A simple world

     A simple life

All of which made him into his simple self

No struggle

No strain

     No strife

None of which made him reach a high shelf

Blue birds

Even two-thirds

     of a few herds

Some of which made him feel stiff

(That was two-thirds of a few herds)

But one thing

Between two people

     (One of them) bellowing three words

Unexpectedly took away his “A simple gift”

Like he just did

But I am hitting it

For his traits I hid

(Oopsies! Sorry for hiding them :’D) Anyways,

On the top, there was a dark cliff overlooking the artificial sunrise,

which is why they say hair is a living thing

that no one can disguise

Looking downward from the cliff,

There was a smooth brown rock surface 

revealed by the early sun

The name of the mountain was,

“Mount. Nadidah Mostafa”

It looked like

From a distance,

It looked like

It wasn’t what it looked like,”

He thought

Two guys

One outraged, one calm

One brave, one frozen in fear

One violent, one peaceful

Most importantly,

One racist, one loyal to all

The ground rumbled

The clouds huddled

The storm puddled

“The dark cliff” became the dark cliff.

The sun vanished

The feeling of sadness

Erupted into madness.

The wind blew

The storm grew

But who else knew

What was new?

whispered the high winds.

He could either fight

and save the student

willing to risk his own opportunity,

or proceed in fright

and be imprudent

granting himself just an impunity

he mentally blew the wind

As he charged for the win

And slammed the racist a pin.

Spawning a fight against him.

Lights flashing around them

Causing lightning in the distance of the cliff

Security guards about to come

While they were giving each other a biff

With the innocent student on the ground

They were both dragged apart

Thought Nadidah, “He was safe and sound.

I saved him by heart.”

Feeling, Ashamed

Feeling both for how I behaved

Sitting in the office

Everything I explained

For that I fought, I felt dismayed

One month suspension

That got me amazed

“It was just a 1 on 1 fight!”, I exclaimed 

It only got worse

Increased to 45 days

The cliff caught on a fire blaze

What appeared to be

the innocent student

ran up to me

He praised me

And asked me

“Why did you save me?”

“I made a promise,

And I am keeping it”

I told him while believing it

He gave me a hug

Like a bee it stung 

(Not in a bad way:)

When suddenly, we heard a “CHUG!”

It was a police car

The racist an inch away

Not from it

But from getting into it

I did a good thing

Maybe not for myself

If it were for anything

I love my son

Til’ the day I die

Mi trabajador

The heart of the family

Ever since the devil got locked up

Where I live, stuck

Between violence and poverty

Only enough

To put food on the table for mi amors

Don’t know if my door is enough

Enough to keep the rats out

The rats that come into your home

Take your valuables 

By the second thank god I’m alive

My son left for the 

Life 

Of our family

In America

Where money can flip and turn

And grow like plants

My dad was my shield 

Until he turned

Gave up on our family

For what he thought would be 

paradise

The devil quit his job

to help the cartel

His bad confessions

he claimed

his last profession 

wasn’t paying him enough

All he had to do was use his eyes

My mom told him 

“Think about me and our beautiful kid”

He thought it would be ok

He got with 

Los 

But he was getting watched by the police already

They recorded conversations on the phone that heard

My dad’s voice speaking on his grave

He got 

20

          up

grow

He will never be able to see his son 

While momma and I felt

Alone

Because my dad sacrificed us

I came to America

I’ve been too long on my own

Needing to work

Work for my mom

Be the man my dad never was

Life is what you make it

All alone in another city

Empty nights cold

Praying for god to 

Just

Help

Help my mom get out this slump

I know some things are hard to swallow

But I can’t just sit back and wallow

I chose this life for my

Mom

Now I have to work

Like she did for me

It’s hard but I already told you my 

whole life story

But what you see from where you’re sitting

It’s probably 110% different

I wish to be silenced by old age

Or rather a natural cause of death

To pass without any rage

I have dark skin and my name is Seth

Me and my friend work for minimum wage

At the restaurant Boar’s Breath

I have one friend and One friend only

Who I imagine as a glistening trophy

His name is Antony

But he goes by one name and one name only

Tony

Sitting with Tony at a ice cream parlor

I brought my pet rock Snarler

The waitress approached us

Like a parent to a child after they got off a bus

We both ordered two scoops of vanilla in cones

We stayed seated on our seats that resembled thrones

The Waitress handed us our delicious ice cream that shined like moonstones in the dimly lit ice cream shop

