In The Eyes of My Litttle Sister

Teen Boy

IN THE EYES OF MY LITTLE SISTER

In the eyes of my little sister

I am her big brother

I am like no other

She looks up to me

like one might look up to the midnight sky

So full of wonder

Trying to take everything in.

Always listening

Always watching

Her big brother

Who needs to set a good example

for what to do in life.

For she is always listening

She is always watching

She is always there

So full of wonder

I am always in the eyes of my little sister.

 Written in the YA Poetry/Memoir Workshop, June 2011

What They Don't Tell You

Teen Girl

WHAT THEY DON’T TELL YOU

I’m an “A” student.

I live in a family of ten.

I like to sing.

I’m a really good kid

I’m engaged at the age of sixteen

I love children

I play sports.

Written in the YA Poetry/Memoir Workshop, June 2011

Role Model

Teen Boy

ROLE MODEL

I’ve lived my life as a gangster

But now it’s time for me to say good-bye.

I don’t need this stuff in my life

I’m going to be a Dad.

I don’t want this stuff for my son’s life.

I don’t want him to end up like me.

I always tell my family that I’m going to stop

Stop doing Meth

Stop and get out

But I never do

I have a little brother that looks up to me.

I write him letters

It’s sad that I can’t see him

Because I’m locked up.

Written in the YA/Memoir Poetry Workshop, June 2011

The Monster Within.

Teen Boy

THE MONSTER WITHIN

There’s a monster within me

It’s anything but sane

It’s anything but tame

I hope me and it never become one and the same.

It’s full of an evil blind rage

Locked away, inside me

Like a wild bird in a cage

Just waiting for a chance to escape and fly free.

I hope me and it never become one and the same.

For the monster within will never
be completely tame.

Written in the YA/Memoir Poetry Workshop, June 2011

My Sister

Teen Girl

MY SISTER

I remember

my pain

a laugh erupting

through your lips.

There was nothing to gain

and to stop you was a risk

But suddenly and secretly

You opened up your heart.

You told me how you frequently

Surrendered to the dark

Then you walked out the door

(More like climbed out the window)

You left my tears to pour

The misery a steady flow

Every time you came back

Our bond stronger than before

You slam the brown and smoke the crack

Life is an unstable screeching roar

But no matter what it does to you

I still won’t forget,

The day that you told me the truth

The day I hope you don’t regret.

They call you an addict

They seem to forget your name

But sister please don’t panic

To me you’ll always be the same.

You’ll always be my sister

I love you.

Written in the YA/Memoir Poetry Workshop, June 2011

In The Eyes Of Myself

Teen Boy

IN THE EYES OF MYSELF

In the eyes of myself

I am a failure

The one with no successes

A cursed future.

In the eyes of the beholder,

I am a disgrace

The one with no success

A sad little person

Set only to failure

In the eyes of myself

I want to be a success

The one who means no harm

Hoping for a hopeful future

Not made to fail.  

Written in the YA/Memoir Poetry Workshop, June 2011

Love Was A Party

Teen Girl

LOVE WAS A PARTY

I’m sorry that we are over

This love is a party

And I need to get sober

It’s either clean

Or

Painfully dirty.

You were so sweet

And then you hurt me.

Like smoking weed,

You burnt me.

I took a hit

You were all I needed

I was so high

Eating clouds

Then it faded

And I hit the ground.
I lusted your ways

Give me a dose.

I love you.

But I cut my hands picking this rose.

The rose died

I opened my eyes

The song is part of the beat

Even though I hate it,

I gotta keep moving my feet. 

Published in Please Brave Me, Dry These Tears. November 2009. 

Oho

Teen Boy

OHO

You are like no other dog

With your facial expressions so salt and pepper

Complete with eyebrows and a full beard

And when we kick it,

You evaporate all my fears

You are so brave

And fascinated with your surroundings

You will never let me down

Even if no one is home

I am never alone

Because you’re my best friend ever,

Oho.

 Published in Because I Wanted to Be Loved,  January 2009.

I Remember

Teen Boy

I REMEMBER

I remember

My home-boy on the pavement

Bleeding.

The paramedics checking him

He wasn’t breathing.

The shots rang out

He didn’t hit the deck

Stood there like a soldier

Took three slugs to the chest

I remember

His family crying

The cops asked me who did it

Said I didn’t know.

I was lying.

I remember

Growing up rough

Hearing babies crying

Everywhere I look

Another person dying.

Remembered

Teen Boy

REMEMBERED

When I die, how will people think of me with the life I lead now? Will they think I was smart or stupid for all the things I did? Will they think I was kind or mean for getting into fights? Will they think I was funny or were they just laughing at me for being dumb? Will I be missed or will I be forgotten? How will I be remembered? 

Published in Call It Courage, August 2006. 

I Always Wanted To Tell You

Teen Boy

I ALWAYS WANTED TO TELL YOU

Mom, I always wanted to tell you…

Simply I love you.

But I never had the guts

And I don’t know why

When I love you very much.

I always wanted to tell you

I appreciate what you do

I wanna do better

I need to be a go getter

And get the sobriety and good life

That I’ve always wanted.

Published in Please Brave Me, Dry These Tears, November 2009

I Am

Teen Girl

I AM

I am a blue diamond spiral.

I am a Cadillac Escalade Infinity and beyond.

I am Skittles from the rainbow.

I am a blue berry tree with emotional pain.

I am a microphone from California.

I am a bed where thugs cry.

I am a pit bull who buzzes around town.

Published in Call It Courage, August 2006.

Because I Wanted To Be Loved

Teen Girl

BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE LOVED

Because I wanted to be loved

I kept all your secrets.

Because I wanted to be loved

I always kept myself in pain.

Because I wanted to be loved

I let you put that needle in my arm.

Because I wanted to be loved

I let you smack me around.

Because I wanted to be loved

I let another one of you touch me

like you owned me.

Because I wanted to be loved

I quit doing drugs.

Because I wanted to be loved

I stood up for myself.

Because I wanted to be loved

I always ran back.

Because I wanted to be loved

I tried never to argue.

I’m sick of trying to be loved,

Go away

I love myself.