Previous Issues:
ISSUE #25
ISSUE #26

ISSUE #27; May 2008

Sacrificial Love
Love could never Define
What I felt 4 her
What was so Divine
My lust 4 her
The love I thought
was more than ever
was all distraught
my core was severed
But when all was lost
she guided the way
which led me 2 C
our forge was made
Then broke
cause I did not C
what true love was
when she loved me
So now I vow…
love never again
unless you’ll love me
more than a friend
Thank you, for being my light
thank you for weaving my life
My Love, my sight/ my Dove, my wife
My rise and
Decline, my
Rebirth, my
Demise
I Love You
-Rob B.

To
Scream this poetry
is the only way you may ever grasp
the thoughts of this man
words that expand – with it
until they seep from mind to the pen
this time takin will be givin back in the end
when locked doors cease to condemn
and my soul is free to pretend
-Anonymous

I think with the illest ability – to see how they killing me
Pump drugs into the streets an then arrest us for dealing these
give us enough money to pay our utilities
but keep us in the hood making $6.50 at Mickey D’s
-Anonymous

go get it
its right there in front of you
reach out and grab before it runs from you
what you don’t want it
too real for such dribble
you fight against it but for it
and still it fits you
-Anonymous

How can I relate to them but them not to
Me – why do I strive for tha future
while they repeat history
Innocence never claimed my
but neither did hell
considered the worst because I’m up in this cell
you don’t know me and neither do I
-Anonymous

4th of July in this 6 by 9 room
when the lights go out I can almost see what I hear
in the crack and the Boom
as time passes an the grand finally is through
I pinch myself to see if its true
another date another holiday missed
shit, six more months till Christmas.
-Anonymous

right there I remember the place
on the nape of your neck
your back and your breast
as we kiss’d & undress’d
the fire for each other intertwined through our chest
such lust but I’m blessed
to taste and lay hands
on rose pedal skin
made just for a man
-Anonymous

I won’t fight this and neither will I run
stupidity would be to go deeper into the barrel of the gun
-Anonymous

torn pages loose leaf
-Anonymous

Tangled and twisted
landed but still falling
machine on the first ring
but the calls still pour in
miss nothing hear it all
yet it ceases to stick
in one ear and out the other
like corn in your shit
still you pitch
and I bunt in hopes to be safe
if home is where the heart is
can I live on your plate?
-Anonymous

Freedom from this aggravation
Or: understand why I’m so mad
-Anonymous

Every time I hear freedoms bell ringing
its often disappointment at the door
striking hope to the floor
I question if I’ll ever be out for sure
of course I’ll leave these doors
but will reality stay torn
grab my tail from between my legs and move on
or keep my head down like when the judge
shows her scorn
and I miss Christmas and birthdays of loved ones
them I stepped back through the gates and
Morphed coughed smoke
and ate a loss
-Anonymous

How Did We Get Here
the atoms or molecules vibrated and shifted
existing by your choice of beliefs
but as they went along and encountered
higher vibrations they too created procreated
new molecules , gases which rose and rose
but only until there become more advanced
and a higher vibration was spur’d causing
rains and as the waters soaked the soil it too
was introduced to a higher working thus forth
bring my vegetation maybe as those meant
and gassed exploded chemical combined bacterias
grew these life came to contact each other
putting again a higher vibration moving nowing
fast forward we are here learning discovering
also raising our evolution look! for what we’re
here for until we get to absorbed in the improving
whats been here wars are fought over true
religions separations of nations mixes of breeds
higher vibrations where did we screw up
-Anonymous

think outside of the box
write without the lines
drop everything you know
cease to be familiar
nothing – this –it all
has to go
please don’t get the wrong idea
don’t get any ideas
because it’s definitely not me it’s you
suddenly it’s way too hard to
lie about what’s true
did I say the wrong thing
your talking stupid
well good now we’re on
the same page
damn this is hard
harder than I remember
but then again you were soft
and now we’re putting our foot down
Right?
no, that’s too close
your getting colder
try the other way again
you know the crazy shit
yea, the real crazy shit
that’s what made you feel good right
stop asking, that’s not
where I wanted to take this and
lose the attitude
lose control
start a new
STOP!
-Anonymous

I write because I need
If I don’t put it in this pad its gon’ bleed through
satisfaction from a word an what it leads to

I either learn from the book or learn
from my head new words and combinations
from the ink or a lead