Tony opened his wallet and I licked my ice cream like a lollipop

It was as empty as a safe which had been robbed by a thief

I checked mine which was empty as well

Tony looked at his wallet then at me in disbelief

The server asked us to return the ice cream but I pretended to mishear 

Tony whispered softly in my ear

“Let's get out of here”

We ran for the exit

I heard a loud “Get back here”

We stormed four blocks straight

Only to meet our unfortunate fate

Right in front of us we saw the sight of a cop car

In my mind I was frightened

The death rate of black citizens from police was heightened 

We were demanded to put our hands up

Tony’s face was vibrant red and looked as if it was going to blow up

I felt Tony reach in my pocket

Then I saw Snarler get launched from Tony’s hand like a rocket

It collided with the officers eye socket

He pulled out his pistol aimed it at Tony and fired

It hit him straight in the head and he fell to the ground like he was tired

My blood boiling like water over a stove

I had witnessed a murder

I threw my fist at the officer

It missed him by a hair

In his eyes I was a giant black bear

At least that's how he described me to the judge in court

He fired three times at my chest

It looked like he tried to put me to rest

My chest gushed bright red blood

It escaped my body like a flash flood

Next thing I knew I had passed on

I had passed with a vengeful rage

Questions about how I died swarmed my head

Would he have not fired if I was white

But none of it mattered because I was dead

Hovering around the world as a ghost who could not move on

The cop was not charged with murder

Turns out he was a racist KKK supporter

Which was somehow blamed on a mental disorder

Protests took place in my town

On my face was a frown.

Millions face hunger in Africa Today

Many can only afford one meal a day

Effects of hunger outweight he pain

Stuck in a hole, a never-ending chain

The children are hungry the women are strong

They know they haven’t got very long

So many kids, Stunted growth

Their bad situation is what they loathe

Lying around with an empty belly

Their Least concern is being smelly

In the slums resides a boy named shelly

Sitting next to this best friend Melly

He works all day, Everyday

For an extremely low pay

He was walking home

Then got nailed in the dome

By a chest filled with meals

Shelly was crying and in his feels

He scratched his head 

Then got out of his makeshift bed

For It was all a dream

There is no hope

Everybody just tries their best to cope.

One mistake and we’re  Gone 

Our voices are always silenced by the one thing we’re supposed to have to protect ourselves

They take our lives as if we don’t share the same blood

As if they’re lives have more value than ours 

And if we dare to disagree and use our voices to make BLACK LIVES MATTER heard it’s smothered with their  pitiful attempt of all lives matter….. All lives can’t matter until black lives have the same rights

It’s the cold truth for people of color and has always been

But that doesn’t mean

We can’t fight

We can’t fight till our voices our heard and things begin to change for the better

The better things in life are like when I go to my aunt’s house 

The sweet smell of apples baking in a golden crust 

Dad setting up the table, the clinking of silverware 

The faint chatter of the tv in the background

Seeing the big painting of any African woman with a bright orange and yellow skirt and lots of jewellery whilst carrying a basket on her head

It’s been there since I was kid…..

Always the first thing I saw when walked in from school and now I’m walking in after work

And my favorite

The sound of happy paws galloping across the hardwood floor

 It was my dog Barbie coming to greet me

He may be old but there’s still some puppy in him

“Hey auntie hey daddy” 

“Hey babycakes how was work” he said as he greeted me in his booming voice

Oh how his voice and that nickname bring me back to simpler times

lighter times

“Work was work” I sighed as I ruffled Barbie’s ears

“Hey auntie how’s the pie coming”

“I just put it in a couple minutes ago now don’t you go over there opening up the oven letting the heat out trying to check on it” 

She was scolding me 

Too late. 

The warmth of the oven hit me along with the sweet smell of  cinnamon glazed apples

“Now didn’t I tell you leave the oven alone” she yelled at me as she tried to hit me with her shoe

I dodged 

And that’s when my eyes locked with the oven timer

8:46

“Hey did you guys here about what happened with George Floyd”

8:46

                   8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS 

THAT’S HOW LONG DEREK CHAUVIN WAS KNEELING ON HIS NECK
8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS OF MR.FLOYD LITERALLY BEGGING FOR HIS LIFE
He had wife and a daughter 

How do you explain to a 6 year old that her dad isn’t coming home 

SHE WAS 6!!!

