I AM SOMEBODY

I am somebody,
and I want to be---
Not because I'm black
but because I'm me.

I must strive everyday
to be a better person to know
and in order to be successful
I must work at it so I'll grow.

I surely want to grow
but not just in height
I must improve my mind
and start thinking right.

I realize though
that I must improve my worth
you get very little for nothing---
thats how it is on Earth.

So I'm striving to be better
and someday they'll see
that I am sombody---
and it's because I'm me!


April 7, 2000
L.E.W. age 14
(written for a classmate
and friend)



All But Blind

All but blind
in his chambered hole
groups of worms,
the four clawed mole.

All but blind
in the evening sky
the hooted bat
twirls softly by.

All but blind
in the burning day
the barn owl blunders on her way.

All but blind
as are these three to me,
so blind to someone,
I must be

L.E.W. age 14



The Choice

He'd have given me
rolling lands,
Houses of marble,
and billowing farms.
Pearls to trickle
between my hands,
smoldering rubies
to circle my arms.
You,
you'd only a litle song,
only a melody happy and high
you were sudden and swift
and strong.
Never a thought
for another I had.

He'd have given me
laces so rare,
dresses that glimered
with frosty sheen,
shinning ribbons
to wrap in my hair
horses to draw me
as fine as a queen.
you
you'd only to whistle low
gaily I followed
wherever you led,
I took you,
and let him go.
somebody ought to
examine my head.


L.E.W. age 14



She's My Mom

When I'm sick,
she' s there.
When I'm well,
she's there.
When I back talk and have attitude,
that's when I whish
she wasn't there.

When I have,
such a bad dream,
she's there.
When I see bloody things,
and I quickly turn green,
She's there.
And I when I try to fight,
someone who got in my face,
she is there to pull me away.

And who is she?
I'm proud to say,
SHE'S MY MOM


L.E.W. age 7



CROSSED

My old man's
a white old man.
And my old mother's black.
If ever I curssed
my white old man,
I take my cursses back.

If ever i curssed
my black old mother,
and wished she were in hell,
I'm sorry for those evil thoghts,
and NOW I wish her well

My old man died
in a nice big house,
My ma died in a shack
I wonder where
I'm going to die,
being neither
WHITE nor BLACK


L.E.W. age 14
(this poem was written
for a classmate of hers)


L.E.W. age 7



DO NOT STAND BY
MY GRAVE AND WEEP.

Do not stand
at my grave and weep
I am not there,
I do not sleep.
I am
a thousand winds that blow,
I am a diamond glint on snow
I am sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn rain.
When you awaken
in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush,
of quiet birds circled in flight.
I am the soft stars at night.
do not stand
at my grave and cry,
I am not there,
I did not die!

L.E.W. age 14
(In memory of
Crystal Lynn Bates.)


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