Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 15 June 2006 — Page 20

Page 20 • The Muncie Times • June 15, 2006

POETRY CORNER

What do you See? Look at me and what do you see? Maybe just a girl as plain as can be But go deeper, you have yet to unravel all the women I represent I represent that woman who once slaved over a hot cotton field I represent those mothers who gave up sacrifices to cook you a good hot meal Look at me and what do you see? I represent those women who had to fight for the right to vote I represent those women on the street who have no coat Look at me and what do you see? I represent all those women who were once in slavery I represent those cafeteria women pouring gravy Look at me and what do you see? I represent those women who educate every girl and boy I represent those women who just gave their child his very first toy Look at me and what do you see? I hope it’s someone special, look at yourself and what do you see? I hope it’s everything you want to be

By Jasmine Taylor, Southside High School Hey There Droopy Pants Droopy pants don’t give you a chance - to walk Your destiny of God driven dreams If this is a symbol, just what does it meant? Droopy pants say to me. I’ll follow the crowd I’ll do whatever, whatever’s allowed I’ll let it all hang loose

as far as I can But the problem is that it devalues the man The man you are really meant to be Knows that droopy pants can’t make you free It’s a different kind of bondage, a new mindset And if it’s true that what you see is what you get Then Lord have mercy on my daughters and sons ‘ Cause I’ll tell my child quick- he ain’t the one! You look like a toddler with a diaper load You were meant to be a prince and not a toad Pull up those pants, please get a grip Pants are made to cover your hips You are way too smart and way too fine To walk all around exposing your behind Aretha said R.E.S.P.E.C.T and I say Amen Don’t ever drop those pants, not ever again! By Minister Judy Mays Purpose If there was a song, but it was never sung If there was no right, but only what’s wrong If there was no test, there’d be no testimony There’d be no joy or true liberty But in God is found TRUTH because in Him all truth abides All love and power and glory from on high How could He not breathe the breath of life? Creating mankind in whom He delights To do good works and give Him the praise To trust and obey Him in all of our ways How could there be blue and no blue sky? Or the color green without grass upon which to lie Or purple, or orange.

pink or chartreuse A writer, or singer, or teacher to muse Because God is Sovereign, the GREAT I AM We’re made in His image - both woman and man What will you do with the dream/gift He gave you? Will you honor God and to thine own self be true? Your purpose is God given for all to see Unfolding each day is your true destiny So sing your song and dream your dream Just be the best God made you to be! By Minister Judy Mays On the Conversion of a Sister Tis the voice of my sister at home, Resign'd to the treasures above. Inviting the strangers to come, And feast at the banquet of love. Tis a spirit cut loose from its chain, Tis the voice of a culprit forgiven, Restored from a prison of pain, With th' sound of a concert from heaven. Tis a beam from the regions of light, A touch of beatific fire; A spirit exulting for flight. With a strong and impatient desire. Tis a drop from the ocean of love, A foretaste of pleasures to come, Distill'd from the fountain above. The joy which awaits her at home. Written by George Moses Horton (17971883) Color Blind Can you see this picture

Clarence Motley and Friends

painted so black and white? Distorted images fill our minds blind our sight We act as shadows blending into the night Like black letters printed on a white page We as a people shouldn't be representing ourselves this way Telling our children that it's okay to talk with no articulation Because it's a white thang To strive for higher education Instead we hold on to slang, slurs, and made up words Embracing it like the liquor in our hands and the hooker on the curb Flying on that welfare plane headed straight for the ground Losing pressure falling down Down Down Down Into the poverty stricken street beat Of projects and drug busts and us acting nig ger ish Color blind to our own skin But what about all the ones who came before us Riding that Underground Train Dismissing the slave name Fighting opposition hoping for a revolution So that we could be recognized As something more

than a separate species Misunderstood and marked for distinction Brown and black faces with one purpose To overcome by any means necessary Overturning "Whites Only" counter tops Refusing to stand on hatred's bus Freedom marching a million hands Bonded together united standing for something Never taking for granted all fought for and given Proud to be black men and black women But now all I can see is black and white faces With no trace Of any pride left in the race A picture painted without different color pallets Inferior we are not yet we act it It's not enough just to claim our blackness We need to see beyond our tinted glasses Reach for a higher level than we can see Believe in something more have a dream Don't settle for a mediocre existence Hold on to that powerful force within us See with perfect vision Refusing to be Color blind to our own skin Written by Poeticlyricist