Song of Janine

By Janine Green

I celebrate by being myself
My inspiration is being alive
having emotions
having a brain
I laugh at almost everything
I believe in loneliness and hope
I wince at the world and the
president who runs the country
into a sewer
I am not wealthy
nor will be wealthy
I behold my life
I know I am original.

Song of Renita

By Renita

I celebrate myself and tickle myself
When I want to laugh.
My inspiration is my mother:
she's strong and brave.

I laugh at Boondocks
I believe in hope, freedom
I wince at being squeezed on my waist.
I am not a sad soul.
I behold a universe in my hand.
I know I am funny in my own
I am glad I see another day.

Celebration of Destiny

By James Saunders

In times of Joy I celebrate
myself and I loathe my
existence in times of struggle.

My inspiration is divine, God-sent,
and is not of this world.

I laugh at endeavors of discomfort and harlequins of fear.

I believe that respect can only
show respect to one who is worthy
of being respected.

As a reflex, I winced at you
when you requested my trust.

I am not exactly where I want
to be in life. Often at times
my dreams seem far-fetched.

I behold a taller, stronger; smarter,
fresher, and more spiritual version
of myself. A self that has been
through the savage battle of
self-hatred and self-hindrance.

Then I know that I am destined
for greatness. And I cry which
is my way of celebrating.

Swagga up

By Nefertearia Crawley

Shawtii flatout
Shawtii way fresh
Swaggin capital letters
Rockin Nothin less than the best
that's my man real talk cuz I
Mess with him shonuff Adidas Rugby
Man I love that stuff
Shawtii be stuntin whole time he bout nothin
he cant get in my business
and I ain't Rocking like nothin
Shawtii get like you, No
get like Me stack ya swagga up
ha swagg in my eyes you'll never
see get ya swagg up
get like me

The Bomb

By Monae Smith

bangin strength
flowing through
that bum joint
lookin
psychotic
and wicked
random
imagination
got you geekin
but yet you flockin
all
on
my
joc
loneliness in that
bookitten
that is stuck
in the
moment and
still flocking like a
peacock
callin you
her umaga
man even
though she look
like a man
callin her
Jawanna Man
sayin
but I got
u
guh man.

Out of Trouble

By Sequan Wilson

I've never been to the principal's office,
That's not the person I am,
I've never been in serious trouble,
If I do, I'll turn my life around,
In twists, turns, curves and dashes,
Eventually until it crashes,
It's not what you think if you can't see,
The classroom isn't a place for me.