The Qur’an
it changed the discipline of religion up to that point

50 Cent got the same ol’ flow
nothing original but guns, crack, and hoes
-Anonymous

Step out the box- you ain’t gotta be a thug
it ain’t all about having sex with bitches and selling drugs
shit get married at a dumb young age
let dudes get away with crazy disrespect
and smile in their face
-Anonymous

I say wow what funny shapes
you laugh and say silly those are animals
I am color blind so to me there are no blues
but you still ask if navy or baby goes betta with shoes
and then when I say do you see what I mean
you fix my glasses and see to it they’re clean
and when its dark I adjust keener assuring
you the light is inside until you too are
are a believing but when when I’m away
we both seem to lose our vision sudden
blindness of loves intuition bumping each other
on our way back home often coming close
to cliffs and then saving each other throught
short talk on the phone
damn its been long since we look at
one another through each other’s eyes
got back on the same page and let
differences die in 20 days we’ll see if
its still there or say our goodbyes
but never forget those cartoon eyes
-Anonymous

anything we do changes everything that’s happened
a smell is never enjoyed until the scents been captured
he told me this while playing chess and she
held me through the night they placed him
on a pinnacle and swore the jump was right
but what was right was not in life for him
as was before as if his strand of DNA
were twisted and torn
-Anonymous

Hey it been quite a long time
you’ve put on some weight I see
are those chucks or poopa scoopers
they remind me of you who you bree?
were wind blowing getting everyone’s
attention attention we I lack do
you believe she’s like that like that
and she only like girl should have known
too cool for your world never have me
I… done
-Anonymous

Kyle Meets Kyu
Something straight from the bottle
always starts the game a little quicker
over powering ration with clever ideas
Kyle is married
happy with a simple life
far away from what is norm
but the smoke is ritual
self medicating: a release from the voices
a club or party is accepted
and in comes Kyu
a grand introduction while holding a mellow presence
with hearing eyes and a lingering speech
flowing through every interacting; a stage
everyone’s friend until the first blood is drawn
jeering each waiver of the wrist that
persisted he go on
to continue that twisting smile
in the meantime feeding the twinkle in
Kyle’s eye that few notice as the fire
burning, leaching on every cell
adorning every thought until…
-Anonymous

Nothing come right when everything has falsed
come undone I’m so done with pretending I’m fine
I’m fine if you dislike the attitude that’s mine
but its me and its rightfully here what more can you
take from a desolate year my heart it still beats
more so that it moves star rent rituals(???) or structure
that keeps it from death not alive just a lie as it
lies in my chest there are all that I have
words of sad and despair hold in contempt towards
the still in the air and this room its so quiet I
come the switch moods but you offer prompts that
damn what I do its not you for real I’m so lost
it ain’t visits so why care
if sanity’s gone but I am sane cuz I’m here writing
this shit but I’ve never felt more out of in
its strange cuz I could almost ask for help
but how can you understand feelings never dealt
I say that with no-ing you had to be given a hand
still you made right choices to land where you stand
Do I hate you?
-Anonymous

I say its ingraved forsaken
Why must I feel the way I do
So relentless and careless
It’ll remain unanswered
But it’ll remain cherished
Deep inside the canaries cage
All bent and rugged
only the feathers remain
and the rest is nothing
probly bones and scraps
of what used 2 reside
a soul livin and breathin
is no longer alive
and what died
and reincarnated a monster
-Rob B.

ISSUE #26; January 2008

Moving

Make a distinction between motions and movement
don’t just walk around your whole life
plant your roots and go forward
you’ll find out what’s just right
because everywhere you go
boy there you are
shoot for the moon if you miss
you still amongst those stars
I’m not saying be still conservatives
not the way
but the scratched CD never gets played
movements serve people, people don’t serve
movements, so stop the contortions you’re not
that exclusive
free will not a dime
so save all your money
they do it you do it
that sounds kinda funny
you search for likes
why not look for zeros
over population of victims
and not enough heroes
is it scary moving like that
to the click of your own heel
to live selfless and passionate
and love only through zeal
I want to ask him
Jesus, this being
was it hard not to strike back
when they cursed your fathers and your dreams

Kyle J

why there you are!
are you there, why
there you are
why are you there
you there, why are you
why you are there
are there yous
why there are you
there whys are you
you there are why
there whys are you
why you
are the whys
why you

Kyle J

conforming my words is
ight because putting restraints and still
being able to write decent shit will sharpen
my other skills. I like the idea because I
can still transform words into why I
want them to mean

white milk in a crate

we all have our dates over our heads
dressed and facing the same way. packed together
just right so we stay in order

Kyle J

They expect things, they all do. My parents
the schools I was born into this life
but I digress the fools. Only in mind because
I know much better continue the front and
all dreams to the shredder. soon I’ll be off to
some med or strict law Party and drink excessively
until the good days are all gone. Then will come
marriage kids an estate where I’ll continue
the pattern of life that’s all fake

Kyle J

Do facades layer
as one acts through life’s scenes
can a man lose himself
to his failures and lost dreams?

