Steer Clear
by Zuri McWhorter
Bad behavior tempts the fragile mind
into bent shapes, paper clips, intuition
creates imbalance.
Treachery condemns it all in one clueless call.
Breathalyzer
Keep it together
Engulf me in flames of change
around brains, engrained in DNA.
Unconscious prey,
Stay away.
Keep away.
Boisterously admit to fraud
Oh, lawd!
Mind your manners, dammit!
Believe that in the next few minutes
you’ll be different.
Imagine truth in your wanderous daydreams,
so when you wake up, you have those things.
Be an anchor for yourself
until you’re out of breath.
Craft your weapon with the elements
Cast a spell of excellence.
Synthesize an incredible,
Infallible
Life.
By Jessica Reed
On the city's west side,
Summer scents of blackened charcoal watered my mouth in hunger for hot dogs perfectly grilled, burnt on top.
My stomach danced to Mr. Softy’s childish jukebox,
kids on my block hustled for $1 passports to ice cream dreams.
Nothing stung like the buzz of the ice cream truck
passing us up ‘cause our shouts were unheard, hands waving into fading hopes,
rising again
when the next truck came...
By La'Shante “Shaunie” Grigsby
...I'll take the good, bad & the ugly
The cold nights under the fire
No lights but that didn't matter
It was the calm and the storm
The love from your child un-torn
It will forever remain the same
It is embedded into my soul that itches to learn of every story untold
Forever and always, I remain Detroit
by Chani The Hippie
Oscar Grant was on his way home.
Mike Brown was in front of his home.
Aiyana Jones was in her home.
Why aren't we safe in our homes?
by Heaven Harrell
A woman, beautiful in every way but what happens when that beauty is taken away? Forced into the darkness, her smile, once as bright as a sun’s ray on a summer day, is dimmed, why? Is it because she dressed a certain way? Were her jeans too tight, did her dress fit her body just right? Does that justify what he did that night?
By Rosie DeSantis
Kofi & Lauren & Louie & me
(Aaron too),
we found the hatch up to the roof
during recess, said
today, now on,
everything gotta be different...