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by Janet JRodriguez

Grapes dry into raisins
caterpillars transform into butterflies
the desert feeds off the sun
every pen needs ink
not every mind is alike
remember the times you were thirsty and wanted more
remember the times you had your time to shine but never gloat
stars surround the moon
at night
waves are alive
hairs are static
you’re bright without a light
walk onto a bridge
jump off
and take your own flight

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by Janet JRodriguez

Your eyes sparkle. No – they shine
looks like the sun chose you today
so why don’t you touch it, feel the outrage of the burn or the exciting thrill of danger
you seek the keep out zone but yet you come back to the yes trespass
he watches over you so the crows don’t eat you
all you want is the world but what you don’t know, is that it’s already OWNED.

Untitled

By Janet JRodriguez

You have always been there for me
I know you have good intentions
I know you’ve always wanted the most best for me
you’re the farmer he once saw plant the seed
and now that the seed has grown
you wonder why it’s a rose with many thorns
so beautiful yet so rough
while you were away the rose was left unprotected
the wind was too harsh, the sun burned out, the water couldn’t give enough
your arrival brought the sunlight
and that’s how it’s beautiful yet so rough

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by Janet JRodriguez

What’s so great about you “America”
that so many people risk their lives, family, and friends to arrive to these states
they come searching for that American Dream
but you reject them and want to cause them pain
all they want is a home
that liberty you speak of
you forget about Justice For All when you see the color of their skin
your white, blue, and red - why do you discriminate?
brown is golden, black is beautiful
americaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I don’t see the greatness in your name.

Feelings

by April Wilburn

Same damn thang
Same damn shame
I’ll go through this again and again
I like the pain, the strain
It’s insane
Sharp as a knife
A radiant shine
A vexed feeling from deep inside
Empty heart with no vision
Within an illusion
A fantasy
Weakness of gravity
Essence
Emotion
Driving me senseless
Worthless, vacant
My heart can’t shake it
Always running
Blank and bare
Emotions ain’t fair.
They wear and tear.

Seatown

by April Wilburn

Seattle sun rarely shines
Trickling rain drops running rapid down my face
Pain colder than the rain, bringing shame to my name
Nothing’s the same
But I thought fame would change the game
Trees that came to please
That green put my mind at ease
Got me on my knees
Oooh Mary you’re such a tease…
Sticky with a sparkle
Smoke surrounding my lungs
Satisfying sensation
Tasteful tingle trapping my stress
Strangling that secondary life
The sunless salvation
My mouth is dry
I can’t speak
My words are trapped and won’t dare to leak
Cookie cravings and snack attacks
Munchies is where my mind is at
Tasteful substance leaves me in a pool of drool
Eyes low, reflexes slow

Never Gonna Stop

by April Wilburn

That dream, I chase that
The money, I want that
Love, I see it
Danger, we’ll stop it
Someday, someway
Never too high to reach the sky, cloud nine
Fall down once; get up again twice as strong
Wanna see me fail?
Keep me in your wishes…
Come to your senses
I’m not going anywhere!
Like that ketchup stain on your favorite blouse
That throb when you have a migraine
Yeah that’s me!
Wishes, I make ‘em
Chances, I take ‘em
Mistakes, they happen
Regrets, I have some
Ima Beast
Ima big girl
They call me danger
I’m the flame to the Bic in your pocket
They call me drama
I’m the empty page with a cloudy mind set
They call me trouble, running the streets at night
Probably at the park finna spark, spark, spark that Mary Jane
They call me bitch, can’t handle the real
Curse you out in the blink of an eye
No doubt
They call me monster
Take the only thing you’ve got right from under you, without a clue
They call me crazy
Quick tempered, hot headed, mind blowing
But they should just keep it simple and call me April.