Here I am marching 

In big bold Chicago, Illinois 

The smokey air 

Voices filled with hate and pain

 Yelling,  

Chanting         I CAN’T BREATH!!

I could barely see 3 feet in front of me 

The cardboard signs and banners plastered that the words BLACK LIVES MATTER blocked my view

Luckily I was somewhat in the front

I shoved my way through the crowd … they needed to hear me I needed to be heard 

I was stopped in my path by a long line of swat with their plastic shields scared as if we were going to hurt them

I should be scared

I should have the shield

Because at any moment if they FEEL as if their life is being “threatened” they’ll pull the trigger

And I’ll be the next dead body in the street

But being the the brave and confident person I am 

I stepped forward and looked mr.badge number 368 in the eye

“Look me straight in the eye and tell me that you honestly think what Mr.Chauvin did to Mr.Floyd was right”

No response 

“Heh I figured now see if you can answer this do I look dangerous to you?

 If I clearly told you I was reaching to get my wallet would you be scared and pull your gun on me because you didn’t know what I was doing even though I told you?”

He flinched but no response

“Truth be told I’m terrified to be this close to you cause at any moment you could feel threatened and sho-

OH MY GOD IT BURNS!!!…… that’s when it hit me 

Tear gas

 a chemical weapon that causes severe eye and respiratory pain, skin irritation, bleeding, and blindness

A weapon

Or in other words gas in a can that brings you into a living hell

Worst 3 minutes of my life 

My eyes filled with tears 

Hot tears that stung my face as they rushed out 

My screams could be heard down the whole block 

I’ve never felt this much pain in my life 

That’s right 

Dragged down the street by one

No 2 people

That’s when a cool liquid poured down my face 

It felt like I was drowning…. What is this 

It taste bland … familiar 

It’s milk I’m drowning in milk 

First my eyes being burned from my skull now I’m being drowned in milk 

Why is the human race so cruel 

Dishonor, dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow

Relief 

The burning stopped 

I opened my eyes to see a group of people surrounding me now I know who poured the milk on my face he smiled

“Sorry about that but milk calms the burning”he shyly said while scratching the back of his neck

“It’s all good I can see now” I laughed 

“You’re welcome and on another note we all appreciate how you stood up to those cops but are you going to go back if I were you I would give up I would be scared that would happen again” 

“Good thing your not me, giving up is for rookies” I stood up and pointed at mr.badge number 368

You’re scared of me aren’t you

That I might pull a weapon on you 

But let’s be honest 

You want US to fear YOU

You think we’re a lesser race 

But after being killed, jailed and enslaved because we’re a different race 

We’ve had enough 

Did you hear me 

WE’RE DONE!

Tired of the oppression

Tired of the segregation

Tired of the discrimination

You think we’re stupid monkeys that only grow up in hood

Y’all silenced us by fear. With guns and other weapons of your choosing

But this time we’re choosing OUR weapon

And it’s not a gun but our voice

You always look down on us but never with us 

So keeping looking down and we’ll chew you up and spit you out

It’s nice outside

The beginning of spring 

Cool breeze, flowers blooming, the smell of rain lingering in the air

A nice day to relax and cozy up with a good manga

Lost in thought

The events of last night are on repeat in my mind

His face burned into brain

Mr.badge number 368

Was he the one who threw the tear gas 

Can’t remember

But I do remember the pain and burning of the gas seeping into my eyes

Mr.badge number 368

Yup I have to remember that 

Or it will be all for nothing

We have to make change big or small

We have too….

Or Mr.Floyd’s death would have been in vain 

We can’t keep living like this 

In fear of our lives everytime we walk outside only because our appearance is different

Hands on the dashboard when pulled over

Because if not..

You’ll be the next life less body in a casket

Parents and kids

Friends and family 

Weeping

Backed into a corner because we don’t look the same 

But we truly are 

The same blood, the same language

Love

But they choose to hate us because of something we can’t control and that’s why we have to make a change 

I guess we’re not so free in America 

It’s different for us.

Ugh so many negative thoughts today what gives

I want to relax and read my mangas 

“PLEASE PLEASE LET ME GO”

“I WAS REACHING FOR MY WALLET I HAVE A KID”

So much pain in her voice

“Ma’am get out of the car now or I’m going to have to use force”

I can just hear the threats oozing out of his mouth

I turn to look 

There she is….. A woman

A black woman 

And a cop 

A white cop

Trying to drag her out of HER car

And in the back a cute little boy maybe 2 or 3 years old 

He has no clue what’s going on 

I remember I was like that.             Clueless

She doesn’t deserve to be treated like this

I should try to help

But wait he said he was going to use force what exactly does that mean

A gun?

