On the Question of Race Poems
Ms. Robinson- 2nd Hour. Everett High School, 2/23/04
ON THE QUESTION OF RACE
They ask me to write down my race
And I think and think very seriously
And consider writing down the truth
And have my answer read.
I am what I am you can like it or love it
But if you really want to know
I am Human. I am the person who needs
Wendy and feelings inside this body.
My grand nagging at me at home while
My sister is talking me to death
While listening to jay-2 after eating pork chops
Greens with cool aid inside this body
A dream of making it to the NBA to provide
For my sisters, mother, father family or that
Special woman in my life, we can listen to
Uster and make babies.
I am American Laotian and I watch TV
and miss my mother and eat crybabies
with orange soda and things about
what we were tomorrow.
But I stop and simply write down
African American
--Johaua R.
I like to know people that I work with. Seeing smiling faces and
being able to communicate on the job with them kames the day go
a lot smoother. One day, a guy a littler over 21 named Justice
looked upset. I'd only talked to him once before and I knew
he had problems, but seemed nice. One of his obvious issues was
his stuttering problem. I felt bad for that and still talked to
him like any other person. On day at work, he looked upset, like
he'd been crying. I went up to him and let him know if he
really needed someone to talk to he could call me. The nest night
around 12:36 he called me. I'd fallen asleep to the radio,
but woke up startled to the phone. I didn't tell him I'd
been sleeping and let him talk. As he stuttered, he told me how
much he liked me and said it'd be okay if I just wanted
to be friends. I agreed to friends, because I wasn't attracted
to him, nor had the time for a relationship. I also let him know
that it was okay for him to express himself even though it would
go no further than friends. He asked me if He could show me something
and sung me three songs, one being especially for me. Well, being
that I had to get up at eight o'clock that same morning,
I told him that I should get off and get some sleep. He say, "No,
please . . . just 20 more minutes. I'm having a nice time
talking to you." I could tell in his voice that he was unstable,
so I stayed on a little longer. After I told him about my plans
he hung up on me. This is because I think the guy I was doing
the stuff with that coming morning was a threat to him. Fernando
is also a good friend of mine who works with me and Justice thought
we had something going on, but I let him know we were just friends
too. When I called back which I shouldn't have, he was freaking
out. He was already in tears. Not only this, he started counting
in his head, singing a song, talking about how his siblings get
everything they want and he doesn't. That life just sucks.
--Karis B.
On another 7 minute poem I'm just on my way home I'm
really hungry. If I listen I hear my stomach moan feeling a little
tired so I throw more wood on the fir to keep it hot cuz I don't
want to freeze. It's getting warmer; we're starting
to gain some degrees. Almost springtime for another fling and
also some spring cleaning. I dream about graduation only a handful
of months and I'm out of EV once and for al. Start school
again in the fall. Will I be at MSU or LLL playing ball? Only
time will tell at which school I will dwell. I'm half page
in the and something sweet as hell
--Casey P.
ON THE QUESTION OF RACE
They ask me to write down my race
And I think and think very seriously
And consider writing down the truth
And have my answer read.
But I stop and simply write down
The race is not important.
It doesn't even matter to me
My body is health and my soul is free
inside this body.
I eat heavy Bosnian kind of food
My mom's been making
Since I was born
Inside this body
Folk music awakens me
As I get u p in the morning,
I brush my teeth
Music makes my life easy
inside this body.
I hear gun machines from the past
And I try to forget those sounds
I can't help it things are meant to be
Live with in
Inside this body
But I stop and simply write down
I'm somebody.
--Garan S.
Where has our friendship gone? It seems but all a dream now. Where
have you gone?
I pass by you now and then I want to stay and chat a while but
I pass up the chance and only say hi.
--Jason P.
The super bowl was a very weird game. Like any other super bowls
it seemed like it was going to be a blackout. After the patriots
scored and were ahead by an ok lead they seemed to be able to
pull it off without a fight. The Panthers
--Gioran A.
I wish I wasn't grounded. I have to be home before 11;
00 p.m it's so frustrating to not be out because nothing
illegal is being done and going out at night is the best time
to have fun.
--Dan T.
I have no idea what to write about. Nothing comes to my mind.
Nothing significant happened that I want to share. I dislike writing
and I Hate Poetry. I think it is boring unless it really stands
out and I can relate to it.
