#my dad gave it to me after attending an NYE party | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

richincolor · 6 years

Photo

Poetry Month

Some readers avoid poetry, but I run toward it with open arms so Poetry Month makes me smile. Here are a few of the newest poetry books I’ve been enjoying.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo HarperTeen [Audrey’s Review]

A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.

So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

For Every One by Jason Reynolds Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers, this stirring and inspirational poem is New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds’s rallying cry to the dreamers of the world.

For Every One is just that: for every one. For every one person. For every one dream. But especially for every one kid. The kids who dream of being better than they are. Kids who dream of doing more than they almost dare to dream. Kids who are like Jason Reynolds, a self-professed dreamer. Jason does not claim to know how to make dreams come true; he has, in fact, been fighting on the front line of his own battle to make his own dreams a reality. He expected to make it when he was sixteen. Then eighteen. Then twenty-five. Now, some of those expectations have been realized. But others, the most important ones, lay ahead, and a lot of them involve kids, how to inspire them. All the kids who are scared to dream, or don’t know how to dream, or don’t dare to dream because they’ve NEVER seen a dream come true. Jason wants kids to know that dreams take time. They involve countless struggles. But no matter how many times a dreamer gets beat down, the drive and the passion and the hope never fully extinguish—because just having the dream is the start you need, or you won’t get anywhere anyway, and that is when you have to take a leap of faith.

A pitch perfect graduation, baby, or love my kid gift.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

A cannon. A strap. A piece. A biscuit. A burner. A heater. A chopper. A gat. A hammer A tool for RULE

Or, you can call it a gun. That’s what fifteen-year-old Will has shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That’s where Will’s now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He knows who he’s after. Or does he?

As the elevator stops on the sixth floor, on comes Buck. Buck, Will finds out, is who gave Shawn the gun before Will took the gun. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. And that’s when Will sees that one bullet is missing. And the only one who could have fired Shawn’s gun was Shawn. Huh. Will didn’t know that Shawn had ever actually used his gun. Bigger huh. BUCK IS DEAD. But Buck’s in the elevator?

Just as Will’s trying to think this through, the door to the next floor opens. A teenage girl gets on, waves away the smoke from Dead Buck’s cigarette. Will doesn’t know her, but she knew him. Knew. When they were eight. And stray bullets had cut through the playground, and Will had tried to cover her, but she was hit anyway, and so what she wants to know, on that fifth floor elevator stop, is, what if Will, Will with the gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, MISSES.

And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator.

Solo by Kwame Alexander & Mary Rand Hess Blink [Crystal’s Review]

When the heart gets lost, let the music find you.

Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming—like many—that Blade will become just like his father.

In reality, the only thing Blade has in common with Rutherford is the music that lives inside them. But not even the songs that flow through Blade’s soul are enough when he’s faced with two unimaginable realities: the threat of losing Chapel forever, and the revelation of a long-held family secret, one that leaves him questioning everything he thought was true. All that remains is a letter and a ticket to Ghana—both of which could bring Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.

And here are a few on my TBR:

It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Sigiura HarperTeen

*Not a book of poetry, but it does include poems*

Sixteen-year-old Sana Kiyohara has too many secrets. Some are small, like how it bothers her when her friends don’t invite her to parties. Some are big, like that fact that she’s pretty sure her father’s having an affair. And then there’s the one that she barely even admits to herself, the one about how she might have a crush on her best friend.

When Sana and her family move to California, she begins to wonder if it’s finally time for her to be honest with her friends and family, especially after she meets Jamie Ramirez. Jamie is beautiful and smart and unlike anyone Sana’s ever known before. The only problems are: Sana is pretty sure Jamie’s friends hate her, Jamie’s ex isn’t totally out of the picture, Sana’s new friend Caleb has more-than-friendly feelings for her, and things with her dad feel like they’re coming to a head. She always figured that the hardest thing would be to tell people that she wanted to date a girl, but as she quickly learns, telling the truth is easy…what comes after it, though, is a whole lot more complicated.

Voices in the Air by Naomi Shihab Nye Greenwillow Books

Acclaimed and award-winning poet, teacher, and National Book Award finalist Naomi Shihab Nye’s uncommon and unforgettable voice offers readers peace, humor, inspiration, and solace. This volume of almost one hundred original poems is a stunning and engaging tribute to the diverse voices past and present that comfort us, compel us, lead us, and give us hope.

