We present our favorite poems of the past year paired with custom illustrations by local artist and educator, Paul Collins.
We Are Left To Grieve
Norma B.
A “normal” Monday morning like so many others before —
A new week just beginning you never know what’s in store —
Children go to school to learn
To spend time with friends, to have fun
All of that suddenly came to an end because of someone with a gun
In the blink of an eye, three young children lost their lives
Others hid in fear as they no doubt shed many tears
And though they weren’t hurt physically
They will carry the scars with them through the years
Sadly this story doesn’t end there
Three more lives were lost that day as they tried to protect
the young children in their care
Putting themselves in harms way so that others might live
A truly selfless act of love they made the ultimate sacrifice
A community, friends, and families shattered numb in disbelief
are left to grieve trying to make sense of this tragedy
Looking for anything to give some relief
To those left behind to pick up the pieces I say
Cherish the photographs and memories of your loved
ones in your heart each day
And each night as you close your eyes
Until you see them again in paradise,
when you will never again have to leave their side!
Gap Toothed Sun
FreePressGMA
A clear forested river gleaming green in its depths, deep
cinnabar under the overspill
A cave under the rapids
Eels swim in
I do not.
Tumbled by the plunging water,
I swim with joy at meeting my world traveler friends.
Their undulating bodies tell tales of far oceans in this
landlocked world
The trees,
knit bone holding the muddy banks like a lover
The water as plastic as a silk scarf
A Harley Davidson Under my Ass
Chris Scott F.
What can I do? What can I say?
I signed my life away, (My Life Away?)
To have a Harley Davidson under my ass.
I’ve learned a thing or two,
From what I’ve been through in the past.
Wondering how I’ll ever end up,
Coming up with all of the cash?
Nothing lasts forever,
Better be Grateful for what you do have.
I’ve been through my share of,
The Good Things in Life,
And I’ve seen my fair share of the bad.
There are no guarantees in this life,
So just keep “Hanging on for the Ride”
Take the good with the bad,
And keep on smiling,
And learn how to live with that.
Every Moment is Magnificent,
Unexpected and Unplanned,
And from here on out,
There’s no turning back,
Despite everything that you think that you lack.
Yes – Yes – Yes – Yes – Yes …
16 Years away from here,
I was addicted to Crack.
Do I look scared? I am not scared.
I’ve already been through that.
And I’m still here after so many years?
Overcoming the fears … The shedding of tears …
Let me make one thing perfectly clear …
I am still here and that’s a fact.
The star of a documentary titled,
“Saint Cloud Hill”
I never {pictured} me,
Ever being on the right track.
There’s a lot of history about me,
And the time that’s been spent planning my revenge,
For the embarrassing experience,
I had to endure,
When the city chose me to Attack?
Why Me? I’m basically a nobody …
But somebody had to eventually be,
“The Leader of the Pack”
A lot of my friends,
Have so little chance,
Of ever winning,
Thinking the cards are stacked.
The only reason I’ve made it this far?
Is by Believing that God’s got my back.
All’s well that Ends well at,
Boswell’s Harley Davidson,
Of Nashville, Music City, Tennessee.
Look at who I am right now,
From what I used to be.
Democracy Is The Strength And Courage To Stand And Be Heard
By Daniel H., Contributor Vendor
In the heart of the people, a fire ignites,
A whisper of freedom, a chorus of rights.
Not a gift from the heavens, nor a crown from the throne,
But a struggle, a journey, a seed we have sown.
With each voice that rises, with each hand that’s raised,
We carve out our future, through trials we’ve faced.
Democracy’s not given, it’s earned through our fight,
In the shadows of silence, we summon the light.
Every day is a canvas, where choices are made,
In the fabric of justice, our hopes are displayed.
With conviction we stand, in the face of despair,
For the power of many is a force we can share.
Hope is not lost, though the road may be long,
In the depths of our struggle, we find where we belong.
For God is our witness, in the battles we wage,
In the story of freedom, we write every page.
So let courage be our anthem, let strength be our guide,
In the name of democracy, we stand side by side.
With hearts full of purpose, and voices that soar,
We’ll shape our tomorrow, forever and more.
In the echoes of history, let our truth be unfurled,
For democracy’s strength is the courage to stand,
To be heard in the silence, to make a demand,
Together we rise, as we claim what is ours,
In the light of our unity, we’ll reach for the stars.
Free Show!
JAMES, “SHORTY” R
Hey you!
Do you want to see a free show?
Just look up. It’s in the sky.
The sun bright and warm on your face.
The clouds light and fluffy.
They are sometimes in motion.
Sometimes they make weird shapes.
Next, the birds.
They fly north, east, west, south.
They sing to you.
Then, there are the things that are not so nice.
Sometimes, the bees, wasps, etc.
So, come watch a free show,
no internet required!
One Day
By LASHIKA
One day You will cry
Because God
Answered all Your
prayers.
Felonious Sleeping
By FREEPRESSGMA
My state I.D. says Tennessee
Our public property is for all to see
But don’t touch!
This park is for everyone — but me.
I am a deer trapped on an island, surrounded by deadly roaring car
missiles. Seeking escape from coyote, I run.
Seek refuge in the park! Have a little nap — and get a felony.
Like a turtle crossing the freeway, my chances are slim.
I sleep in the ditch like my English ancestors, thrown there by private
property lords
My tent might be missing a stitch
Or two
And now I must pay for what’s already ours
So the land that we own — is it really ours?
A mother lets her baby sleep in her arms — in the park.
To whom does the felony go?
This land that is ours — is not really ours
Our rights, picked down to the bone.
Where is Your Hope?
by LISA T.
I look around seeing all kinds of pain.
The feeling that our worlds have fallen apart.
Our confidence shattered as bottom dropped.
Our loved one blame us for it regardless of truth.
We learn to believe we can never get right.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
However a piece of us dies each trial.
How do you cope when life feels unbearable?
What keeps you trying serving as your driving force?
How can we turn the hurt to wisdom not hate?
In our darkest hour
where is hope and love?
How can we force ourselves
to seek and hold on?