Will he shoot me if I go over?

I want to help the woman but I don’t want to risk getting shot

I can’t ignore her…. She needs help

If I ignore her I’ll be just like everyone else

But helping her could mean getting shot and potentially killed

Will I really be the next body in the street?

I’ve haven’t done everything I want to. I still have promises to fulfill 

It’s not that I don’t want to help her

 I’m just scared

But if I leave I can’t help but be disappointed in myself 

This is not how my aunt and dad raised me

I have to go help her so why isn’t my body moving 

“Ma’am You have 60 secs to comply or I will use force”

60 secs

I have 60 secs but I can’t help her I’m so scared what if I die

But I can’t just leave her 

40 secs

This is too much 

Maybe I should just put my head down and walk away 

I know it’s wrong but what else am I supposed to do

30 secs

If I don’t go all that time at those protests and donating would have been for nothing

The fact that I have to think about this 

Ugh I’m so weak I can’t even stand up for one woman

20 secs

I my aunt and dad saw me they would be so disappo-

That’s right there is a kid in the back 

Man I know exactly what it’s like to grow up without a mother

It’s lonely 

I have my aunt but it’s not the same 

5 secs

Is that why I’m moving towards the woman 

Because I know the emptiness of not having a mom

Man who know what’ll happen now 

“Hey can’t you see she was just trying to reach her wallet will you calm down!”

I just yelled at cop I mean it’s not a first but this time is different

Looking at the woman I tell her 

“Ma’am just do what the cop says okay? Your son needs a mother to come ho-”

Bang

Woah what’s this feeling 

It’s so warm and I feel free

Like I’ve been cut loose from that cruel world maybe I’ll just stay here for a while

Beep…..beep…..beep

Hmm this is a sound I know all to well 

The sound right before granny flatlined

Am I in the hospital?

Why can’t I move my arm 

Ooh that’s right I was shot 

Well that’ll teach me to stop jumping into situations head first

“Hey you up yet”

Who’s that she sounds very familiar 

“Nyssa you better not be dead… I have things to do”

I know that attitude anywhere

“Zoë that you?” I say while trying to sit up

“The one and only… so I heard what happened you’re going to go back out there right” 

“Why would I….. I got shot and now I’m in the hospital they really knocked me down

But truth be told I’m scared next time I’ll lose my life” 

I couldn’t even look her in the eye 

I didn’t want to her reaction when I said that 

What a sad case 

“If you’re scared, just be scarier than whatever’s scaring you” 

She seemed way to happy saying that 

“Did you just quote Bambi” I laughed 

“Now would you look at your face that’s a smile and as you say giving up is for rookies”

 she gave me a thumbs up and wide smile

“But in all honesty if you stay in this depressing hospital room wallowing in your pity then checkmate they won

You need to get up 

Get out 

And show them that they can’t easily knock us down” she said while dragging me out of the bed

“Zoë that’s easy for you to say I’m the one who has been shot down LITERALLY

I can’t go back out there now..

I won’t” 

Saying this actually surprised me because I wouldn’t usually say this

But I don’t want to go back out there 

“When life gets you down you know what you gotta do?... just keep swimming just keep swimming

When the world turns it back on you, you know what you gotta do? Turn your back on the world” 

What in the? Is she quoting disney movies 

Is that what we’re doing now 

“Will you stop quoting disney movies” I whined

“I will if you get up” she laughed

“Fine I’ll get up”

I sat up in the hospital bed looking out the window

Should I really go back out there

I don’t want to be made the victim 

I need to put the cop who shot me and harrased that women in jail

And you would never believe it but it was Mr.badge number 368

Right before I turned to the woman I say the badge number and recognized his face

I’m so sick of him

I guess that means I REALLY have to get up

“Whatcha thinking about over there” Zoë asked

“Oh nothing just about how I’m going to put that dirty cop in jail” 

“Does that mean you’re going to back out there because I can’t stay any longer I got to get back to work”

“Yes Zoë I am and you go back to work don’t let me keep you” I pushed her off the bed 

“Okay okay you got this girl and just remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think” she said while walking out the door

“Christopher Robin?” I yelled

“YES MA”AM!” 