Voices in the Air is a collection of almost one hundred original poems written by the award-winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye in honor of the artists, writers, poets, historical figures, ordinary people, and diverse luminaries from past and present who have inspired her. Full of words of encouragement, solace, and hope, this collection offers a message of peace and empathy.

Voices in the Air celebrates the inspirational people who strengthen and motivate us to create, to open our hearts, and to live rewarding and graceful lives. With short informational bios about the influential figures behind each poem, and a transcendent introduction by the poet, this is a collection to cherish, read again and again, and share with others. Includes an index.

Black Girl Magic by Mahogany L. Browne with illustrations by Jess X. Snow Roaring Brook Press

Black Girl, they say you ain’t ‘posed to be here

Much of what twenty-first century culture tells black girls is not pretty: Don’t wear this; don’t smile at that. Don’t have an opinion; don’t dream big. And most of all, don’t love yourself. In response to such destructive ideas, internationally recognized poet Mahogany Browne challenges the conditioning of society by crafting an anthem of strength and magic undeniable in its bloom for all beautiful Black girls. She has travelled the world sharing her vision of Black Girl Magic, and now in collaboration with artist Jess X. Snow, presents her acclaimed tribute in a visual form.

Black Girl Magic is a journey from girlhood to womanhood and an invitation to readers to find magic in themselves.

Am I missing any great poetry books from this year or the last? Please let us know in the comments. Also, if you want to find more great poetry titles, check out our previous posts here:

Pieces of Poetry (2017)

Poetry Link Round Up (2016)

Novels in Verse (2014)

Piles of Poetry (2013)

#Poetry Month

16 notes · View notes

howrealityruinedme · 8 years

Text

Christmas Break

This is going to be long so bare with me.

Friday, the 16th, I didn’t need to attend school, so I stayed home. I slept in. Once I found the energy to get ready, I did and I finished Christmas shopping. I remember spending my entire day out shopping. Once I finished, I went home and got high. That was the first time, I got high in roughly a month, so it was much needed. That was my sum of Friday nothing too great.

Saturday, the 17th, this was probably one of my worst nights of the year, but it was probably one of the best nights of the year as well. I don’t remember Saturday morning, but I remember getting ready for MJ’s birthday party. I left around 7:30 at night and head out. I remember the drive being so long, but I brought some patron with me. I stopped by a sonic near the hotel and poured the patron in my drink. Once I got inside, it was all boys and just Kaylee, Grayson and I. There were no signs of drinks or anything around. I remember Alicia and MJ walking in with pizza. All the girls that were there decided to play dirty jenga and of course I pulled the one that had me make out with someone. The girls chose Caden, so I walked up to him and kissed him then lingered around. I left him and went back to playing. The boys then took out drinks and more people started appearing. I don’t remember drinking too much, but after I went out to smoke with a couple of people, I don’t recall much of that night. I spent most of my night with Alicia and we both planned on rooming with MJ that night, but I woke up in my bed the next morning.

Sunday, the 18th, this was MJ’s birthday, but when I woke up, I recognized my surroundings too well. I was at home, in my bed. I felt fine and was questionable, so I went to my sister’s room, where she explained that she had to pick me up, because I got plastered and was shaking uncontrollably. I spent this day throwing up and regretting everything from the night before. I know I played dirty jenga when I wasn’t sober. I just have no idea what went on that night. Sunday sucked.

Monday, the 19th, this was the first time in a long time, that I rekindled my friendship with Alyssa. We just ended up going to the movies and watching Moana with my sister.

Tuesday, the 20th, Alyssa and I spent the morning in Dallas. We went to petland, where I fucking died, because all the dogs are just adorable. We went to steel city pops afterwards, because she's never had it. After SCP we went to go walk around downtown Dallas. We both had work in a couple hours so we headed back home to make some crepes. We both went to work and afterwards, I picked her up to spend the night and we spent the night drinking. I probably drank like three sips, but ended up smoking.

