Letter From the Editor:

    Welcome to Saint Paul's College Online Poetry Newsletter. This newsletter contains poetry submitted from students at Saint Paul's College as well as a few poems written by myself; it is updated on a monthly basis. I encourage every student to take an interest in poetry and in independent thinking. Poetry requires a great deal of work and time, but it should also be a pleasure to write it. College students are our future, and they should be encouraged to write and express themselves.  A passion for poetry can lead to a career as a poet, and words can transform lives and hearts.

Sincerely,

Dr. Raphael Comprone, Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and Editor of the Saint Paul's College Online Poetry Newsletter

Words

after so many words,

so many poems,

so many speeches,

so many lectures,

so many ideas,

what is there left to write?

My words

become arrows

or darts

or even bullets

when I'm armed with

my imagination.

My thoughts travel

in the depths of space

among distant galaxies.

My words occupy a space

where thought cannot travel

the distance between two ideas

between birth and death

between east and west

between sadness and laughter

between the ideal and the real.

My words

paint a world

wedged between dusk and dawn.

I know it hurt when your mother died,

The tears in your eyes.

Going home to your father with all his

BS and lies.

Bill collectors are calling, an eviction notice

arrives,

Forced you out on the block selling your

Body just to get by.

Your wrist hursts from the burns around the

Post you were tied.

It seemed to turn on your lovers everytime

You cried.

And even though they took advantage of you

because of your size,

You were happy because you made more money

Than you would flipping fries.

So every night you sucked it up, and you swallowed

Your pride.

You learned to take all of your emotions and put them

to the side.

And when you got some time to yourself, you found

a place you could hide.

So secretly you prayed to God to send a spiritual guide.

Eventually you found a woman with whom you came

to confide,

About how your pimp had tricked you out and guys

had opened you wide.

And being around them one of the drugs that you

eventually tried

Was the reason you overdosed and then eventually died.

--Brandon Lewis

The American Dream

       The American Dream involves having a family, making at least 6 figures a year, 2 cars, and 2.4 kids (the 0.4 being a pet), but why? Society has a standard that Americans expect to live up to in order to feel fulfilled: "The Dream." We tend to forget that we're individuals with our own goals and standards for success. That doesn't mean that I don't want similar things to happen to others, but I have my "American Dream." I don't want much out of life. I'm already married with a lovely daughter, and I hope to have a son soon. The only other thing I want out of life is for the world to hear my voice through hip-hop music and of course financial security, but who wouldn't want that? I believe "the American Dream" should simply be the pursuit of happiness.

---Gipson

Who Are You to Judge?

Who are you to judge me?

You don't even know me?

Yes, you probably know people of my skin tone.

Yes, you probably heard of the lives that they live.

Some of us have no choice but to live that way.

We do have some of the highest crime rates.

We do have dysfunctionaly families in our lives.

We do live everyday by judgment and hardknocks.

Yes, sometimes, we do think the government doesn't care.

So,  as a result, we turn to violence.

Our family and loved ones subsist on the streets.

In our homes, we feel no love, so the streets give love.

The drugs releive us from that for the time being.

We have tried to be equals since we've been here.

Yes, over 300 years, we wanted to be equals,

But everytime we had a chance, you killed us.

We had a dream--you shot us from the balcony.

We had houses--you burned them down.

We were very exhausted from these things that you did,

So we sat down on the bus, you got us up.

The rock landed on us; all we could do is struggle.

As a result, our own people shot us behind the podium.

You made us love your money,

Which we now kill ourselves for.

We learn to live by the dollar.

We die by the dollar.

Although this is our case, this isn't for all.

Some of us try to make our lives better.

Some of us want to do better.

We set organizations for such greatness.

Black as a berry and fierce as a panther.

Not all of us are living the bad life,

But we try not to forget what is happening

and where we came from.

So, before you go judging me, you need to think

Of what we have been through.

Before you judge,

Stereotypes are not needed for anyone;

What our ancestors did has nothing to do with me.

I am the next big thing coming abroad.

I am part of that wonderful dream that he had.

I am the reason she sat down on the bus.

I am the person taking that rock off of me.

I am the reason they got water down for me to move.

I am the reason they got a beating to be free.

I am the reason they could not read because I destroy

WIth my knowledge.

I am the eye and light of that north star she followed.

I am the most feared person in the world,

For the simple reason of knowledge.

You can put it in the book and ill retrieve it.

So, think before you speak to me.

After that, we could have a decent conversation.

Then, love would show, and we could build

a brighter world for you and me.

--Rhison Anderson

Revolutionary Relationship

by Charles Holliday

In Revolution: we fight to be free

In Relationship: we fight to be held.

But what about a Revolutionary Relationship?

