Dad, I guess I didn’t realize what being in the car for multiple days feels like. I remember us taking little weekend trips in the Sardine Shack where we would drive to Henry Horton or the Natchez Trace and camp for a couple of days, but this is WAY different. It feels like we have been driving for a month. But things out the window are starting to change.

We started out in the green lushness of ...

I’m jealous of frogs

Frogs can swim

And so can I

But they leap

To their next lily pad

Without worrying that

They’re going to die

They find ways to live

Both in water

And on land

Why change is scary

They’ll never

Understand

I need to leap but instead

I’m sinking in this bog

Par...

I pulled his hand and guided him to the back of the building as my heart raced. In this moment I felt brave. Be it authentic or liquid courage. I was ready to profess my love. We swiftly navigated through the crowd of people until the exit was in sight. I pushed the door and it swung open hard. My adrenaline was rushing and the butterflies in my stomach only summoned the frog in my throat. We stoo...

Pippa attempts to leave the house quietly, but no matter how hard she tries, she can’t get to this date.

“How do you know this guy?” Pippa’s mom asks once again.

“I told you mom. Cotton is Salen’s family friend’s son,” Pippa answers with just a healthy bit of exasperation.

Her mom’s obvious eye roll didn’t go by unnoticed. “Oh ok. As long as he is Salen’s family friend’s son.”

There was a slig...

Tomorrow I will do or die,

In a more literal sense.

Try and make a sacrifice,

Or lose myself being dense.

Lose a heart in the Viking’s well

Were Odin lost his eyes.

Until tomorrow becomes today,

Which it does- oh time it flies.

And again the well rejects my offer,

But does not take my life.

It wants something else, but what?

To gain my wisdom instead of strife?...

I’ll do the work tomorrow.

I wake up. I go to school. The work awaits me at home.

Just one more minute, then I’ll start the work. I promise! This time I won’t get distracted.

But this art study on YouTube could really help me! I’ll watch this video, then I’ll get to work. This are is so cool, what else is on the channel? More art! That’s awesome, and look at how well they draw these hands…

I w...

2021

Murmurs and whispers circulate around the workplace. A Black woman goes to her dream job interview and flawlessly answers questions. She is turned down. She is tired of being underestimated.

2022

A march is taking place and she joins, holding her sign high. Holding her flag high. Holding her head high. She is tired of being underestimated.

2023

The Black woman goes back to school and stu...

“Boss ain’t gonna be happy, Chief,” Fang said.

“Thanks for the news, numb nuts,” Wolfgang answered.

Geri and Freki, Wolfgang’s left and right claws, snarled their disapproval at Fang. He showed his neck in deference before slinking away. Lupita hurried into the living room with a six pack of cold beer and a heaping tray of roast beef sandwiches. With an impatient head shake, Wolfgang sent her a...

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the deserted train platform. Olivia stood at the edge, staring down the tracks, her heart pounding in sync with the distant rumble of an approaching train. Today was the day she had been waiting for, the day she would finally reunite with someone she had missed for far too long.

She checked her watch anxiously, the hands crawling towar...

WHEN

Will it finally be

Time for me

To actually be

Who I want to be

WHEN

Will I stop

Getting in my own way

Make a change

Finally seize the day

WHEN

Will I act

Find motivation to do

Instead of just sitting

In this toxic blue

WHEN

Will I see

No one else has the key

And that to be free

Is entirely up to me

When?

Idk

I would but

I’m tired today

So finding a way

Is a problem

For another ...