Kyle J

we lay together
we lay apart
we lay on 2 different beds
underneath the same stars

Kyle J

Moving=

Make a distinction between
motions and movements between yourself but a
force when there together, there meant to
be by there selfs but as two they
might be better, like punch and kick
walls and sticks they both would move swift
a lot harder to hit like hand and wrist
the motions stick but can break quick
now back to this………….

Movements serve people, people don’t serve
movements groove with it move wit
it, agree wit it, be wit it, stomp your
feet wit it To make it work march down
the street with it, protest and yell If you
gotta raise hell, This is what you stand for
this is what you yell, people don’t serve
movements well I shore is hell wanna get out of jail
cause this movement is the cell……….

Is it scary, I want to ask him, moving
like that, as we move to the move that
will take us back, one movement one motion,
Look nah chill, I have another do we
move with zeal or do we move wit a
swag that knowbody can jack I’m
moving to fast to take a step back I’ll lead
you Follow I run this apollo….

Brandon E.

Im me and your you
you see me and I’ll see you
If your nice next comes how do you do
Hold on tight youll make threw

Rocco W.

Look up you see buildings and skyscrappers
Look down you see glass pipes and blunt papers
Stand around long enough its like a movie
Life’s get mixed up like a smoothie
Dudes thatll ask you for a cigarette a dollar
Hobo’s wit the 40 taken sips then swalla
Thing get old quick where Im at
So they’re dimin up sacks and makin em fat
Im not sayin its good but that’s how it goes
Well this is life its what some of us chose

Rocco W.

Old Lady and Very Young Kid
Your young and Im old
Your warm and I cold
You know nothing and I know best
You have energy and I need rest
I like candy that has no sugar
You like to pick your nose eat the buger
You like food with frosting that sweet
You wanna go out I tell you Im beet
You talk about action figurs and a Remote car
I take my teeth out put em in a jar
I have years on you know it
Im old give respect and show it

Rocco W.

Sex is like air you need it to live
Make sure you strap up unless you likes kids
Some girls take money tri n to be slick
Some girls are Canadian they always thick
It’s a mix between good + Best
Floor and flesh put your mind threw that test
Think about it slow itll make since
I go threw time like Past, Present, and Future tence.

Rocco W.

Make a distinction between Movement + motion
Na Im good Ill do my own thing feel like Im floating
I move and make motion while I move to the motion
This is all me so don’t try to take my words and start ???
Im me and no one can do what I do
Lisin Im telling you dont even try to
_______

Movements serve people, people don’t serve
movements Im gone have to stray off do
how I do it
I can talk about the world and make you start to think
or I could go Tupac “old enough to go to war but not old enough to drink”
When I write all this, all I’m tryin to say is
I can turn around I can turn around a topic and just shake it
_______

Is it scary I want to ask him moveing like that
Its another one of his lines Ill have to turn around like a hat
I kind of concerned about the way this might come off fat
This is poetry Im not tryin to rap
This shit make since and that’s how it should be
Im not imporent but I bet you I could be.

Rocco W.

I am a bag of chronic
I can read your mind like hooked on fonics
I can ipair your Judgment
At the same time ruin your budget
I help those in war like the one that was civil
I help people in Jail but just with a nibble
I hate what I do this is just whack
I done now im gonna change back
Damn what that heat I feel on my body
Damn that’s it I just got gottied.

Rocco W.

I wake 6:30 thinkin damn this gyes mean
He yells get up do ya hygiene
Go to lunch get some grub
Kid tells me I need my money ya now Dove.
The memory I have is being here
But when I leave itll be there I go
back to sleep and a dream comes on
She say I have been here befor its
My great great gramam
She says this used to keep the brooms
I look at the door and see her initials??
on the room You have not been
here before I carved you initials on the door

Rocco W.

I think
We of the
We should
R. I. T. S.
be able
Say no
to write
to glorifying Drugs
about
and we will not
what I
stand for it
damn please
Noone will
and I hate
change our
the fact that
choice mostly
they cencor
not that
My
damn
writing
AS/220

Rocco W.

