The greatest thing that happened to me is I voted for the first time in my life at 75 years old. The first thing I had to do was get registered. I was in my literacy program, and Miss Susan and Mr. Matthew helped me fill the papers out. I think I did it online. I got my voting card in the mail. Now, I was able to vote.
Tag: United States
Tulip
This flower needs rain and sunshine.
Underneath the soil, seeds begin to grow and sprout.
In My Brain
If my brain was a physical place, it would be the Astral Plane from the Pixar animated film Soul. The Astral Plane is where the lost souls reside. Lost souls are essentially people who are so wrapped up in something that is disconnecting them from life. Wrapped up in what? you may ask. Feeling stuck, uninspired, unproductive, and maybe even worthless.
Surrender
Dear God,
You have not forgotten, nor will you ever forget,
when I lost a part of myself long ago.
I have divided and perished into the waves of darkness.
Secret Identity
I guess it’s true,
What my life is like for now.
Just chilling, drinking coffee,
Thinking, and praising God.
Corruption
Corruption is of the devil
that destroys the world
in a delightful way.
My Vote Means Nothing: A Play
Characters: Nigel and Keron, brothers
Setting: Their home in Brooklyn
Keron: Are you voting this year?
Nigel: No.
Keron: Why not?
Midnight Darlings
There’s a big red star circling around the creek,
saying, “come over,”
signaling music to dance through the dark.
So, brightened smiles, sharing twisted, bended realities, glories, and newfound safe havens for midnight darlings,
waving shifting stories.
Make More Noise for Yourself
Inequality and racism affect mental health because they create additional challenges for people in poor communities and communities of color. Many people have to live with being unemployed and being shot at or arrested by the police. I have had to struggle with these things, and it broke me down mentally countless times. I have fought to overcome these obstacles, but it has been hard, and not everyone has the resources to fight back.
The Journey
Dear Mom,
I miss you so badly. I haven’t forgotten you, and I hope you can hear me. I remember it clearly, the day you slipped away. I didn’t get to kiss you goodbye on the hand. I wish that I could see you again, but I know that I can’t.
Scars
I like to think about the scars on both the outside and inside of my body as tattoos—but with a better story. They may not be made out of ink, but they are made of something even greater: flesh and emotions. The scars on my body always show me that I have lived, but the scars on my heart show me that I have loved.
Lost and Found
“What would you like?” asked a barista in Dunkin’ Donuts when it was my husband’s turn to get his coffee.
“Large coffee with milk and two sugars, please,” replied my husband, Omar. When the lady went to make his coffee, however, he noticed a wallet on the counter. Looking toward the door, he saw that the man who had been in front of him was leaving.
Lady
A few years back/ I was on the A train/ Along with the rest of the passengers/ And I was staring at the view/ And this lady came on the train/ And greeted the passengers/ And made an announcement.
The World Seen Through Different Eyes
Every day, five million people travel by subway in New York City. There is nothing unusual about going places on a subway, but there are many unusual people you can meet. There is only a slight chance you will ever meet the same person again. I take the subway to Manhattan almost every weekend. Sometimes, …
Habibi
Devastation. Despair. Distress. A deadly disease dragged my heart into an abyss of perpetual darkness. February of 2002 was when I received the most beautiful gift ever. The gift of a lovable, most compassionate, and playful Russian Blue. His name was Habibi, which translates to “My Love” in Arabic. He lived love. He was love. …