Wednesday, the 21st, I don’t remember how this day started, but I remember working all night and coming home to noise and walking in to about 15 people from Pei Wei. People were just sitting around and drinking when I got there. About 10 minutes in, Wesley and I went to go buy some cards. Once we got back home people were still drinking and see were getting ready to smoke. I joined outside to smoke and was literally high all night.

Thursday, the 22nd, I remember waking up to people still at my house, but they all left within an hour or two. My sister and I spent the day cleaning the house from any evidence. My oldest, bitchass sister showed up and all she could say was “this house smells like alcohol and sweat” and “you’re going to want to get candles” god she ruins everything. She eventually left and my sister and I picked everything up and got rid of any evidence. Afterwards, I remember going to MJ’s, because he got shoulder surgery again the day prior. I remember getting there and Stephen, Tyler and Lexi were already there, so I felt uncomfortable at first. I loosened up and became friends with Lexi. I only stayed for like 30 minutes, because I had to leave to go somewhere. I can’t remember where I went, but I came back about two hours later. It was just MJ and I for about 20 minutes, because Stephen was on his way back from work and Lexi and Tyler went to go get cookies. Later on Rain and Destany came over to MJ’s. Everyone left and it was just Lexi, Tyler and I remaining and we all went home around 1 or so.

Friday, the 23rd, This was the day I got my tattoo and my nipples pierced. Fuck this day was the worst day of break, because of the pain I was in. I was going to head over to MJ’s afterwards, but the pain was unbearable, so I went home and fell asleep. When I woke up I was still in awful pain, but went over to MJ’s for about an hour. He literally wanted me to be in pain because he kept hitting my boobs.

Saturday, the 24th, I worked in the morning and went home and fell asleep because I was still in pain from the piercings. Once my sister got off of work, we went to go shopping to eat stuff for Christmas. I feel like that is all we did that day, because after the grocery store, we went home and watched movies.

Sunday, the 25th, ITS FUCKING CHRISTMAS. it was kind of sad, because it was just my sister and I, but we made the best of it. We literally went to the movies to go watch collateral beauty, which was such a good movie. We went home and made dinner, then went to go visit my sisters deceased best friend at the cemetery. We ended our night by going to Main Event, because I had two fun cards. Afterwards we went home and watched movies did our gift exchange and made some hot chocolate.

Monday, the 26th, I worked in the morning and once I got off we were chilling with Priscilla and went to her mum’s restaurant. We went home and waited for Karla. We all started drinking a little bit, but I didn’t want to drink too much because I was planning on hanging out with MJ, but that didn't happen. Around 11:30 my oldest sister came and made the biggest scene because we wouldn't let her in. This was the day my sister and I knew we were screwed and would hear it from dad. So shoutout to my oldest sister for fucking ruining our lives. About two hours later when everything ended, we chilled for a bit and cleaned a tiny bit. Priscilla and I just ended up smoking where I literally passed out afterwards.

Tuesday, the 27th, us girls woke up and we found out that my oldest sister’s boyfriend gave Priscilla a flat tire, where she had to get new tires. While we waited for the tires we went to Dallas, to Petland. Once we head back I had to go straight to work. Once I got off work, I headed home and waited for my sister to get off. Once she got off we went to IHOP with Alfredo. We stayed there for about two hours and headed to our house, where he lingered for nearly an hour just talking. Once he left, my sister and I just went to bed.

Wednesday, the 28th, my sister and I started the day off by cleaning the ENTIRE house, because our parents returned that day. We spent about 3-4 hours cleaning literally everything. Afterwards, we got ready and visited her best friend again, because that marked 2 years since she passed away. We were at the cemetery with others for roughly 45 minutes. Afterwards we went to go get tacos again from Priscilla’s mum’s restaurant. We got it togo, because w told Alfredo we would go to his game. We made the last three minutes of his game, which thank god, because it was freezing and we were wearing no clothes. We ended the day by getting frozen yogurt. Once I got home, I hit Alyssa up for a late night drive, because they're a necessity. Once, I had to take her home, MJ invited me to Main Event, so I joined. I saw a couple friends there, and Whit personally invited me to her NYE party. Afterwards we went over to MJ’s, but no one stayed too long. I was the last one there with him, but had to leave because my parents were 25 minutes away from being home. I got home and got ready for bed and forced myself to sleep.