I hope this is easy to read
black whisperer Hot Soul
rough italics on stone
that we know to whome your not partial
so close your ears and get your hearts tuned
fall into the rabbit hole
where these words come from and dreams faster
and reality is the only true repressor
your not ready for cerebral dyslexia
so keep studying
defer until the simple idea of it is disgusting
and leave the insane alone
so that the man with one eye can be king
to the blind
on his throne

Kyle J.

Flow so iridescent
but your conscious black an viscous
life a stage
every smirk and whisper scripted
oh starlet you crestfallen angel
they rival and curse the hands that made you
still you rise from the Mud gracefully disdainful
(How I love to hate you)

Kyle J.

We left the stoop. Joining the smoke as it rose
engulfed by the sun Jet streaks free to move us fro
we became
Many different places at once
sucked in through people’s lungs
exhausted by fossil fuels
becoming tight when entering homes and schools
I believe we never would return as the sun set
and we chill
Moving leaves and trash about as we attempted to
stay still.

Kyle J.

(Wonderful little Boy)
Only smiles and tears
Two of the hardest expressions
in less than a year
what it would mean to keep your life so simple and sweet
but with only smiles and tears
children get devourd in streets
So I Might
Change the world for you
tell you tales halt your Mind
or put you out there
an you’ll learn in due time
I question what you’ll question
as your mind becomes mine
do my best in your lessons
an be there for all time.

Kyle J.

Breaking Habbit

Built for each other
love could never compare
your thoughts kindled the fire
but spoke hurt and despair
I hold on to whats clear
in fear of starting anew
its me who is leaving
why should I hurt more than you
with nothing to lose
you act out in hopes of staying
I shut doors and turn corners this life plot for playing

Kyle J.

I don’t believe in not believing
in whats believed to lead you there
us and them her and him
ones, triplets and a pair
I think I’ve found my special way
it posted on the telephone if you find
that same hurray then I won’t stay here all
alone Ill run In flee Jump and Jive
until Ive shook you off off me then Ill
Put my shackle on and claim Im finally free

Kyle J.

Can I get up out this piece/
can i breathe/ let me hit the streets/
show ya ima beast on this beat ay.
for i gotta leave gotta family/ losing sleep and i'm
losing money as we speak dam/ not a saint
i'm just tryna do my thang/ if they let me out
best believe ima make it rain yea/ understand
i aint talkin nics and grams/ 9 to 5 guess its
time to be a man oh/ you don't know this is
something serious/ fast lane so i'm living in a
rush/ yep i get it in/ aint nobody hold me back

Kyle J.

Life is a everyday thing you have to live it
I know plenty of unfortunate people that had to give it
heaven and hell there like black holes in the ground and the sky
everybody wanna go to one of um but i don't see why
children using drugs just to ease the pain
some can't handle it start slicin at their veins
then they get sick of em, send em to sail
they say it helps but it truly makes em fail
i don't know why it toook this long say say what everyone knows
but i guess that just goes to show, that just goes to show

Rocco W.

I was here when my aunt and grandmother died
i was here when my family mourned and cried
i was here on my mothers, sisters and brothers b-day
i was here when my brother and sister went to school on the first day
i was here when they shot fireworks up into the sky
i was here when they had the ann of the TT where 1000s of people died
i was here when i shouldn't be nobody should
i would change it all around and i wish that i could
ann=anniversary, TT=twin towers

Rocco W.

I am
Monday comes
me
after Sunday
none will
but before
change
Tuesday
that
that’s visit
I hope you
which
don’t try
means
as a
good food
matter of
and family
fact

Rocco W.

Are you in my mind
you are in my mind
my mind, you are in
In my mind you are

Are you in my mind?
You’re in my mind.
My mind, are you in?
My mind, you are in.
In my mind are you?
In my mind you are.
Are you my Mind?
You’re my mind.
My mind, you are.

Corey C.

be
see
they
me marry me
happily live happily
??
probably
sorry
rocky
soggy
foggy

Corey C.

A Boy
The Magic wore off
the light was green
nail could
broke the fresh like new
involved man
and the eye’s when she stopped
fell of stepping on needs to be
to be a only thing left and before
the state shoes was to make socks
Pin him chalk that’s into his head
he. He rolled back the

Corey C., Kyle J., Rocco W., Jonathan C., and Angela H.

