Oak Park Preparatory Academy
Poems from Words Ain’t No Walk in the Park, v.3, (2016)
“Hey Nicolette”
I just smile,
and act like it doesn’t hurt on the inside.
Act like I can’t feel the pangs
of 1,000 knives in my back.
The hall is filled with playing, giggles,
the chatter of “he say/ she say,”
of people making fun of people’s
faces
shoes
clothes
hairstyles.
But I just keep my head
straight as an arrow.
People having fun times with friends
before the bell rings.
Sharing gossip or good news.
I feel when they see me
they feel
disgusted.
They are filled with
hatred
although I’ve done nothing wrong.
Sometimes I wish they’d say
“Hey Nicolette”
but that never happens unless they are asking
for one of my friends.
I hate to see people arguing with their best friend.
Because they are lucky to even have one.
“Hey Nicolette”
would lighten up my day.
Sunshine through clouds on a rainy day
lighten.
Nicolette Burnett
What It’s Like To Be A Black Teenage Female
(For those of you who don’t know)
Being looked at like you’re about
to be someone’s meal. Having to think
everything through
because your future depends on it
even though you’re only in the 8th grade.
Having people judge you.
To have them look at you like
you’re some kind of monster
when you walk into a room.
Aaliyah Smith
Still Standing
They
tried to steal your shine.
Sorry they dropped your smile
like hammer to nail;
look you didn’t even flinch.
Tried to throw your happy spirit
across a speeding car
and leave you
run over
run down
and look–
you’re still
standing.
Jacob Jackson
The Laws Of Physics
You
are a skyscraper.
You stand next to me
and your shadow swallows me.
I
am an atom.
You fire breathe every hateful insult
I try to forget.
Sink your burning fangs into my confidence.
But I am Cameron Griffin!
and though I am just an atom,
energy can not be destroyed.
With my heat vision and frost blast
I destroy
every
single
obstacle
you
put in my way.
Cameron Griffin
Detroit
Jesus stands on 7 Mile
and Fenkel
washing his disciples
with the sound of
music, gunshots, and
prayers.
Trina walks up Van Dyke
with a limp and
her baby in her arms
carrying hope for new opportunities.
Joseph cruises on Dexter
with his “woe’s” dreaming
about what the air is like
on top.
A family joins hands on Woodward
dancing under the twinkling
lights of Hart Plaza
celebrating the strength of
their togetherness.
S.O.D. (5th Hour Boys’ Group Poem)
Holy Water
(When Water Needs Saving)
I laid down in water.
Almost
drowned.
Water should be like Jesus.
Holy.
Salvation.
I drink water when I go to church
to pray.
Wash my clothes in it,
True Religion.
When I heard about water being contaminated,
I asked myself,
“What can I do to save it?”
Water should be like Jesus.
Holy.
Salvation.
I remember having water fights.
I never knew water
fights.
Brown, thick, poisonous,
toxic,
sick.
I feel sorry for the people in Flint.
They shouldn’t go through this,
I feel sorry for the
water.
David Maddox, David McDuffie