--Julie K.
My stress is feeling of poetry, I dislike poetry or dislike writing
poetry. I'm not sue I could write for seven minutes. My
hand might start hurting. I wish Goron, Dan Dominic and Maupann
would stop talking. This class is always taking. I think it's
because we have an intern. Hmmmmm... what else? I'm
dreading to go to F.S.T. I hate that class with the passion. I
love Mr. Hartley and people in it but Math doesn't like
me. I would like to get these school house done with Sometimes
I wish school was over with I'm afraid of going ton the
real world. My head is beginning to hurt. Dennie has talked almost
the whole 7 minutes
--Nicole B.
I wish I was in my bed, sleeping for a long time. Then I would
wake up and eat some pancakes or French toast, then I'll
throw a party and everyone would be invited. Is this seven minute
up yet? I wanna a BLT and 5spn in class; I wanna go to lunch and
eat until my stomach hurts.
--Dome C.
Well, this weekend was fun. On Saturday, Betsy and Katie came
to pick me up and we started our adventure! First we went to Fazolis
and ate. We saw Shane because he was working. Then we met Janelle
and Steve at the Meridian Mall. After we left their we went to
Wal-Mart and I got Katie the new Blink 182 cd and I got Hilary
Duff. Then, we went to the Lansing Mall. Then we went and picked
up Dominic and Jon and headed for East Lansing. We went to Pinball
Pete's and cus it got boring, so we left. Then we dropped
Jon and Dominic off. So Katie and I went to meet Janelle, Steve
and Ashley at Dennys.
--Isiah T.
"Wouldn't it be good if we could be together, take
me away . . . into the sun we will run"
this part of this song called "Take me Away" has been
stuck in my head for the past 5-10 minutes. It just made me think
of you know how sometimes you wish you wrote a song or some lines
you like. You feel that those words come from your heart, and
it's what to day, but didn't write down. In a sense
that's when you connect with an artist, whoever is singing
or
--Ferrin M.
These past few days I haven't got much sleep. My brother
had a 12th birthday party. A lot of people came and didn't
go home until 2 in the morning. I was very tired because I had
to work Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. When I got off work at 4
I had to go do my homework and showered. I talked on the phone
with my bit for 2 hours and went to sleep at 9:30. I feel
asleep very fast and wake up at 7:00 a.m when I did get up I felt
tired again. I had to come to school of course since I was really
tired last night I didn't finish my math homework. When
I got to class I finished it and turned it in I was surprised
He gave me full credit for it.
--Saengathet
I have a feeling of anticipation like something is going to happen
today. It's going to be something that will mean a lot to
me but maybe not everyone. Whatever it is will happen today, I'm
sure. I don't know if it will be good or bad. The feeling
makes me want to rush through things to maybe it will happen sooner.
When I am going so fast, I forget things. Like assignments due
in class left at home.
--Catherine P.
I am so angry at you two. You are my friend and you are my sister.
You're tearing me up inside. I love you both. I don't
care if you don't like each other. Don't pretend you
are friends for my sake. For my sake, Stop! You're hurting
me. I think about you and I don't know what to do which
side do I take? Why should I choose? Blood is thicker than water.
But which is sweeter? Through God, all three of us are sisters.
You guys are killing me, Can't you see it?
--Mallorae B.
I remember when I was little when my dad used to walk me from
school and tell me about his childhood and how close he was with
his father. I always wanted to be just like him, but we never
got the chance to talk as I grew up, somehow we got separated
and found two different ways of life.
--Marwa A.
This morning on my way to school I almost got into an accident.
I was at a light and it just turned green. If we didn't
wait we would have got hit by a person who ran a red light. I
was mad and honked the horn at them and went on my way to school.
--Leeanna M.
Today I am feeling pretty ok I only got 5/12 hours of sleep but
I'm awake and ready to continue on during my day. Monday's
are good for me just to relax and enjoy myself. I enjoy Mondays
except for the fact that I have to go to Algebra for 4th hour.
I'm not doing so great in that class. It's not even
the teacher it's just there are so many formulas and numbers
that I get easily frustrated. The thing that really gets on my
nerves is that I see no purpose in doing it. How is y= MXTh gonna
help me in my future. If I was gong into that career than I could
understand but I'm NOT!
--Jeff V.