Do we continue to fight?

Tussling over petty disagreements

Back and forth games played

Till we reach what seems to be a common ground

Only to start this cycle over and over

An earth to sun rotation astronomical type Revolutionary Relationship

Or maybe we fight to overthrow the fighting

Singling out those who don't comply to the design

That in our eyes don't fit perfection

Short guys shall now be desirable

And if you're 5'10" or over, don't even think about it,

you got no chance

A governmental shift overthrowing type Revolutionary Relationship

Or do we stop the fighting

Instead of forcing things to just let things be

Mental barriers need no violent force to go away

They just need to be forgotten

Forget that your man is a human male

And will be tempted to lie, cheat,

And steal a portion of your heart just to sport it as a trophy

Forget that your woman is only a woman

And that those desires that got blood rushing to your head

Can be satisfied by another woman

Forget that ther were others and there may soon be another

'Cause in this the only thing that should matter is

You & I

A change mindset to better your thought type Revolutionary Relationship

Random Moment of Clarity....

In Revolution: we fight to be free

In Relationship: we fight to be held....

But

In Revolutionary Relationship: we hold to be free.

A Melodic Note for Your Soul

One element plays the key role

That’s the brain….

Ability to do whatever

Life comes at you with a plan

So get it together….See the road

See that goal.

To strive, to succeed

Parents must believe in me

For them to be proud of me.

--Joshua Downing

Diamond of Dimensions

Once bewildered in the shade,

I slowly emerge

As facade of lifelong substances;

Beautifully created by my Father with impurities.

I consume elements of H2O;

I am purified by the word,

I am free- standing;

A model of perfection arraying luminosity,

 I am a WOMAN.

I will consume that shade

As an intense beam of radiance.

Nicole

Ghetto Child

When da streets is calling

When da guns are shooting

What ‘cha gonna do?

When da lights are out

And da water don’t work

What ‘cha gonna do?

Now, I can’t tell you

I can’t help you out

Just face it

Ya livin’ in da life of a ghetto child

When ya son is dead

And ya daughter got pregnant

You got fired today

What’cha gonna do?

When da bills ain’t paid

And ya car got towed away

I can’t tell you

I can’t help you out

Just face it

YA LIVIN DA LIFE OF A GHETTO CHILD!

--Shonda

Language of Love

If I were a bird and you were my man

The way I would say I love you

Is with a song

I’ll sing it softly with all my heart

Then say I love you with no extra part.

If I were a tree with leaves of gold,

And you were my man with silver buds,

Then you asked me if I love you,

I’ll shake my branches

And let my leaves fall,

And all my gold leaves

Would explain it all.

If I were human with hands and feet,

I’ll run in your arms

While I weep,

Take you by the head and say it slow.

I love you, man,

And I pray you love me also.

--Nikki Wilder

To the One I Love

Our love is like the dew

On the petals of a springtime flower.

--Dr. Comprone

Just For You

It’s warm, it’s cold, it’s shy, it’s bold,

It’s wrong, it’s right, a morning delight.

It’s meek and strong,

A beautiful song.

It rains, it pours, a kiss at the store.

It’s joy, it’s pain, it’s strangely insane,

It’s me and you, and meant for two.

Unforgettably you, it’s love that’s true.

--Dwayne Artis

Basketball Player Blues

I’m a basketball player

And I have the blues.

I know that you can tell that I am

By the way I tie my shoes.

No, I’m not gay

But you assume so

Because I don’t come when

You call my way.

Even though I can make a basket and shoot some free throws,

I still have to deal with brothers with

Short fades and small fros.

I have the basketball blues

Because I can’t get it together

After I tie my basketball shoes.

I have the basketball blues

Because I can’t find a guy

Who can just look at me

Without having a wandering eye.

Don’t get me wrong,

There are some out there,

But to me,

They’re all shy, and they end up not being my type of guy.

So, now I’m figuring out how to end

My basketball blues.

I suspect that one day

I’ll have to get off my high horse

And play by someone else’s rules.

--Southern Coffee

America

O say can ye see,

Through the dusk’s gloomy twilight

What we proudly so hailed

At the dawn’s last gleaming?

Whose bright stars and broad stripes

Through the bloody war on terror,

O’er the oceans

Were so gallantly falling?

And the twin towers’ red glare,

Crumbling in thin air

Gave proof through the night

That our flag was

Not there.

O say does that star spangled banner

Yet threateningly wave,

O’er the land of the timid,

And the home of those

Who are supposed to be brave?

It was sung long ago

“Then conquer we must”

But now I’m not sure

If it is in God

Or in the almighty dollar

We must trust.