We both laughed

Well I guess that means I have to get up for real

“Time to go kick some cop 🤬”

- Destiny S

But this is a reason i keep up a barrier

As the weight on my shoulders gets heavier

This is proof  the system is unbalanced

It causes some to face a life challenge

It does damage others can't manage

It hurts to lose knowing you should've won

But hurts even more when what you lost was the presence of your son

The sons head is filled with dark lies

Yet the father was left helpless with the feeling of no fight

And which both left lost, confused that lead  to sleepless nights

The three with the biggest hearts 

Were taken for granted right from the start

She took her son’s blessings then kept them apart 

Benefiting off of her only son, using him to fill up her cart 

A grandmother, father, and son struggling not to fall apart

Due to the mother who is lost and can’t seem to find her heart

Leaving her son to forever wander about something he has only dreamed of his own mother’s love

She was never open to hear what her son wanted to speak of, with them it was always push and shove

She never understood or accepted any of the grandmother, father, or son’s unconditional love

Feeling it was something she was above

Using her son, selfishly abandoning him and them to a living hell that they can’t climb out of.

As the years go by things become worse 

The mothers plans took course

The son can never escape his curse

As his burdon lurks

Treating the son like a clerk

Through the acts of kindness

When it comes to love the mom couldnt find it

She wanted to be treated like she was their highness

To have each one arrested she tried it

They didn't even fight it

She continued to cause pain and all they did was hide it

In Ann’s world it's considered a blessing to be different

But that's not a reality.

Ann had always stood out for being gay

The light Purple hair,

The plethora of piercings,

The excessive eyeliner,

They make her a focal point.

The things that make her different she chooses to hide.

Depression.

Sexual orientation.

Family trauma.

The taste of shame on her lips as she drives to her appointment.

Therapy. 

Something she had been debating about for a very long time.

Therapy.

Something that had been stigmatized and marked as taboo.

Therapy.

Her last resort.

The waiting room was full of anticipation.

The judgemental looks from others,

reminded her of the radiator she used to hide behind when she was little

HOT.

Cutting through her like a laser, as if they could see right through her, 

A disillusioned adolescent.

Ann paced around the room

Finally,

She is invited into his office

Smells of

Regret.

Rejection.

Anxiety. 

The walls were 

Black like a vulture

The chair was

Stiff and rigid

An aroma of sage wafting through the airgt

She smelled it tentatively

As if it were a bouquet of wildflowers

He stated

Assertive.

Direct.

Hostile.

She shrunk under his gaze

Like a wool sweater in cold water

He asked

Cross.

Irritated.

Disgusted.

He finished. 

Brief.

Resentful.

Irked.

The appointment was over as quickly as it started.

Ann left,

hurting even more than when she entered.

Tears flowing everywhere,

Like a beaver dam bursting, 

after years of holding it together

she broke.

She went into a depressive episode.

Insecure.

Alone.

Isolated.

Reminding her of her family trauma

Reminding her of her past suffering

Reminding her of her hateful experiences.

Like another day holding the dam together.

A week later

Ann wakes up

Sick of what has become of her

Realizing

She will not tolerate

The hatred.

The homophobia.

The disrespect.

Never again will she live in fear 

Never again will she suffer as a result of other’s judgement

She sued the homophobe!

License revoked,

Business ruined,

And jobless.

She finds a new therapist

Kind.

Supportive.

Accepting.

Visiting her new therapist

Coping,

with past trauma.

Coping

with mental illness.

Coping 

with accepting individuality.

