Long and Gone Away by Jayla L

I remember those days
When I would come in church and sit on your lap.
I would ask you for one of your peppermint candies
and you would laugh.
You would always tell me to pay attention
to the Lord's Word, and be thankful
I was on earth another day,
'cause I was given another chance.
But those days are long and gone away.

I remember when I would ask you to come outside'n play.
You would get up with a smile on your face.
If I had known at the time that your had cancer,
I would've been a little less playful,
and made you more comfortable,
so you weren't achin' with pain.
But those days are long and gone away.

I remember, I remember, I remember!
But that's all I got are memories
of you and I together, hopin' they would never
fade away.

I remember walking up to see you one last time,
before you were closed and shut away.
You had your eyes closed, hands folded one over the other,
with a smile on your face,
and I knew deep down you were saying
"Everything's gonna be okay,"
'cause you were now in a better place.

I remember and I won't forget,
but that's all long and gone away.

A Dark World by Jayla L

Where I live
is now turned into a dark world.
What was once peaceful is now filled with anger
the saddened faces of people as they get beat;
they cry out for help;
death fills their eyes.
They leave knowing a dark world.

Knowing that any second is my last,
I have no more hope.
They hear our cries, but still refuse to send help.
This is beyond a dark world,

We hold our families as we cry
They go one by one,
chopping and slashing as they go by.
This is a dark world,

We keep asking and asking and asking for help.
They say we "have the whole package"
except that we are blacks, Africans, negroes.
Another way for the white man
telling us to go to Hell.
This is a dark world,

they leave us crying, dying, begging for mercy
to spare our lives.
They leave man, woman, boy and girl;
the new born and elder in a world of hatred,
anger, destruction.
This is a dark world,

I stand up from the ground.
I am the last one standing.
I look around what I once called home
now, torn down.
Where is my family?
They are nowhere to be found.
I am scared I want my mommy and daddy to hold me,
comfort me, carry me, but they are gone now.
I close my eyes and open them,
hoping that it's just a bad dream,
but when I open my eyes I was facing reality.
I hoped that the conflict wouldn't come back,
but it never left.
It was just pushed into another country
where the masacre could happen again.

This is a dark world.

(Based on the movie "Hotel Rwanda")

Impatient to Know by Ty'Shea

What does the word "love" mean?

Can you feel it? Hear it, touch it, play around with it? Mixed thoughts about this one little word called "love."

Yeah, you say you love me. True, I say it back. But I really don't know why I say it. How can you say you love somebody when you don't even know if it's true or not? It's just killing me to hear the word used and abused when truth be told, I'm steadily trying to figure out what the word means.

Love.

People say it means sex. Others say there's more to it. Some say it's when all you can think about is the other person. But I'm shaking my head on that one, because I tell my mamma I love her all the time, but I don't sit there and drool over her. Or keep writing her name a million and one times, over and over... Still questioning myself: what does the word "love" mean? Just a young girl trying to make someting of herself, stuck on one word called "love."

Granny says, "Oh you too young to be thinkin' about love! You wanna know a thing or two about love? Well, I'll tell you. Love is when you and the other person can take care of each other. Put up with the drama, the arguing, the fussin' and fightin'. Love is when you haven't seen that person all day, and when you finally do see them, your heart drops and starts to melt."

That's what granny says love is. But I'm thinking: not true. I love my mamma, granny and family members to death, but hey, I don't think about them twenty-four seven. (Unless they're sick on their death bed or something...)

Keep askin' myself what does the word "love" mean.

If it ain't love, then I have no clue what to call it. Every time my phone rings... Is it him? I hope so... Nope. Just another friend. Dang.

Every time I see him all I can do is smile, smile, smile.

Every time he holds me, my body gets hot to the point where I'm melting into him... Is it love? Nah, couldn't be.

But if it ain't love, what is it? All day, every day thinkin' about him. Lookin' in the mirror, talkin' to my reflection, as if it was him. It's hard when I've got all these thoughts running through my head. When is he going to call or text? Maybe even walk past me? And then my heart drops. I get that one text that makes me feel unstoppable... "Babe wat r u doin? i miss u"

My cheeks turn red. Without hesitation I respond: "NUTHIN...BEEN THINKIN BOUT CHU ALL DAY. AN I MISS U MORE." Impatient to see what his response would say.. 1 second, 2 second, 3 second, 4, 5, 6, 7 seconds... Hurry up and text back. 2 minutes later, "See babe, that's y i luv u."

Still, I question myself, what does that four letter word mean?

Two Poems for Daddy by Aesha

Just One Day

You weren't here
You weren't there.

I pray and say for you to stay
Just one more day.

Now all my love for you
Has grown into a strong hate.

It just all seems to be displaced.

Even though you can't say my name,
I hope you will stay one day,
So I will regret all this pain.

I try to hide so I won't be seen;
It's just not for me.

I'm afraid to wake up one day
To see you in my face.

Wait, what happened?
Where's my daddy?
He said he was coming home today.

Not tonight. Just go back to sleep.

For some strange reason,
It was all just a dream.



Forget You

You weren't here when I needed you the most.
I hate to say it,
You make me my worst.

It shows me that there is hell on earth.

Why did you leave me when I needed you most?

Daddy, I'm sorry.
I just miss you.

The longer you're away,
I just don't want you to stay.

Wait what's going on?
You took too long.

Get out of my face!
Stay out of my way!

I just get tired of playing these
Waiting games.

I'm just done with you and your boose!
And you know what? Forget you, too!

I Said I Was Sorry by Jayla S

for Dad


I didn't mean to hurt you.
I really cared.

I wish I never left you.
And don't be scared.

I thought I knew what to do...
I guess I was wrong.

This is new to me, too.
I know I am strong.

I know I always jump in and out.
Guess I lied again.

Promised I'd never shout;
Should've been your friend.

Oh yea, almost forgot: I am sorry.

Daddy loves you.

Which Way? by Jayla S.

for Mom



Not knowing what turn to make,
I turn.

Not knowing which step to take,
I walk.

Is there anyway out?
I am so trapped, so closed in.

Burried under lies and pain
locked behind doors and walls

Listening to her voice...

Take my hand; trust me.

Playing over and over...
Still, there's no way out.

So where to go from here?
Which way is out; I quit.