Thursday, the 29th, I stayed in bed all day with my sister, because we both woke up feeling absolutely awful. We both got up, because we had to get ready for work. We went to work. Once I got off of work, my sister and I went to Whataburger with the twins for about two hours and went home and slept.

Friday, the 30th, I dragged Alyssa to come to the mall with me to find an outfit fro NYE. We went to the Grapevine Mills mall (which I don’t like) to find thigh highs that Kylee said were cheap, but with my luck I didn’t find ones I liked. Once we left we went to go try a new boba, which was okay, not great, but not bad. I dropped her off and then I went home and took a nap. Later that night, I went to MJ’s, but there were a couple friends there, who I didn’t expect. More people started showing up and we just talked and played board games. I had to leave for awhile to go to IHOP. I went straight back to MJ’s and only three people remained. So MJ and I went to our every day position, literally. I’d lay on the far left of his bed and he’d be in the middle, slightly more towards me. We’d just be under a blanket and I would intertwine my legs with his and he would demand me to scratch his leg. This is literally how it went every single time I would come over. It was around 1:30 s I knew I had to go home.

Saturday, the 31st, my sister and I woke up and went to get our nails and eyebrows done. We just went home and chilled. I waited for my parents to leave so I could go to Whit’s. Once they left, I decided to start getting ready. Once I was ready I headed out, which was around 9:30 and I got to her place at 10:00. Once I got there, no one was really there except about 15 people people. It started off slow, but then a swarm of people came. Then Rain and I went to go buy some ping pong balls. When I got in the car, she told me she was on coke. We went to four places before finding the balls and heading back to Whitney’s. Once we got back it was about 11:20. I just stood by the table and watched people play BP and then MJ came behind me and just stood with me. Then something I died, when I saw was when I turned my head he was leaning on the counter and our faces were aligned. I’m just saying this nigga shouldve kissed me right then and there. He went to grab a chair for himself and i just sat with him. We were together the entire time, except when I went to the bathroom and got back. I had no clue where he went, but I just sat down in his seat and about five minutes later he came back and rested his arm on my head and told me to move and I could sit on his lap. 12:00 quickly approached, it was 11:55 and we all told Whit to turn on the TV for the countdown and ball drop. I remember seeing the time say 11:58 and Anna, Stephen’s girlfriend, said “so are y'all going to kiss for new years?” and MJ looked at me and said “you down?” and I said bet. There was less than a minute so we all rushed to the living room and MJ sat in a single couch and just told me to sit on his lap. At 12:00 we kissed, but it was so awkward and unenjoyful. I don't know, like it was unplanned and messy. Like we didn’t know what we were going to do and just wung it. Afterwards, I got up awkwardly and went to the kitchen to get a water. Once I was walking back I could hear Lexi talking to MJ and all I heard was her say something about me and MJ replied “idk it just happened.” I walked past them and sat down with Caden and Kendrick. Kendrick got up about a minute later to grab his bottle, and then Rodney tried squeezing in and told me to scoot over and so Caden and I were closer and Kendrick was hinting at us and I was like yikes no. I got up and Rain told me to go upstairs and grab her stuff with her. Her and I went up to Whit’s room and I did coke with her. Coke is actually kind of cool. It just gives you more energy and only lasts like 30 minutes. After doing it, I went back downstairs and sat back where I was and kendrick was next to me and then MJ squeezed next to Kendrick. Kendrick left and told us to hide his bottle and cigar so MJ and I squeezed next to each other. I put my legs on him like I always do and we were just chilling for a bit and I told him I did coke and he was worried for a split second and just said “You’re wild Yanely” we were just chilling on the couch and were almost holding hands, but seemed like neither one of us wanted to make the move. Our hands were just touching. I could feel the coke kick in and I was ready to leave because I felt energized. We all followed Julian to another party and I was walking out with MJ and we were totally flirting, like no way we weren’t. I departed to my car and MJ said come with us and I asked where and he said idk and I said I’ll go for a little bit but I’m driving my own car. I started heading to my car and then I hear MJ saying “hey guys, I’m going but I’m riding with Yanely.” and then he came towards my car and we followed them. The car ride I thought something would happen like a kiss or a conversation about what happened, but nope we just conversed casually the entire car ride. We pulled up to the house and it was fucking sketchy. All the lights were out but there was loud ass music. WE walked in and there were fucking sophomores. I had to go to the restroom, so Whitney and I went and once I got out, I saw someone walking towards me and just heard “C’mon we aren’t staying here, let’s go” and he grabbed me, but I knew it was MJ. We left and were heading to another party, but on our way it got busted, so I drove MJ home and went home myself. I think this was my favorite night of the break. But I do think I might’ve caught some feelings for MJ again, which I’m going to mask, because I don’t want to ruin our friendship.

