Poems written by the Wesleyan Cardinals

Is it enough?

 by Angel

Is it enough that I get good grades?

Is it enough that I try?

Is it enough that I know half

or maybe more than what you know that I know.

You tell me that you want me to

be better than what she was way back then.

I tell you that I’m trying,

but you are constantly denying,

even though I’m steadily crying,

wondering if you have forgotten that

my mother is dead.

Is it enough that every morning

I get up and tell you that I will

attempt to do better and that I love you?

You tell me to do more

But how much more can I do?

You tell me that you’re sorry

But it sounds like a broken record.

I tell you I’m not her.

I’m me.

But it just doesn’t seem like it’s enough

To me. 

Untitled 

by Demetrius

Some sleep,

but I dream.

I dream in black and white

A colorless world

I have seen the troubled through nightmares,

through a sort of beast or monster lurking

I’ve seen day mysteriously turn to night

It seems in this world

I am blinded

by the colors of a raging war

like old hunters, gripped with a strange frenzy

reenacting the chase in a wild, ancient dance

I am like the black plague

I bring down some

and death to the rest

this illness

leaving me least standing

on this grass,

I claim this my throne

the one you’ve left behind

Another man’s trash is my treasure

I am free from the rules

and structures of civilization and of society

I seek the brute power

you once rejected

This illusion I tried to hide from society

has now become as destructive as the world I shall

wake up to.

Man will always choose

anarchy and hedonism over

law and order

Some sleep,

but I dream

I guess

that way,

dreams are unseen

by a world

filled with color. 

Fireworks  by Ryan  My family is a firework pretty at sight but this firework takes a lot of might to build this firework wasn’t a breeze but the outcome sure does please My sister Muffin’s her name we’re birds of a feather Much alike, if not the same She’s the fuse keeps you in suspense, Not knowing what’s going to happen when the sparkle hits its end. My mom’s the even powder works behind the scene a major role player and everyone knows it or so it seems. God mommy Tomika is the outside, the box a sturdy disciplined foundation to make sure the firework pops. Little brother Gabe the match sparking the firework that’s so anxious to dispatch. My sister’s the noise it makes when it goes up, so loud and noticed by the crowd around us. Match to fuse Fuse to box Box to powder Powder to pops Pops to noise so loud and free And the outcome of that firework The big explosion ME… Two-Faced I don’t like How you act one way around me But different around another What are you hiding? I don’t like it How you can act so hardcore But I know you’re not You are nice Very nice So why? You don’t like it When I confront you Especially in front of others Who are you trying to impress? I know it isn’t me I know it isn’t her Is it him, that boy you talk about?                                                 -Giselle Zuniga Scholar/Athlete  by Julian  On the court, In the class, Both times I’m working Off my a**. Some of the team says they don’t give a s*** about school, But I do my own thing and keep my cool. School can be a bore, Coach can be a pest, But I still work hard and let my skills do the rest. The life of a student is hard The athlete equal, But I keep going on, There might even be a sequel. Some people trip sayin I’m no good I just show them my skills and tell them Be quiet Like they should. They think it’s a game All they want is fame But Ima go higher than that, And never be the same.  revolution. by samantha Crimson red is all I see. Gushing             from the hands, the hands of the unclean. Betrayal is the cause of this   pain and   destruction. The leader, he tried, so hard, to keep us from the bright light. We all see it now. Brighter than a thousand suns. Larger than any galaxy. Strong enough to break through any surface. Try to understand, it’s hard choosing a side.  Mom by Dimani Funny. Hard working. Responsible. Whatever I need, I just ask, she gets it. Clothes, food, supplies. Her life has been rough Had me by herself. At a young age. Struggling to buy most of what I need she tells me to do certain things Like not to go outside “It’s harsh outside… being with friend will get you into trouble.” She wants me to stay out of trouble She wants the best for me. Be responsible If I don’t listen the first tome or do something wrong in school. She yells I am proud of you mom. Where I’m From  by Kenora I’m from I miss you’s From pigtails From my grandma’s cooking I am from the warmth of my mother’s heart From hand-me-downs Where I’m From I am from The streets The dust under the rug From the high-ways and bi-ways From fried chicken and Mac + cheese The Barbie bookbags To Tinkerbell lunchboxes But, where I’m from I’m the only one Me. Just me.  So Let Me Tell You Something  by Sandavia So I’m the little girl now? And you’re supposed to be a man? Ha! You make me laugh. So let me tell you something: Men, Real men know what they want And will do anything to get it. But you, You know what you want And you just can’t get it. You’re a reckless driver, All you can ever do is Hit and run.  cigarette.                 (by that dude named Kamal) that dude a straight fool             did he really just ask                         me for a cigarette? man let me take my black behind             to school and escape away                         from dis fool before i’m unable to make it             to school. this isn’t the first time I seen             this dude follow me                         to school what an intoxicated fool. he needs to back off and not follow me             like a fool. man that dude is             a fool. [written in reading class] Poema by Erika Del Cielo               Callo una Rosa                 mi madre        la Recojio                se la puso en la                    cabeza                y que Linda                  Le quedo. I       Love                You                          Mom Me? by Kevin I am Somebody I was Nobody I hope to succeed I fear none, but respect all I dream to live wealthy I wish for my children to become successful I laugh at dumb stuff I cry when I'm sad But  when the tears dry, life goes on I was a Follower I am a Leader She, Her, Them by Katy  The one who gave birth to a smile in me Imma take you to court You stole my heart When I hear your voice or laugh I feel like I die Reborn ready to say I love you She gives me a purpose to walk and run To catch up with our heartbeats I’m sorry my heart skips a beat It’s because I’m in love Flowers are yellow My heart is red and pounding Violets are blue And an angel is here for me and for you                                                                     I Love You! I Love You! We    Us     You   Me. by Duanje Screaming Crying Feeling like I’m dying because I know that tomorrow we could be dead. Smiling Thinking Dreaming, of the things that have lead us to this point in our story are all true. But whose reality is whose? I thought I was doing what he asked I guess he thought I was going to up and leave I thought I could try to explain but I guess his heart is just too filled with pain Each of us, not seeing, or hearing, or knowing, or understanding, what the other had said. I guess I should have explained I think he should have just listened up and been a man I’m beginning to think,                          it is really ending, due to trust, but I guess I will never know.