EXAMPLE OF A PROSE POEM: Eddie Powell Dear Literacy Dear Literacy, I just stopped by to share an amazing revelation about

a nation of peoplecaught in the sequel of lethal listlessnesswho opened up a can of excuses and ignorance like entrepreneurial businessesI can see and hear the senselessnessclimbing into the catacombs where wombs wish they never birthed these infantile toddlers whos fathers are far away; from the 4 corners of Compton to New York to Nairobi and Pelican BayWe need you like a prayer need wings, like broken hearts need spiritual surgeryspeaking with the urgency, and Ill be the first 2 be noted and quoted who spent all my life giving you the worst of mebut understanding your love signaled the birth of me Dear literacy, literally every letter lets me singe without the need to infringe or fragment like an English sentence sentenced to redeem the theme of education, waiting like hands on the clock for my flock to become un-shocked and knock on your door, I see em by the scoreshoping like a famine facade, asking government and God for just one more drop of waterWe take you for granted, destroying this planet with our trinkets and treachery, thinking its the recipe for right, but can we actually write a noun, verb, and complete thought that forms an independent clause; and can we pleassssseeeee use a comma to pause. Dear Literacy, you keep uplifting strong leaders to embody a body of believers such as Lozada, Dillon, Zamora, and Cifarelli; To my mentor Mrs. Turner-Odom, Drawbond, Factor, Billingslea and Dr. MaselliWe need you to come into this institution, swept into the tides of mass confusion, nullify these chaotic delusions, instill in our students the need for revolutionThe days of being famous for failure are over with; The days of being content with no content and context are officially yesterdayso yesterday.

Today were building up a nation of academia thats designed to free minds of every walk of life; Hey Eddie P., lets go clubbing and crack some dime pieces; naw bruh Im doing my homework tonight. EXAMPLES OF POEMS: Charles Gaylord Another Victim? Am I just another victim? To this racist justice system Livin life With three strikes Was not the road for me All I wanted was a little money And to be able to raise a family Maybe a wife and two kids But these devils carrying badges Are the ones in which We must live with A juvenile tried as an adult Facing grown man years And at night used to cry grown man tears Trying to stay strong and persevere I guess you can say a dream deferred But I prefer Awakened Just made the road that much clearer Life easier

A. Brytney Reaves I See You, Woman I see you, woman, a gem dirtied by the streets you walk, the gutters that embrace you and the alcoholic tongues that talk saying, Low class whore. With a pussy as bottomless as your heart because of the life you bore. Age aint nothin but a number but your face has worn its share of double digits. I notice this as your stance becomes a constant fidget. You must not be comfortable because your flesh moves without your spirit. Maybe its in that phone you carry, the only access you obtain to reach anyone outside of your dismay or maybe you think its where your panties are, wishing that what it was protecting wasnt outside on display. I see you woman. Legs spread and your love showin. LoveI wonder if you love yourself. Youre so open and yet so closed. A woman is not what she wears but where are your clothes? Your hair is not yours, youre carrying another womans glory and even that is covering your face. Whatever you are hiding I still see you woman, even in your hiding place. So I stay watching, distant, from afar trying not to witness your persistent sale of the goodies in your cookie jar. But as the stroll commences I recognize your walk. A friend of mine was seen strutting the same, her lot cast with the vain and high-fashion trends. Beauty is her name but her innocence dissipated fast as rapid as her pace into maturity widening the gap between that and her adolescence leaving lessons unlearned, the wrong stones overturned and experiencing life at a different angle. I see you too, girl, with your heart left mangled, bleeding love. I think Leona Lewis was onto something but instead of figuring it out your focus is only on getting some ring laced in diamonds from a baller to distract you from the reality of this materialistic fling. But dont think you are not a queen deserving of such things but to what end are these means? Girl, I see you and in the same gaze Im faced with what could be in your future days. Sad eyes glazed with pain self-inflicted by wrong decisions and no convictions. Lips plumped with gloss beneath candy-coated nose; ears aching because of promises, those uncommitted lies confidently told by the bold. Hands expertly primed for war in case of any malpractice in the form of act or diction. They say pimpin aint easy but I dont see you dressed in suits or donned in platinum chains. Just weary lines cloaking your face and your body clothed in despair for lack of change and not the difference you must pay to your pimp since today you came up short on the strip so your palms are out begging for fifty cents to a dollar to spare you, your mind and that blackened eye.

I see you woman. I see you screaming your soul hoarse with silent mouth agape still in hopes of yells, fervent yells heard but out of that O is just cigarette smoke, fruitless efforts to shake the taste of the last John that poked. I wish you knew how special you are and how far you could go, though right here all you see is all that you know: these hard streets and familiar gutters, the sexual favors for those sheltering shadows from which mutters come, hissing Low class whore. But I see you woman and so much more.

Nataly Castillo What Made Me Who I Am Today I am from counting numbers and spelling words From the color blue that compares to the waters under the sun I am from playing tag and hide and seek From swinging on the old avocado tree From reading Nancy Drew who is solving mysteries I am from the pitter patter of the rain From the words Vamos a gozarnos a la iglesia! From the words to happy songs that uplift the saddest soul I am from the melodious sound of a piano whose story is only keys away From 2-3 year olds who would sit around and listen to stories from the Bible I am from the fresh start of a brand new day From the tulips that shoot up from the ground Whose roots allow it to see the light and scents around From the pavement washed after the drizzle of water The smell of coffee whose strong yet unique flavor boosts my day I am from my parents love and care

From Psalm 23, its not just words but also my life From the hugs of my family whom I am blessed to have near me I am from the encouragement and perseverance that helped shape me From the Lord Jesus Christ whose love and mercy transformed me I am from dreams that shine waiting for me to reach I am from my high school diploma, the proof that I took my first steps Waiting to run, ready to be free From essays and tests that determine my college UCLA, Irvine or maybe even Berkley Of course there will be obstacles blocking the way But of course, when wont they? Todays generation better look up proud, being role models for those behind Get common sense and open their eyes I am from tomorrows future