0 notes

loudstevenuniverseaubooksbiscuit · 4 years

Text

Call it stupidity, denial, optimism, but I have hope for the future. Not because their is good in each and every one of us (far from it), but because that is I can do. I am not old enough, nor brave enough to go out into the masses and invoke the rights I supposedly have. I look at the news and see all the nightmares that gave become my reality. Murder, looting, pandemics, the people who were supposed to protect us becoming our captors.

When I was young I realized growing up with two families one Christian, one athiest, that religion was first created as a means to explain the unknown like the old mythologies, to provide order under a ruler like confuscinism, a better way to live like Buddhism, and then existence after death, which was how Islam real took off. Nowadays all it is is justification for horrid actions. Sadly there won't be any difference for me because whether I live as a sinner or a saint neither heaven nor hell will greet me with an outstretched hand, because such fictional lands won't wait for this atheist man.

Their was no castle in the sky, nowhere over the rainbow, no life after death, immortality was simply out of my reach. So I thought of the next best thing, if eternity would not except my soul than perhaps history would except my name. I thought to myself "saving lives and helping others is always fullfilling, so what could I do to help as many people as possible" Global warming was always on my mind so why don't I get solving it a try. I had thought of very outlandish ideas but none that were real so I thought why don't I give politics a feel. It was always an idea on the back of my mind. Even if I thought up a solution the possibility of enacting it would've always required legal collusion. I could be the one on the other end to make sure someone else's solution was well attended notion.

Several years ago I started to read newspapers every morning, it started of with the cartoons, then the movie reviews, then the presidential campaign, then politics. I got a better understanding of what I had gotten myself into, their was more to the government than passing laws, and building schools, their were budgets, conflicts, beuracracy and fueds. Their was a lot of senseless infighting and hate in the country I once idolized. After a couple months I realized that not only was my life in shambles but so was the world. Climate change was way worse than I thought. Sadly I wasn't surprised by all of the deaths attributed to faith. Oppression of all kinds were on the rise, today I realized that they never left. Threats of a nuclear war with north Korea frightened me, and so did our new president's reckless behavior. It was then I realized that I wanted to become the president of the United States when I grew up.

I had a plan lined up, mend the relationship between the two parties, get rid of electoral college, promote sexual education so abortions wouldn't be needed as much, and give abortions to those who just weren't ready, or their lives depended on it. I would employ big thinkers like bill Nye to help me convert America to a clean country. I started watching John Oliver for more Ideas for when I became president.

I felt obligated to lead this country because I feared if it were anyone else we'd run for our money. I saw Trump carelessly running his mouth on his Twitter account, watching the world burn from the view in the white house. I had always feared since before I was diagnosed with depression, that the world would end before I was finally able to take part in it.

Adults are making the same mistakes over and over again and wasting all their time, power and valuable resources. I spent nights thinking about problems and mistakes of the past generations. Wondering how much time I to fix the wasteland that I will inherit.

A year or two ago all those "hopes" we dashed away when I heard about the climate change deadlines. And realized it was true and not just a fear that their might not be a future for me. I fell pretty deep though now I am getting help. I still sometimes feels as if nothing matters trying to drown thoughts with shows, books, Legos, and Dungeons & Dragons. There is not much I can do to help all of you in peril, my dad's side of the family thinks nothing's the matter with current affairs, and mom is to scared for my safety, I feel the same towards her. I have no money no job no car of my own, my parents are saving up for me and my family to go up to college. Their is not much I can do up to my knowledge, besides re logging, likes and spreading the news. There is not much I can do. After all, this year I will only be 17.

I'm stuck here in my quarintine, aware of the frenzy. Brutality and ilness with no end in sight, yet I don't pray for gods pity, I only hope out of necessity.

0 notes