Category Archives: Poems

Class of Corona

[I am a teacher. I miss my classroom, my students, my morning coffee, my desk, my SmartBoard, my calendar, my routine, so I wrote this as I reflect on the Corona Virus during quarantine]

Good morning!

Grab your breakfast and have a seat

Oh, how I miss the sounds of chairs banging and loud feet

My morning routine has been broken

And I’m starting to feel incomplete

As a teacher, an educator, a lady who helps

Each day, the time away, more space is felt 

Between where they were and where they need to be

To be prepared to go beyond elementary

Online assignments, meetings and calls

I am working my butt off and I won’t drop the ball

We’re learning new things, reviewing the old

I want my students to be intelligent, hard-working and bold

In their learning, their lives, dreams and conversations 

Because young people with fresh minds can reshape our nations

When the time comes to do the right thing

I hope that my Room 139 Fifth Grade Class will remember these sayings:

Treat others the way that you want to be treated

Kill them with kindness

Mind your business

Practice makes better

Be yourself

Secrets don’t make friends

Health is wealth

Make you proud

Do what you need to do

Be kind to others

I believe in you

Yes, this time is hard for everyone

Remember each day to be safe and have fun

Love, Ms. Johnson

Life

I sit and think about me and my life

I don’t think about the sadness or strife

I ponder about my accomplishments thus far

And what I will do to raise the bar

I’ve been told that I am “the exception”

But I work hard to gain my respect, man

I’m not going to say it’s hard being me

Because it’s hard being here, in general.

You see…

We are the minority, a smaller population

A people that may need a little more motivation

Why is it so hard out here to just be me?

Because there are haters and people telling me I can’t succeed

Hell, everyone says it, it must be true

I can’t do anything right, especially not school

Who am I to try to make a change?

Just little ol’ me trying to do my thang

I may encourage others to try to do more

But I can only open the door

You really just have to let go of your fear

Believe in something better and hold it dear

Once you do this you will see

The world is equal opportunity

Brown Skinned

Your brown is beautiful

It is deep, rich and pure

Wrapped up in it I feel happy, warm, secure

Your brown is beautiful

The shade is unique, varying, but clear

As the sun shines down, you make light appear

Your brown is beautiful

Winter, spring, summer, fall

Brown skin is forever wanted by all

Your brown is beautiful

It always has been

Brown furniture, brown cupboards, brown dresses, brown skin

Your brown is beautiful

Open your eyes and see

Melanin is a sacred gift God gave to you and me

Your brown is beautiful

Always remember

Your brown is beautiful January through December

A Poem of Self-Discovery

Hidden Legacy

It had been forever since she’d seen the woman she once was.

The woman she had grown to be

That woman, she was tough.

She was sassy, classy, pretty and sweet.

She was sophisticated, not too complicated,

Educated in the books, the beats and these streets.

She was ride or die, loyal.

She held it down ten toes deep

This woman was poised, sleek, mysterious and meek.

She was everything a woman should be.

Respectful. Responsible. Safe.

Held down a job, a car and had her own space.

She was fine as wine and thick as cold grits.

She could fit you in her schedule.

She was flexible.

And could even hit the splits.

But in all seriousness, she was real.

She knew there was pain.

She taught people to heal

From disconnect, different dialects

Dusty record sets and dumb deals.

She was there to watch, to listen 

An empath, to feel…

How our emotions, connections and energies reveal

Who we once were to people who care.

……

Thoughts?? Comment below.