Ann

smiling,

Finally content,

ready to accept

her true self  

I hear footsteps crunch against the dry gravel

I turn to Hussein

His eyes are dry and tired

but he doesn't take them off the boat

Hussein shakily mutters

He turns to me and grins

I say with my raspy voice

Silence breaks out once more

Yet now there's peace

I rest

A roar of turmoil unfolded

yet nothing was announced

Chaos arrived

and the disarray led 

Hordes of people fled

Some ran 

to their families

to their belongings

Some stayed 

to mourn their departed

to hide from the arrived

But no matter the actions

We all 

howled with anger

wailed with anguish

shrieked with agony

And I

I was no different

I ran to Ana

howling at her

We ran through the field

Without reasoning

Without looking back

Only one thing ran through our heads

The echoes of chaos resonated

We all rambled

but nothing was concluded

Ana wished to wait

for the army to arrive

Yet I knew 

it was best to carry on

and reach our destination

In a moment of impasse

I wondered on and on

There was no time

Ana grew relentless

But I remained selfless

Ana and Jackson remain

whilst the group and I continue on

And so we wander

The echoes of chaos 

have twisted into reality

As I lie my back against the cold concrete

I stare at the boat as it slowly drifts away

I hear the distant wailing of the children

I wave to comfort the group

They wave back

Silence breaks out

My wounds are only worsening

I turn to Hussein, the father of the family

His expression may be blank

but I know he’s in much more pain than I

I hear faint footsteps on the gravel

The attackers are approaching the shed

I want to run

I want to resist

But all I can do is wait

I stay

Pearsall

Farms, Beer, Quiet, Cozy

There wasn't much to a life in pearsall

No one went anywhere, did anything crazy or even remotely cared about important things

All just a bunch of emigrants from germany or wherever after the world wars

It was easy and slow and most people liked that. It was like a loop that you could go around effortlessly

But that was for some people.

           School wasn't that hard. The teachers taught and tested and if you failed you failed and if you passed then good for you. No one had insane grades or anything, and no one could go to college even if they tried cause no one could make the money to pay that sum. and it only went up every year.

This

Is

Not

What

Kole

Needed

From the beginning he was screwed. Bad parents and not enough money to get by,

Working on the farm.

That pretty much sums it up

No one expects a poor boy from texas to have anything or go anywhere.

And no one from pearsall has ever done anything.

But…       that plan changed one day

It all started,

One hot and humid spring day,

One to remember in Koles mind,

One last normal practice

Pearsall high mavericks baseball had just finished practice and they all walked back into the locker room to change out

GRAF

That was Koles last name. German in root with maybe some english blood added in somewhere

GRAF COME HERE!!!

Either he was about to die or someone had hit his old chevy in the parking lot and they had to talk about who would pay

Yes coach,

Counselor wants to see you now

Mr Edgar     big old mr edgar, the senior counselor

And quite possibly the nicest guy in the school             Kole liked him

Edgars office smelled like peaches and grapes

And the air was warm

Graf I have an opportunity for you

One that can change a life

College

What do you do after growing up with nothing and then,

 everything 

Hits you like a train

At once.

Kole had been accepted to Texas State on a grades scholarship. Something no one in pearsal could ever do.

But

Like all triumphs 

comes a greater problem        

Koles parents needed him here and it was clear that he was expected to live the REST of his life STUCK like everyone else    

     

 

His parents would hate him

But would his future kids and wife?

He would leave everything

But wouldn't it change his life?             

He didn't have time to think and he didn't know what was right

There was a train departing tonight…

The wind rushed and his hair blew from the open window as he sat on the back #704 passenger speeding into the south texas stars.

His eyes teary and his body weary he knew he'd never have the same dinner and sunset, at least for a while

The clack of the wheels and the bump of the rails set the mood for the people on board.

In 10 years, he thought, i'll be sitting on a big porch with a kid in my lap and a wife beside me. One who didn't live in pearsall and one who couldn't name every who was in my sophomore math class like everyone else in pearsall.

The conductor announced that they would be in san an in a few moments and a few big city lights began to appear in the windows.

He hoped the note he had written explained himself clearly. For this was basically goodbye just on short notice… and it wouldn't have happened any other way, its what he had to do

Wipe your tears

Face up

Breath

Move on

It was time to be who he had always wanted.

                        

A tool used for destruction

in most cases. 

Fires can often be used as sources of warmth

And comfort.

But not in this case.

Not at all.

Fire is a relentless force

That won’t stop burning until there is nothing left to burn.

That is what I learned from my experiences. 

Canary Pyon

Is the name my parents gave me.

I am extremely plain,

Almost painfully so.

Long, brown hair, brown eyes, a short body, and an average mind.

Not intelligent, not stupid, just…….

Average. 

I have a mother, a father, and one older brother.

A typical family if you ask me.

My older brother’s name is Robin.

I guess my parents liked birds a lot.

We lived in the middle of a forest somewhere in Washington State.

I never really asked for the specifics where, 
Because it never really mattered to me.

There were only few people living here, 

About three houses with four people in each.

The closest town that there was to here was about forty-five minutes to an hour drive.

But it was nice.

Never really had any sort of radio or television,
So our only source of entertainment were books.

