Message to My Father
You continue to revert
To the same archaic ways
Taking you back
Into that place.
You don’t like it
And I don’t either, so take one breather
Because the pain in my heart remains
Until you finally make that change.
Review your alternatives
It’s disappointing
To see someone like you
So unimportant.
Stop. Think.
Why don’t you
Why can’t you
STOP!
Caretaker
She holds you lovingly in her arms
And she knows you’ll cry from afar.
She kisses you goodnight
As you settle in your bed tight.
Because she is the caretaker.
She doesn’t question you’re special
Then you feel the potential.
She loves you with all her heart
And supported you from the start,
Because she is the caretaker.
She listens to you
And you listen back.
She gives you beneficial advice
And doesn’t have to tell you twice
Because she is the caretaker.
She is always tidying up
And always lifts you up.
She gets you out of bad situations
Helping you through life’s complications
Because she is the caretaker.
Because she is the mother.
I Am From
I am from…
My grandmother swirling
Her gigantic spoon
With her timeline of love
Mixing in her sweetness to make the best iced tea.
I am from…
My sunny most beautiful days
When I am jumping and
My thunderstorm days
When I am just sitting, letting my eyes pour tears.
I am from…
My great-grandmother’s house
Where I still have the loving and memorable scent
That calms me down from anger
Then allows me to become the magician of all magic.
I am from…
My peace corner circling around me
Wrapping me in a color wheel
Exploding, erupting, enormous
Calmness; that settles you in deep clear water.
I am from…
The cold and refreshing fruit juice
Tingling the top, bottom, left, right
Part of my tongue
Singing a sweet melody in my mouth.
I am from…
The small speedy birds
Humming a lullaby to wake my inner self
Then makes me want to close my eyes
Wandering to a restful sleep.
I am from…
A soft cozy pillow
Comforting me, symbolically putting me at ease
Allowing me to lean on it
As others need to lean on me.
I am…
Me.
Darrell Pona
Age 12, Grade 7
Berkeley Carroll School
Silver Key