Me, Myself, and My Life

The start of my year of 2023 needs improvement.

My uncle died

and I was the one to find him

in his bed just laying there

and everytime I looked at him or walked past him,

it broke my heart

that I now had to stay in that house alone

with no reason to wake up.

I had been trying to help him for a long time

But he is at rest now.

With all this happening to me

I was so sad and I’m sad to this day.

That man was the reason I did not leave my house.

I stayed because I knew people had it worse than me

and I knew my uncle needed my help.

And now I’m trying new things with my life

such as self-care and making art and different patterns.

On the plus side, I’m getting two jobs

that I might like in the summertime.

I say this if someone has died in your life:

Keep pushing

because they are looking down on you

and they know

LIFE GOES ON.


—Sade.C.

Not Easy

When I was young

I wanted to wear a white coat.

I would imagine myself in a lab

surrounded by test tubes.

I felt like I was

on the top of the world.

Whenever I heard,

“You can do it!”,

I believed I could.

 

Once I knew that most

didn’t want to see me rise,

once I heard people

praying for my downfall,

I wondered if a guy like me

in a world like this

could survive and make it.

 

Standing on the top of the world

isn’t easy.

Not with the doubt

screaming in my head.

 

B. F.

2019

Don't Quit

In life you’ll make mistakes as we all will do

and it seems like you don’t have enough to even make do.

Your faith may be low and the tide real high

and you can’t get above water no matter how hard you try.

If you feel at the end and say, “This is it,”

stop and take a deep breath, but don’t just quit.

 

Your journey may be full of twists and curves

but if you hold on tight you can make it through the swerves.

If you stay on the course when you are down,

you may be amazed at how quickly things turn around.

 

Don’t give up before the race is done.

Just take one step and then another one.

The end is near though it appears to be far.

You’ll be surprised to know how close you are.

Here’s something to recall when your path’s unlit:

It’s always darkest before dawn

and you can make it if you just

don’t quit!

 

RJB

What I See In My Neighborhood

In my neighborhood I see graffiti

two different races running the streets.

Cliques of Black and Latinos

gathered at the park

waiting for trouble to start.

Youngsters running from the police

some for doing wrong,

others because of police brutality.

Gunshots here, there, and around the block.

It was a 14 year old shooting

at his enemies with a 40 Glock.

Now the kid shot is dead

and the 14 year old caught at the spot.

Walls down alleys covered with gang graffiti,

other hoods crossing it out.

Youngsters running down Lake Street,

years later ending up in Stillwater, Oak Park or St. Cloud

for assault, murder or a robbery charge.

These are the things I saw while growing up.

 

MC-C

All Alone

I’m feeling all alone

a different species, in my mind.

Looking for an answer

so I read between the lines.

Pages float away

as I’m drifting through this time.

I’m bending all reality

until I break the binds.

It seems that the hardest fight to win

is when you lose yourself

and can’t find the light within.

You search through the dark

hoping you can find a friend

like that feeling in your heart

you try to hide but you can’t pretend.

I’m the message in the box

that our God for

got to send

and you can know about my life

but you’ll never understand.

 

J.

Why My Heart Is Crying

Sometimes I feel like no one cares

I’m on my own and no one’s there

I’ll die alone, that’s what I fear

I’m dying slow and I’m aware

I try to cry but can’t find a tear

 

Sometimes I feel my life is dark

because my past has played a part

And in my self-destructing

I feel like I’m combusting

My inner peace and me are fussing

The outer me was struck by lightning

And that is why my heart is crying

 

E. W.