I’m stuck in this cell without you
stuck in this cell thinkin bout you
stuck in my cell I’m not without you, N even tho
stuck in my cell everywhere I look is you, cuz I’m
stuck in this cell I don’t doubt you. But as I’m
stuck in my cell I’m still bout you. N as I’m
As I’m stuck in this cell I know your still wit me
Stuck in this cell I know ur still thinkin bout me
so know as I’m stuck in this cell you rot without me
as I’m stuck in this cell everywhere you look is me
so as I’m stuck in my cell don’t doubt me
so I know stuck my this cell you still bout me

all we gotta do is remember
dat I’m not in this cell forever
only in this cell to November
home to be witcha in December
Den to stay wit ya 4-eva

Corey C.

Ill be me, if youll be you
Hold on tight youll make it threw
They say everything happens for a reason
tell me why my boy got stabbed
and I couldnt stop the bleeding

Rocco. W.

When I wake up, n before I go to bed I say I love you n give a kiss to her pic
I contemplate about no being with her, n how much I miss her
shes the only thing I can think about, shes the only thing on my mind all day.
so when Im in my cell I put my hand together and I begin to pray
keep safe na girl, me wifey, ma fiancé, my baby mama
I say lord plz keep her away from the drama
I pray, plz lord, protect her
Plz lord don’t neglect her
Shes the only thing I got left
N without her My life becomes death
I can’t function without her, my minds going crazy
shes the only reason my situation faze me.

Christina’s her name n shes my everythin.
My true love, for me she’ll do anything.
I love her more den ma hole fam put together
she the only one I eva loved, n I’ll love her forever
I love everything about her
Yup she my baby girl
Yup she my whole world
I love everything about her
But remember she ma baby girl so don forget
I love everything about her
in the end she the only thing that keeps me right

Corey C.

ISSUE #25, September 2007

Boy

Boy wakes up
Boy makes mistake
Boy goes to prison
Not the training school, prison
Boy gets raped by men, not boys like him
Not by lil boys who make mistakes
But by murderers
Boy tries to stand up for himself
Boy is just a boy
Boy gets
Shanked
Boy dies
Boy falls victim to the state law
Mayors, senators, lawyers, Judges of Rhode Island
Boys never came to the training school
So who cares
I can only pray for my boys

Evan W.

To Whom It May Concern:

I think that this new law that 17 year olds get charged as an adult is out of line. Because they/ we are still young kids. We are not old enough to purchase tobacco products but we are old enough to go to the ACI. That doesn’t make any sense. So I’m against the Law and think it was a greedy stupid decision by the State of Rhode Island.
Sincerely,
D. F.

A Bad Mayor

I write on what my mind tells me. Today I was in the zone thinking about freedom and how slaves battled to get just that. I was reading the paper and I feel like the mayor is trying to bring back slavery in a way. For instance locking away young youth at the age of 17. Just like it was back in the 1800, but there was NO age limits. Taking away 100 people from jobs so what they can work for people like slaves did, for a low cost. What about providing for the families at home? This loser is taking away from hard working individuals who never did anything wrong to anyone. What about this raising taxes if you own a “suv”? Can you believe this if you own a vehicle that is over 2 tons you have to pay taxes on it. How about the fact that he’s taking away childcare starting the first of July? What’s wrong with helping a mother and the baby now their on their own when they get out of the hospital. It’s sad that this guy only thinks about him and his office. He’s another Bush who’s just going to hurt people. In the end if he lived the life we did or seen half the things we seen then he wouldn’t be doing the things he’s doing today to our people and community.

-Sergio R.

Fate

I imagine two stone faced poker players throwing chips into the pile
One player ,life so innocent the other is death that won’t even smile
The stakes keep getting bigger and bigger
The pile of chips stands tall as a man and as round as the moon
someone is going to win soon

Evan W.

Agenda

Everybody is just walking along concerned with his own problems
His own life, his own worries and how he going to solve them
And were all expecting other people to tune into our own addenda
Look at my worry, worry with me
Step into my life, care about my problems, care about me

Evan W.

Untitled

When the elephants fight the grass suffered
Cold food on the table in the Glade Tupperware
Another missed dinner in the streets for the supper
I know my mother like the grass and she suffered
In though I treat her like a sucker
Before I leave the house I hug her cuz I love her

Evan W.

Empty Pages

Empty pages seem to be filled with poems that make sense, but I fill empty pages with senseless poems about lost children and broken homes. Blind children, Russian soldiers, wingless birds with broken bones. Blond hair, blue eye Ken and Barbie. Paying off college loans. American Pie, American ford pickups parked in the garages of American Homes. Destroy a South American rainforest that’s not so close to home. So why care crimas chare different story save the American pinecone. Take cows and make clones. Cuz thieves not anof beef on the American home will the homeless without home begs for change to be dropped in his requirable crop made of Styrofoam.

