a sapphire, I am blue.
If I could go back to my childhood
By Harry
If I could go back to my childhood, I would change the way I grew up. My dad would not have disappeared. I would change the illegal things, mean and bad things I have done. I would have stayed in school and not dropped out of eighth grade. I would’ve never stayed back in 5th grade. I would not ever have called my teacher a liar and a dumb ass. If I could go back, I’d put someone there to help me not to have done these things, someone to make sure I didn’t do these things.
If that person would never have disappeared, I may not have ever got into trouble with the law. I probably wouldn’t have so much anger in my mind. I would be living a normal life, like other kids: going to school, going to work, hanging out with my father being spoiled. I would be able to be in my own house, well, our own house, me my mom and my dad.
What I Want
By Alexus
I was a young child who people thought nothing of.
I remember when DCF had to take me out the house
because I was a problem child.
I heard when the judge said he could not trust me in the real world.
I saw my grandmother break down in court crying.
I worried that my grandmother would give up on me.
I though my life was worthless and no point in living.
But, I want to change.
I am a troubled teenager who needs to be supported.
I think the world needs to be put under control.
I need to go home and prove that I can be successful.
I try to write my feelings and make better choices.
I feel angry and upset.
I forgive myself.
Now I can change.
I will be successful and become a nurse.
I choose to handle my feelings differently.
I dream I could Wake up from this lie.
I hope my family stands by me until the end.
I predict I won’t go through this again.
I know I won’t let anybody stop me from chasing my dreams.
I will change!
My Life
By William
If my father was in my life and was always there for me, I would’ve never been getting in trouble and be placed in detention like the way I’m now.
Also, if he was there for me, I would’ve been easier and less stressed.
For example, I was stressing my grandmother died. I felt that she left, just like my dad, but at least my grandmother didn’t mean to leave.
Now that I’m locked up I can’t see my family, not even my father. This is now important to me because after I got arrested and sent to SAGE, my fater came to see me. I had not seen him in 2 years. I felt important to him; it made me realize how important it is to be with family. I missed them all, and I wish I could leave detention to turn my life around and to be with my mother and father. They are my heroes.
The reason I say they’re my heroes is because they are always there for me when I need help or if I have a problem. My mom cautioned me, “William, you’re going to get locked up for smoking.” I questioned, “For how long Ma?” She cried, “I don’t know! Just until we could help you.” I announced, “I don’t need help! I could handle my own.” She declared, “So if you could handle your own, stop smoking!” I argued, “I will, I’m going to stop and I don’t want you out of my life!” “So stop doing the things you’re doing William; please be a role model for your brother!” She begged. I promised, “I will Ma. I promise.” She consoled herself with, “OK William, I love you,” and I whispered, “I love you to Ma, and things won’t be the same without you by my side.” I miss you Ma.
summer 2010
My Change Poem
By Shaneka
I was a very bad kid
I remember when I was a bully
I heard kids didn’t like me
I saw my aunt get shot in the leg
I worried bout my family all the time
I thought nobody loved me
But, I want to change.
I am Shaneka
I think I am in love
I need my boyfriend Duke by my side
I try to be so different
I feel that I need more love
I forgive myself
Now I can change
I will do better when I get out of Sage
I choose to play basketball when I get older
I dream to play basketball when I get older
I dream that I’m gonna marry my boyfriend
I hope Duke don’t cheat on me while I’m in jail
I predict that I’m gonna live a long time
I know I’m gonna change
I will change
My Life
By Jaleel
I am a fourteen year old that was born in America and went to Jamaica when I was 2. My mom sent me down there to live with my auntie. My aunt is the woman who raised me, fed me, and loved me. She is the nicest woman in the world. My real mom started to come see me in summers, but when she came, I didn’t know who she was. She was a stranger to me because I did not see her since I was two years old.
When I turned 7, I had a birthday party. The wonderful woman that had been taking care of me and showing me love gave me the best birthday party ever. She made small little white peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and I loved them. She told me she made them with love and heart. She is the best. Before I would go to bed, she read me bed time stories and gave me hugs and kisses before I went to sleep. She has the nicest and warmest hugs in the world.
When I was 9, the best part of my life came to an end. My real mom sent for me to come to America. I cried my eyes out like a baby wrapped in a blue blanket. But after a while, I would take it like a man and deal with it.
I always think about her. I want to go back to Jamaica and live with her. Every time I hear songs like “You Are Not Alone” by MJ, I miss her even more.
During the 5 years that went by, and I got to know America really well, made many new friends, and also some bad friends that could get me into trouble. My life started to get worse when my father died of a heart attack right in front of me. That was one of the worst times of my life. My eyes were as full as oceans. I know he is in a happy place called heaven and that it was his time to go home.
When I turned fourteen, I started getting into trouble and picking the wrong people to have as friends. My mother didn’t know how to handle things. Her beatings were worse. She choked the living death out of me. She has beaten me with cords and water hoses. She chased me with a knife. She let my cousin beat me. One time he started hitting me and punching me in the belly and kicking me when I fell to the floor. He threw me into a wall and made a big dent into it.
Because I got beatings, I would run away from home. For days, no one knew where I was. I have been in and out of kids’ jail. The second time I ran away from home, I was gone for days. She swung a knife at me. She told me that she was not my mother and that I would be nothing in life. She told me if she knew that I was going to be like this she would have killed me when I was a baby.
That is why I am locked up, because I ran away from home again. I know that I never want to go back home. I don’t want to go home at all. I want to stay here.