Our parents went to the town near where we lived about once or twice a month.

Whenever they went there, they always brought new books for us to read.  

Our parents brought all types of books for us to read,

But the ones that always caught my attention were…………..

Books about the weather and climate.

I know it sounds nothing like what a thirteen year old girl would read in her free time, 

But…

It gave me comfort reading about something beyond human control.

Something humans could never do anything about no matter how hard they tried.

Or so I thought……

I started to learn about how much human activities changed the climate over time.

It made me quite angry about how people can affect nature in such a bad way.

Because of how people live is making even the air we breathe change so much. 

I have read about forest fires in books before,

But I never thought we had to worry about them since it rained so much here.

But I was wrong not to worry. 

The middle of August,

One of the hottest months of the year.

The morning air was cool and crisp,

Even so, 

There were white/gray flakes in the air.

We all thought it was snow at first, 

Show was extremely unlikely to happen in the summer,

But it wasn’t impossible.

Since our family has never seen anything like this other than snow,

They thought that there was no other explanation.

It was cold in the morning, so I could see why they thought that it was snowing.

But I had read about this in a book I had read.

I knew that the flakes were not snow………..

But ash.

We didn’t have any way to know for certain that there were fires coming our way.

So my parents just said that I was overreacting and dismissed my warnings.

It wasn’t until it started feeling hotter outside, that I realized that there was something dangerous coming.

I knew that my parents would never believe me if I said that there were fires coming.

I can’t actually blame them. 

I had said things like this before,

Just to see how they would react.

Things like

“THERE’S A FOREST FIRE COMING OUR WAY!” 

or 

“HURRY WE HAVE TO GO THERE ARE SNOW STORMS ON THEIR WAY HERE!”. 

Just to see how they would react. 

The first two times I did it,

They believed me.

But they never did again after that. 

I had to make a decision on whether to go get help,

Or beg my parents for us to go. 

I knew it would take too long to convince my parents,

So I went to the nearby emergency phone to call for help,

Hoping that they would come in time.

When I returned home to find my family, 

I could already see the fire getting

Closer 

And

Closer.

I didn’t really remember what happened clearly after that.

But I did remember that my whole family got away safely, 

And that’s all that mattered to me at that moment. 

Men get bullied and denigrated on internet

Like seriously

Yeah not women

Most men's go through this

Anyways let me introduce myself

Im Joseph

Joseph Joestar

And this is how men are denigrated in social media

On anywhere not only on social media men get looked down upon,

 

Yeah really, don't believe me?

 

Hear this short story

 

Daniel is a young man working in his dream job

 

Being a worker at a toy store and helping children to find good toy

 

But people always look at him strange and then say “i want no pedo with my child”

 

And tell the kid to stay away from him, why? You may ask

 

Well from ancient times men are said to not like children, not like, liking children (pedo)

 

But more like, liking children to play with and interact with, why? Because “men have no feelings but hornyness”, some people say

 

Another example is how a women can false accusation a man and the men will go straight to jail, before anyone seeing if he is innocent,

 

But why? They think, “why would a woman lie about that? It must be true then”

 

Another example is how mens are getting straight up death threats just by being a man

 

Yeah on the internet there was a move called #KAM2020

 

What does kam 2020 mean?

 

It means

 

 

A last example would be how men get more jail time for the same crimes as women do

 

Men are more prone to get jail time by a 88%

 

First of all, we should reeducate people about each others issues, because women still have issues

 

Second to it, we should reformat the court system to be more unbiased

 

Another step that is required is to educate men.

 

Also to teach men why they should be careful around women because we are genetically stronger

 

Stop using insensible words like Man Ups,mens don't cry, be a real man.

 

Thing like that are really bad for young mens as it teaches them

 

To not show any emotion and be somewhat like a machine of anger and issues.

 

Obviously this isn't an easy task

 

And we need all the help we can get, from both genders

 

Goodbye, maybe i’ll make more poems about issues.

 

I sit here on the street

Like I do almost every day when I’m not limping my way through the city

Wishing things were different.

I wasn’t always like this.

I used to have a job, a home, and friends.

 

I am Eric.

I used to enjoy being with people.

I felt like I belonged.

It’s getting colder at night now so, shivering, I pull my jacket closed and watch all the happy people rushing down the street.

They’re meeting with friends for dinner or starting their holiday shopping.