Evan W.

From the Corner

From the corner of my eye I see a flicker of hope
Just a flicker so slight and sly
That you think maybe it wasn’t there
Like a warm breeze of humid air

You try to find hope but lose faith
Lose faith then give up on hope
With out both it’s hard to cope
That’s why I am doing things that I told myself I won’t

Evan W.

This piece of writing inspired me because it’s seems so easy to give up hope locked up being a Juvenile. Hope and faith I felt I lost being in the Rhode Island Training School; in the Juvenile Corrections system. But through writing I feel like there’s hope and faith. Something I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m 17 years old. I’m a repeat offender. I’m currently serving until I’m 21. This time when I get out I’m staying out. I have lots of faith in that and I have big hopes for the future.

I write cuz I need to write. There’s a freedom in writing. You could put pain into writing without hurting. Put tears into writing without crying. Without writing being locked up would be real for me. So I write to put myself into my own zone, my own sense of freedom. With just a pen and paper, I can create my own reality. There is no walls, bars doors, or fences in writing.

Extend Simile

The sky seems dimmer like the forever
flickering florescent bulbs
The breeze seems frigid like the forever
drifting winter cold
confined to space like senile fragile an old
caged like the captured animals they, have no soul
when I have paid my toll I guess its time to move on
to. be free like the air that you can't put a price on
I’m a caged bird without a song

-Evan W.

If I was White

If I was white would it matter
would I have more friends or less
Would I change my style of dress
would I say dude not nigga or maybe awesome
Know nothing about the Cosby's but know to much
About the creek and Dawson
Would I have become a CEO or a boss
Never experience fried chicken and hot sauce
If I was white would I want to be black
Cuz I’m black and sometimes I want to be white
If I was white would it matter
Cuz I’m black and it seems to matter

-Evan W

The way I feel

My life like words that are unspoken
I pause in the middle of a sentence and start choking
I mid-swell start crocking and dying in a grave
That’s where I belong in a place
where I could just stay in a faze
and be let alone far away
or maybe I should be splayed and left in a bay
people hate me cause of the what I am
I don't need a friend
someone who will sit there and pretend to be something that there not
because that’s the way it started
we all live to protect our hearts
but in the end its always broken
that’s why I'll always remain unspoken.

-Sergio R

I AM DA

Im da father & ur da son
Im da wine & ur da glass
Im da fire & ur da fuel
Im da gun & ur da bullet
Im da blade & ur da handle
Im da water & ur da drinker/swimmer
Im da sun & ur da earth
Im who I am & u R who u R
If were both apart we can’t make it far
Then our lives would come down like a shooting star.

- Miguel R.

In Deez Cellz

In Deez Cellz iz like an
empty well, nuthin but
brickz & wallz down a long
Hall. A Bunk & a Desk
to Write & Draw. But Bein
locked up iz like we
uncook, we’re still Raw.

- Miguel R.

I can’t believe that I allowed you to rattle me
You never cared about me, and what you told me was a fallacy
I changed drastically in the past two years
I faced and overcame most of my fears
I tried to be what you wanted but it’s never enough
Every time I make even the tiniest mistake or slip up
Im back in unit one, making very slow progress
One wrong move there will guarantee regress
So even with improvement I see you making no changes
Group homes locked down facilities jails so many ranges
Don’t you see that they set me up for failure
As I once again get the news home is out of the question my face gets paler
I need to be with my dad and help him out
I want to show my niece and nephew what I am really about
My heart pride and soul reside in these three
Without them this world will crush me
Their smiles lighten up my day
And I trust and love them in every way
Why can’t I be with the ones I love most
Just to see them I would travel to the opposite coast
My heart bleeds
And the pain wont recede
What to do
What to do
Just to be home with you

- Missy L.

I’m confused

Yo, boy I stop thinking about you for a long time,
But sometimes I still wish you were mine,
I wasn’t in love with you,
But I cared about you a lot,
You was the one I had my first kiss with that meant a lot to me.
I got over you, and now your in my class
I really thought that you were lost in my past.
And my feelings and thoughts are coming back,
I don’t want to feel this way,
Cuz I don’t want to get hurt,
You even told me that you wanted me to have your first kid,
The way you smile at me brings a weird feeling inside,
Like you were meant to be mine
I just don’t want to fall in love with you,
And then get my heart broken.

