RLA Favorite Poems

1.  "I'm Gonna Tell God Everything" 

This poem is about the recent gas bomb attack that killed many innocent children. This poem is in the perspective of a Syrian child who knows he/she is going to die soon. 

I'm gonna tell God everything
he'll come down with his blinding light
so that they can't see
or laugh
their finger pointing at me
instead
with their hands pinned to the ground
maybe they'll feel
my family's bones soiled and drowned.

It was my birthday today
but they just blew my sister away
"foo" like a candle!
Mama had said to sleep early the night before
or she'd punish us
they'd be no celebrations, no cake
but we were punished, punished
for living our childhood
I can still see it:
her nose kept running,
her eyes wouldn't wake
oh we were punished

I just pray for the day
when Syrian children will wake to the sound of birds
not bombs
when our walls will be dipped with memories
not sobs
many children breathe, but no childhood lives

And soon, this toxic air will fill my nose too
I'll drift away from my bleeding Syria
and gently settle on the clouds with my family
at least we'll find peace
together in heaven
Maybe I can even celebrate my birthday then
with my heat going
beat
beat
beat
beat
... cause I'm gonna tell God
everything.


2. Unbought and Unbossed

This poem is about Shirley Chisholm-- first black and female to run for U.S presidency. Her slogan is "Unbought and Unbossed" and this poem is in the time of 1972. 

What is freedom?

When all we can feel is the

Burn

Burn

Burn of wounds and slashes on the back

When all we can taste

Is the bitter

Crunch

Crunch

Crunch of sandy granules between our teeth

Even now, after the 14th amendment is ratified

“No state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property”

the blacks here sit terrified, unsatisfied

With no sign of an arriving liberty

So tell me now, what is the cost?

To live with freedom, with dignity

Unbought and Unbossed?

3. Imagine That Cozy Saturday Evening

Imagine that cozy Saturday evening.

I’ve sunk in my bed

Springy, fluffed

Just like a good cake

I’ve cuddled my blanket

A nest of spun sugar and silk

And cotton candy

Sticky and sweet

I’m dipped in my pillow

In warm melted honey

Waiting for the sugar syrup to

Intoxicate

Rejuvenate

   Drown

My pillow

While it slowly seeps through the porous fabric

And I look outside

At the pitter-patter

Melted pearls trickling against the sugar windows

Until the windows shatter

The shards pierce my skin

And I realize

The pillow was my computer

The bed was my desk

And I’ve succumbed to school.