It’s been so long since I’ve laughed and talked with a friend, I don’t even remember what my voice sounds like.

 

People walk by like I’m invisible.

They don’t know my story

And they don’t care.

So, I sit here feeling angry and sorry for myself.

After everything I’ve been through, I think I have a right to.

 

 

 

I think a lot about my old life.

What I wouldn’t give to have a few dollars in my pocket again.

I never knew how good I had it!

 

 

 

 

But then the accident happened…

 

 

 

 

That fall at work took everything from me.

I can’t do construction anymore,

And no more job means no more money.

No more home.

No more friends.

 

I’d gotten that job right out of high school, and don’t know how to do anything else. 

I’m not qualified for much and none of the places I tried had any open positions.

And then there were the hospital bills!

I’ve given up on myself. Actually, I think I’ve given up on everyone.

 

 THE ACCIDENT

 

I watch the traffic speeding by and remember the car I’d bought after I landed the construction job. I was so proud to buy myself a car!

 

A blaring horn distracts me from my thoughts and I whip my head up just in time to see a car running the red light and slamming into the driver’s side of another car.

Someone screamed, but most people just stood there and stared.

In a panic, a woman jumps out of the car that ran the red light.

She’s crying as she’s trying to call someone on her phone.

Why isn’t the other driver getting out of his car?

Why isn’t someone helping them? Someone should do something.

 

It’s none of my business, and by the way people treat me, they don’t deserve my help anyway. 

The street is getting crowded with people, but still, no one checks on the person in the car. I think I’ll move to a different spot down the street. I can’t stand to be in a crowd.

 

As I pick up my things to leave, the woman notices that the man in the other car is unconscious, and she’s crying hysterically.

How are all these people just standing there staring?

 

I should probably just keep moving down the street, but I find myself, arms full of everything I own in the world, limping toward the wrecked car. I really don’t know why I should bother.

 

The man in the car is definitely unconscious and he’s not moving. I drop my stuff and try to open his door. I can actually feel people staring at me.

They probably think I’m just gonna steal something that doesn’t belong to me.

 

No matter how hard I pull, the door’s not opening. I make my way to the passenger side, open the door, and slide in. 

The man has a cut on his head, and it’s bleeding pretty badly so I hold my sleeve over the cut to try to slow it down.

Funny enough, I’d seen enough television (back in the day when I had a tv) to check for the injured man’s pulse.

He’s alive.

 

I hear sirens.

It’s about time.

In less than a minute, the police and EMTs are on the scene.

I realize I need to get out of the way, so I climb out of the car.

I hear the woman telling the police officer that the accident wasn’t her fault. The injured man ran a red light.

 

Unbelievable!

 

She’s lying and the unconscious man can’t tell the police his side of the story! Shaking my head, I return to pick up my stuff and make my way down the street.

The police officer stops me.

He wants to know what I saw.

So, I tell him.

 

I couldn’t wait to get away from all the people last night.

Today, I’m invisible again.

I’m back sitting in the same spot as yesterday. 

It’s gotta be almost noon. I think I’ll make my way behind the pizza shop to see if they’ve thrown out any of their lunch mistakes.

 

As I get up, a car pulls up to the curb.

The injured man from last night slowly gets out.

He’s walking toward me. Just what I need.

Surprisingly, he’s here to thank me for my help!

I wasn’t expecting his thanks, that’s for sure.

For the first time, someone asks me about my story; why I’m living on the street.

I tell him about my accident at the construction site, and how I haven’t been able to work since then.

Construction is all I’ve ever done and all I know.

It must be my lucky day!

The injured man owns a construction materials company and is currently looking for a warehouse manager!

I shouldn’t get my hopes up, but I can’t help myself.

I’m probably not even qualified, but for once, I feel like I at least have a chance at getting my life back.

 

He invites me to the warehouse the next day.

Man, I don’t want to mess this up!

But, in this warehouse, I’m home.

My life’s about to turn around!

I’ve been working in this warehouse for five years now.

I’ll never take my job for granted again, that’s for sure.

I have a few dollars in my pocket.

A new home.

New friends.

I can’t forget how things were on the street, though.

How many homeless people are just like me?

They have a story, and they just need a second chance in life.

A chance like I got from the injured man.

He helped me set up a work program to get people off the street.

We’ve only helped a handful of people so far...people who wanted to be helped.

I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m grateful for where I am.

I’m in a place now where I can give back.