- Jocelyn S.

Have you ever been through what I’ve been through?
If you haven’t then tell me why;
You continue to judge me like you do?
Have you ever woken up in the morning
Wondering if it was your last breath?
Have you ever been taken from your home
And felt like you couldn’t go back?
Have you ever seen your mom get beat up
By your stepdad only because he didn’t care.
Have you ever felt unwanted
Like you had nothing to lose?
Have you ever seen a friend drive away to high?
I hope you didn’t forget to say goodbye!
Have you ever considered suicide as the only way?
Have you ever wrote poems to say the words that seem impossible to come out?
Have you ever wanted to protect your friends?
But they never understood
Have you ever felt so much pain
You cry yourself to sleep?
Have you ever been through what I’ve been through?
If you haven’t then tell my why;
You continue to judge me like you do?

- Samantha C.

Open poetry

A big bite of that pineapple eaten,
This kid a throwing rhymes at you screaming
With no beet, caz baby I’m leaning
Ill knock you off your feet with this telescope beaming
Fighting is what I do best so bring it on.
Ill tea kettle burn you.

Written by all of the Hidden Trewth class

One day

Hopefully one day dis world will be positive instead of me waking up mom dudes telling me another kid got shot again. I’m tired of people arguing its just getting worse when you little kid on da corner selling dem birds to put money in his mom’s purse it all works till you kids get shot up and put in a hearse can you believe it gets worse. His mom really hurtz cuz she knows deep inside what her son was really worth. Da kid was worth a lot but he didn’t know it cuz he was on da block. Wasn’t even showing it but knowing he owed people allot datz why lil homie shot up on da block

Justin L.

The Greatest

I have the ability to determine my own fate
To make as much money as I want to make
Only one life there’s no second take
We’re free to live the life we choose to live but be wise when you choose.
Cause life is a prize you can lose
Life itself is great
So enjoy life don’t ruin it with negative energy and hate cause life is great.

Matt R.

Life

What is Life?
Stop and think
Its now always in family
Roots we carry on
Traditions, feelings, relations…
Sometimes happy, sometimes sad,
Sometimes good, sometimes
Bad,
But Life goes on with love and
Pride,
Rich or poor we all abide.
The road of Life is never straight,
The veins sometimes teach us to
Hate
Sometimes we feel it’s hardly fair, Life threatens us- when we’re
Unaware.
We try to function…we really try,
Even though are enemies wish us to die,
We all get scared when things go wrong,
We realize we must be strong.
With prayers and patience we struggle along,
Which proves that life goes on and on.

Justin L.

Relax

Sometimes people don’t take the time to relax.
Just sit down and rest their back.
Life goes on by too fast.
People need to stop and think of their past.
Being happy comes and goes.
Being happy is great like new fallen snow.
Some people don’t take the time to relax.
Just sit down and rest their back.

Rocco W.

I Know I Can

I know I can do right so why do I do wrong? Why is it taken so long? When it finally sinks in my head it will take me by storm. Why has this life become the norm? I know I can do good, live life outside the hood. Hustle legit, going to college is the ultimate flip, but I guess I’m just addicted to this shit, fast cash and fly whips trying to take trips, but I know I’m smart enough to do it legit, but still I don’t quit. Money is the addiction. I have a fixation with cash. When it sinks in I’ll be free at last.

Matt r.

Freedom is a right respect
& power are a privilege
to those th@ make
the most of life. Death is
inevitable but until th@ time
is near be a humble modest
self confident individual
cause lack of pride is a
mental punishment that
causes locked in thoughts
th@ leads to modesty so
if you make the most of
life nobility shall be your
state of mind.

- Sam M.

Who!

Everybody knows what every
Body doesn’t every body is
What every body wasn’t
So when some body does
What every body doesn’t
Wo who did this an who did
That

An who is this an who is
That who wore this an
Who wore that who
Went there an who
Came back so who
Wants this an who wants
That who wore white an
Who wore black who
Is skinny an who is fat

Who moved up a grade
An who stayed back
Who got out an who
Came back who is gay
An who is str8 so if
He did this an she
Did that who cares
If she is black an he is white who hate
Bush an who hates
Contrary it all come down
To Who!

- Ray G.

