You hurt us with
Your kindness
You took from us
The ability to trust
Their innonocence
Because of you
They know
More fear
They know
Confusion
I am working on
forgiving you
You who in
Our eyes
Have committed
The worst crime
You who will
Never be
Able to hold
Your head up
In pride
Again
You hurt us
But
I am working
On forgiving
You
Who may never
Have a friend
Again

To a father I wanted to know better

Handmade cards

were our norm

personal

 inscriptions of our dreams

Never forgetting the 

little details

bits of you 

scattered in painted signs

around the city

You remembered us even

when you weren’t there

I remember you now

that you aren’t here

I work better in groups
If you walk with me
I will walk with you
If you can walk with me
I can walk with them
I work better in groups
Let’s walk together

Some thoughts on my work, my passion and interest for a more just, compassionate and welcoming world.

whispered remembrance
of all is well with my soul
friendship often brings

i miss those nights
ridiculous dreams
self asorbtion
inspiring youth
i miss those nights
saving the world
one coffee at a time
lonely in such a
busy place
i miss those nights

I wrote this a few years ago about a women I greatly admire. My intention was to create a children’s book with them, but I don’t think that was going to happen any time soon. So here is a series of poems I did on Septima Clark intended for children.

1.Why do I vote you ask?

After those long lines

In spite of that ridiculous test,

My head held down in defeat,

Why keep going back?

Why do I vote you ask?

After their years of perseverance,

Years of hard work,

Through all those wars, marches, and years of injustice

Why keep trying?

Why do I vote you ask?

Septima is my answer.

To throw away all,

Of her work,

To throw away

All that they suffered,

To throw it all away,

Would be an injustice

I cannot do it.

That’s why I vote.

2.Not because of money

Not because of power

No not because of those things

I vote because of people

That is why I started

And that is why I keep on

I vote because of people

Like Septima, Martin, Malcolm

Caesar, Gandhi,

I vote for those who can’t

I vote for those who won’t

I vote for those who couldn’t

I vote those who wouldn’t

3. Why do I bother?

Because of the work that Septima did.

Standing in long lines

Teaching people to read,

Not taking no for an answer,

Not backing down,

Not letting fear rule her

Hate and violence did not stand in her way

Going up against the South Carolina Board of Education

Getting thrown in jail

Why do I hold my head high?

Why do I bother?

Because I can

Because I need to

Because of what they did

Because even though people told them not to

They did it anyway

5. Most people have heard of Martin and Malcolm, Rosa and her bus

But Septima is my favorite

Not taking no for an answer

Not backing down

Septima is my favorite

My mentor

Smart, doing what is right

Even without all of the national recognition

My Hero

Septima is my favorite

slouching backpack shuffle,

nervous chatter,

waiting,

anticipating,

new start

I am trying to tell a story with poetry, offering a glimpse into my life by writing about specific encounters, memories, and experiences.  These poems are still very rough. I am still searching for right words. 

10 second interaction

one little conversation

brief encounters

overheard words

wisdom from

my unintentional teachers