--Dr. Comprone

Not for Me

Why do I go on? Why do I keep trying? Why do I continue searching for this elusive thing, this thing called love? I often find myself bitten by the love bug and immediately I fall for the most beautiful thing to walk my way. And I always fall so hard so fast, but there is never anything to break my fall. No love, no happiness. Then I would always get up and try again. Well, no more. I refuse to keep trying so hard, only to end up a failure. I’m tired of always landing on my face and never in the arms of another. Am I destined to never find my true lover? Well, I don’t care any more. I’m tired of pouring my heart out to so many to never get any love in return because it just hurts too much. I realize that you have to work hard for love, and when you find it, it’s like a gift from above, but after so many failures, I’ve realized one more thing… maybe this whole love thing is just not for me.

--Carlton Crumpton

 
 Time (2)

Throughout time, I’ve been gifted to change

The thoughts in my mind.

Not even my style is the same,

But some things never change,

Like the greed of others,

The stubbornness of family,

Or the rejection from our mothers.

My little sister will grow old

As well as I,

But time will not spoil

The love in our eyes,

But time will try

To break us apart.

It already has taken many

And corrupted their hearts.

Time will teach me

How to hold my own,

Keep my head up,

And learn I’m not alone.

Time will also not repair

The actions of others

Who do not change

Or repair the loss

From something taken away.

Time also will not mend

A mother and daughter’s extreme dislike

Because time was that instigator

In their fight.

--Nikki Wilder

Man Owns Nothing

Man owns nothing,

But man survives off everything,

They mark what is considered territory,

Though as time's come to pass they ultimately relocate,

Man then encounters what is perceived as trouble!

But what is actually their former self,

A mirror is a man that continues down a path of darkness

only to see a dulling image never to change,

But a leader is a man that through the path in which he

walks is able to endure changes and r

reach the light at which he seeks,

Only then will man own what is considered PEACE or happiness;

From the beginning man has always ventured and seen many things,k

But it's upon himself to find his tool of motivation that

sieges the response and respect of his peers and others that truly makes them great!

True man may have possession of something for a moment;

But like everything in the world man will ultimately die to

have nothing,

Man may own nothing;

Though the only thing man can do is borrow what they

have until their time comes to give it all back.

-Ben Tobias

I AM STRONG

There's nothing that can stop me

My strength cannot be coppied

Though I may not show it

All inside I know it.

You look at me, you may not know

The strength I have that helps me grow.

The truth revealed to me is that

The strength I have cannot be matched.

The grace of God, it plays a part,

The love He gives strengthens my heart.

In God, I trust my way of life,

Is it my strength or just my might?

For me, it's not my body strength

My mind, my soul, my common sense,

From day to day, I carry on

Now you know that

I AM STRONG.

by J. Rock

She loves him.

Memories of him filled inside her

Like an empty pitcher.

Seeing him, just lying there

Quiet and still

Knowing that she will never be the same again.

He was gone

And so was her heart.

She was alone now

They had good times, they had bad.

But the love was always there.

Now it was gone

So suddenly gone

Coldness entered her soul

A tear feel down her cheek

And she said her last goodby

To the man she once called father.

-Anonymous

Roses are dead, I am too, I love you, truly I do,

You meant the world to me, but I did I mean it to you?

You told me you cared for me, and I believed it was true,

But all you did was hurt me, too,

You were my first love, and I hope my last,

But all you've shown me is that you're stuck in the past.

When I first saw you, it was love at first sight,

But all I wanna do now is cry at night,

I am closing this poem with a broken heart,

The one you opened and tore apart,

I hope one day you realize what I was all about,

And how much you truly meant to me without a doubt,

It was worth getting hurt,

If I once made you happy, I still say "I love you"

Even those words hurt.

by Joshua Downing

What would you do if all your life people look down on you? What would you do if family turns their backs on you? What would you do if your best friends stabbed you in your back? What would you do if your other friends didn't care about you anymore? What would you do if each night you go to sleep hoping not to wakeup because you know the next day will be another bad one? What would you do if you were me?

by John Harris

 
I Ain't No Baby Mama

I ain't no baby mama

I have hopes

I have dreams

I have aspirations and goals, too.

I ain't no baby mama

I care for your child

Without drama

Without money

Without bitterness

Without you.

I ain't no baby mama

I make my child happy.

I started life anew.

I became free from self-hatred.

I ain't no baby mama 'cause I do it all without you.

by Ottilie James

Appraisal of Life

This life has been too hard

Not to receive immunity

From that which holds me back

The masculine, the feminine

That tugs at my androgyny.

A role to play, an achieving goal

A higher standard set.

God saved that dying breath:

The longer purpose must be met.

One could reason that this time bomb

In my ear is another
Step on the ladder, to ambition

Still unclear.

by Leslie Edwards