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Shanita Williams' aunt inspired her poem about domestic violence. |
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Poetic justice: Teen writers vent their feelings in literary journal
By Tenley Woodman
Monday, April 5, 2004
Poetry is more than just
words on a page. For teen contributors to the ``Roxbury Literary Annual 2004 Youth
Edition,'' the craft gives them the tools to express emotions they can't verbalize.
Seventeen-year-old Christina Tilghman of Dorchester
used the poetry project to discuss a racial incident at her high school.
``It was the most insecure I felt in school,'' said
Tilghman, a Metco student at Wellesley High School. ``I felt I had to defend it,
and the only way I know how is through writing.''
The first stanza of Tilghman's poem ``I Am'' vividly
portrays those feelings: ``I am a brown bastard/with kinky hair and/lips stained
from the hatred dwelling inside of me/I never once dreamed of being blond-haired
and blue-eyed, but I do dig Britney.''
``I know a lot of what I say makes people uncomfortable
because it is so in your face, Tilghman said. ``It's like the emotions that I
can never really express in words are captured in poetry.''
Fellow contributor Shanita Williams, 16, a sophomore
at Fenway High School, addressed domestic violence in her piece, ``Fearful Love''
(reprinted below).
Williams said her poem was inspired by experiences
in her life. ``It (``Fearful Love'') related to my aunt because she was killed
like that by her boyfriend.''
Tilghman and Williams were among more than 30 students
from the Roxbury area to submit work to ACT Roxbury's first compilation of youth
poetry, prose and sketches. The ``Roxbury Literary Annual'' comes out once a year
and usually focuses on adult contributions.
Fearful Love
By Shanita Williams
Nighttime comes
And There is no more sun
She yells, he screams
Her cries, his needs
She gets weaker, he gets stronger
She goes crazy, he beats longer
He finally stops
He lets her drop
To the floor filled with blood
Is this what you call fearful love?
Daylight is out
And there are no more shouts
She is scared
He has no fear
She doesn't know what to do
She acts confused
She looks in the mirror and sees her face
She looks at him with great disgrace
He looks back and she is shoved
Is this what you call fearful love?
Terror and pain is in her eyes
But she is thankful she is alive
She wants to get away
But he wants her to stay
She is afraid to move
Not knowing what he might do
She kneels and prays and looks above
Is this what you call fearful love?
Death came quickly
He killed her swiftly
She's underground
He is bound
To have death penalty or life sentenced
He has to pay the consequences
Love is blind
It confuses your mind
He's going to be hated, she's going to be loved
She is saved and lifted above
Is this what you call fearful love?
Love is fearful, it puzzles you
This is a lesson learned that can help you
Take action and don't hesitate
This is something to appreciate
Have love and not fearful love
If you make the wrong choice, you will be up above
. . .
( Copies of ``Roxbury Literary Annual 2004 Youth Edition'' from ACT Roxbury
are on sale for $5 at the following locations: A Nubian Nation, Roxbury; Brookline
Booksmith, Brookline; Jamaicaway Books & Gifts, Jamaica Plain; Lucy Pasons Book
Store, Boston; McI )
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