Caldwell Community Show: Black Lives Matter

“Hysteria” by Yaman Thapa

Sea

I’m afraid of the sea.

The way it overwhelms the shore then leaves only fragments of what use to be.

All those sand written promises, all the times they said never forget

The tide rose and those promises got wet

The sun set and people moved on.

I’m afraid of the sea

At sunrise, the cycle continued

All those promises for a better tomorrow

All those promises of a more equal tomorrow

All those promises for justice

for freedom

Those promises were washed away

I’m afraid of the sea.

If I’m honest, I’m afraid of promises.

The ones that come with terms and conditions

The ones that are only made when everyone’s still around to listen.

See, I’ve seen so many sunsets and sunrises.

I’ve seen so many promises met with compromises.

Black bodies, black sons and black daughters

Forgotten names casted away beneath the surface of the water

Innocent lives taken like pigs to the slaughter

Those promises spoiled like tartar

The fleeting sand written sentiments initiate no change for tomorrow.

It’s like selling coconuts and the insides are hollow.

But we can change the current, we can shift the tide.

We will honor the lives of the many people who died

The truth is out, laid on a platter.

We are fighting the abyss

I scream it with my fist

Black Lives Matter

We will continue to fight for what could be

Oh, the sea should be afraid of me.

Jala Stowe

“NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE” by Kelle Lailer

(Black) Traffic Stop

License and Registration.

Hands on the dashboard.

State every movement that you are going to make

Move slowly, because if not that could be a fatal mistake.

He said get out the car

Why?

Don’t question, this is do or die

Spread your arms and legs

Do whatever the officer says

He’s using excessive force

Just pray that he shows remorse

You have a family that you have make it home to

I am complying, what else do I have to do

That answer is unknown

But please, make sure to watch your tone

I’m scared

But I should be prepared

As a black man in America

To this kind of treatment, I am the heir

If I am gone, what will they say?

What part of my non-existent criminal past, will they bring up today?

I hope my mom knows I did what she taught me

I wish as a society we could put an end to this

Just make it stop, please!

I’m just a boy who got my license at the ripe age of sixteen 

The same boy whose life that officer had a license to glean.

This happens so much, it’s hard not to feel defeated.

It is change we want

How many more hashtags are needed?

Jala Stowe