January 2021

Inspired by Amanda Gorman
use your words
is a mantra spoken time and again
between meals and under blankets
use your words
not your hands
imparting a seed of the sense
that our words carry weight
like the backpack full of books
I carried over one shoulder
to look like everyone else
even though I wasn’t
and I didn’t
and it hurt
now my hip aches
with the weighted memory
and I wish instead to have spoken
loud and clear
in my own words
not hiding behind the angst and fear
putting both straps on my shoulders
to balance the weight
of my hidden words – Lori Lux Fearless Writers Intern 2020 – 2021

Inspired by MLK & Coretta Scott King January 20, 2021
Will I live today
with violence on the soles of my feet
trailing hate with every step
unknowingly or otherwise
or will I wake slowly
feeling the nature of this one and only today
notice the choices I make
and break open my conscience
allow the pain to be seen
and felt
named
only then may I begin to envision a new way
only then will the veil become thin enough
for light to get through Lori Lux Fearless Writers Intern 2020 – 2021

Inspired by Heartsill Wilson January 13, 2021
Lately I am startled out of sleep
by a tiny body
curling up next to me
he climbs out of his bed
sometimes night mouse silent
crawls over me
cuddles against my back
often I cannot return to the sleep I long for
but his hearts beats next to mine
and I know this won’t last
soon he’ll stop needing me every time his eyes open
I choose to accept the exhaustion
the need for afternoon coffee
and the messy house
because one day they’ll be gone
out doing magnificent things
and I’ll long for the sleepless nights of kids and babies and dogs and foster cats
to disrupt the dark.
I know I will. Lori Lux Fearless Writers Intern 2020 – 2021

Inspired by “river for a soul” Antonio Dorio January 9, 2021
what if we viewed our souls like water
something we desperately need
literally cannot live without
do you think about your soul?
my kids ask – what is my soul
and I tell them
it’s the God part of you
the Magic
the Life
Divine Water
bubbling deep Lori Lux Fearless Writers Intern 2020 – 2021

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

My world is a sure thing,
Explored and known,
With helping hands to guide me on a road,
To which the destination has always been clear.
My mind was sure of its path.
But then,
The hands slip away,
The road becomes rocky,
The world begins to dim.
I scramble through a growing darkness eager to consume me.
My steps are unsure,
My head, an ocean vast, with waves lapping, washing away my mind.
Trip.
Cry.
Scream.
Help.
Waterfalls as eyes.
Clarity and truth are past memories,
As I stumble through a broken reality,
Then stop.
On the cold and painful ground, I lie
Something is shining in the distance,
It is warm, it is real, it is bright,
The light at the end of the tunnel.
Libby Barnett – Bowling Green High School

Another year, another day. It’s my birthday and you’re not here. Blowing out the candles, I swallow the bitterness lingering in my throat. I close my eyes to remind myself to remain steady. It’s a track running through my brain, repeating the same line over and over. You’re not here. You’re not here. You’re not here. I open my eyes and take a deep breath. I can distantly hear cheering and clapping from around me. You’re not here, and there’s nothing I can do to change it. Jalyn Brewington – Rogers High School

The Dream

Keeping the dream alive is hard. Blood is being shed and people are dying. Children are burying their parents and growing up broken. The dream is still there, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but the darkness is starting to close in. We have to grab flash lights and continue to walk towards the dream. Dai’Ja Banks- Fearless Writers Intern

Thank-you

I would like to thank you for your time and cooperation. Thank you for standing up for us and putting towards the time and effort. Thank you for not giving up the fight and walking away from it, when things got hard. Thank-you for starting the fight, allow us to finish the fight for you. Dai’Ja Banks-Fearless Writers Intern

New Day

Its a new day, a dawn of a new era. The people have spoken and the fight has been won. No more will we allow hate to be in charge and divide us. The war is still going on and there will be more fights to come along but this my friends is a huge victory. May this day always be remembered as when hate overpowered and history was made. Dai’Ja Banks-Fearless Writers Intern

Speak Up

The voices that we have are meant to be heard. Our feelings, reasoning and message needs to be heard. Speak-up for the one who might be afraid or haven’t found their voice yet. Speak up for all the injustices and hurt. Let it be known that you are here and you won’t be turned away so easily. Dai’Ja Banks- Fearless Writers Intern