Nobody Knows

Nobody knows what we go through
Nobody knows how it feels to
Have to wake up every morning an
Have to clutch the steel
To have to sell drugs day an night
To make another meal
Nobody knows why we do what
We do or did what we did
I clock on the block just
Another stick up kid

Nobody knows how it is nobody
Knows how it was sittin’ in
The cold hustlin for so long
Until every bone in your body
Goes numb nobody cares what
You do nobody cares how you
Do it when where or why you
Do it nobody cares

Nobody knows how it feels to
Wake up locked up an stuck
In a place you don’t want
To be nobody knows that all
You want is to be free
Nobody knows how it feels to
Be stuck in the dark an
Unable to see nobody knows
Who he was or where he could
Be nobody knows!

- Ray G.

I Live

I live day by day hour by hour staff
Telling me what to do staff telling
Me when to shower
I live sun up to sun down day light to night
Every day’s another struggle every
Day’s another fight

I live to see the right
I live to see the wrong
I live to see the weak I also
Live to see the strong
I live to see hope
I live to see doubt
I live to make money stay
Strong an survive I live through
The bat’ the guns an the
Knives I live through the cowards
Trying to take my life

I live to make my mom happy
Not nervous an cry
I live to see my lil brother

Wake up with hope in his eyes
I live to go legit get a license
To drive
I live to be happy not hopeless
An sad an
I live to see my father before
He dies

- Ray G.

(Trapped)

Have you eva felt like you was on a treadmill?
It’s like your running and running, but your still in the same place and situation you was tryin to get out of.
Well I have. It’s like that for me every day. Like repeats of T.V. shows.
No matter how hard I try to escape the Hood or Ghetto I always end up rite back in the slums.
It happened so many timez that I started to believe that the Gutter is where I belonged, maybe it was my nature or maybe I was just unfit.
Well what eva the reason I’m now feeling like I was trapped in the center of a tornado with furious, deadly winds whirling around me like crazy.
An if I attempted to step outside the center, the hostile an deadly winds will shred me apart.
Now I stand here looking from the center out, I see family, friends, and loved ones looking on, hesitant on whether or not they should attempt to try and get through the vicious winds, to the center, rescue me an return safely on the other side, without harming their special and wonderful lives. Well until something happens Im trapped
And Im suffering like an ant in a puddle of water
Or maybe the deadly whirling winds will die down an I’ll be free to walk about
But until then Im left playing a waiting and guessing game.

- Desmond B.

I’m sick, no not physically, not mentally but emotionally. The one thing I love more than myself was taken away from me. We’re separated so far apart but we both have the same feeling in our hearts. Loneliness for one another. It’s like a drug cause I NEED her. I want to be where she is. I want to feel her soft smooth skin. I want to run my fingers through her shiny black straight hair. I want to cater to her. I want to satisfy and pleasure her in wayz no one will ever be able to. I want to wrap my arms around her like a prize possession. She makes me smile, laugh, an feel happiness in a way no one can. An without her it’s like me having no soul, no purpose for life. To become free she’s my main motivation. An without her I wouldn’t care if I stayed or went.

- Desmond B.

(My Conscience)

-)Just give up, stop trying, you’ll neva make it.
o) No, No, don’t listen to that, strive for the best.
-) haven’t you been trying long & hard enough?
o) if you stop now you’ll neva know where you could have been if you have kept trying.
-) I’ll tell you where you would have been, the same place your at right now,
no where.
o) Desmond! I know your situation is rough but look at the bright side: no more running from cops, you put on weight an, you even gave your brain a rest from drugs & alcohol
-) blah, blah, blah. If I had a blunt right now we’ll be smoking, that way we would have to listen to mr. right over there, we’ll be in our own world.
o) Des, listen to what he’s telling you, it’s nothing but negativity, do you think that’s right?
-) Who said anything about being right? Sometimes negativity is the only way.
Aint that right Des?
o) Why don’t you stay shut & let desmond decide if he wants to continue a life of destruction or use this situation as a turning point to get back on
the right track.

- Desmond B.

(What I make is what I eat
What I don’t make is where I sleep)

This is so plain
no taste at all
it needs more flavor
Something to spice it up
to bad it was purposely made
this way
and theres nothing more we
can do to change it
What I hate most about it is
Im stuck eating it.
Just like my bed, that I didn’t
bother to straighten
now I’m sleepy & ready to
rest
but look at what I have to
lay in
I rather stand before I lay
in that mess
but I have no option, Im force
to rest uncomfortably
Just like Im force to eat what
I have put on my plate.
that’s why I’ll think wisely about
my choices I make, cause Im the only
one who has to deal with them.

- Desmond B.