Our people diverse and beautiful by Nia Browning / Untitled by Matt Kablan (Black History Month)

untitled/Matt Kablan

Our people Diverse and beautiful

nia browning

Our people diverse and beautiful
Will emerge battered and beautiful
So many thoughts and ideas put together
Because as one, we’re so powerful

I want my kids to know that they can do anything
My future daughter can run around with her hair free
She can put on her rain boots and stomp in the biggest puddles
Laughing and dancing for the world to see

I want my son to dance with her
To know that he has my full support and trust
So that he knows he can tell me anything
And I would never look at him with disgust

My children will be whoever they want
Although I would want to keep them in a bubble
They will need to understand the ways of the world
And learn how to be humble
As much as I’d want to keep my children sheltered
From suffering hurt and pain
I won’t be able to protect them from everything
The prettiest rainbows always start with some rain

12:13 A.M. by Alyssa Turcotte / Untitled by Della Wirfel (April)

untitled / della wirfel


12:13 A.M.

Alyssa Turcotte

I settle into bed, but I can tell
from the thunder booming outside
that I won’t soon sleep.

A warm yellow glow
filters through my window,
the bright midnight light
creating slats on the floor that illuminate
the papers strewn across my desk.

I’m in the eye of the hurricane,
enjoying the moment of calm before the storm.

In the distance, I can make out
the rumble of trucks
thundering down the street,
endlessly sweeping its predecessor’s mess.
I hear it shudder and crawl
closer until its growl is almost unbearable,
the storm just outside my window.

Suddenly,
the harsh metallic clang of lightning
striking the ground pierces the night,
ripping away the peace I had known
just a moment ago.

But then I hear it fade. I’m left with only
my yellow sky,
always one moment away
from another wave of the storm.