I hope you’ve all enjoyed my poetry postings. I think having a theme really worked to keep my on track with blogging, so I am going consider other topics to write about. Before I say good-bye to April, though, I wanted to share one last poem, from one of my favorite people. He’ll probably become a very famous rapper (he sees it as a solid career path that simultaneously allows him to get a face tattoo.) You read him here first. This is The Plight, by Quinn Dooley. This rap, created and performed for his Humanities class, is inspired by The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child, by Francisco Jimenez. Quinn wants you to know he retains the copyright. I’m very pleased he licensed this to me for the blog.
The Plight
Under The Wire don’t make a single sound Papa and Roberto are the only ones around Picking cotton isn’t a dream now Barely any money but seriously how I feel like I don’t have a voice can’t speak out loud Filled with hope But nope Gotta cope with the loss The expectation they waitin and hatin’ Green jacket is taken Winnin’ the prize I’m shaken Caterpillar into butterfly still waitin’ Gotta take in the states cuz I’m staying They racist and still hatin’ I turned to prayer I felt like god just wasn’t there I felt like it wasn’t fair I felt so bare Couldn’t communicate I just told myself welcome to this state Angry but not filled with hate I felt the weight and just couldn’t wait I just asked myself is this really your fate I was poor Sleeping alone on the floor They all waitin’ at the door I just can’t wait no more All I felt was sore Exploitation, expectation This is a nation of pride inside But they obviously lied My notebook like a guide When it burned I cried Visions racing through my head Thoughts jumping out and nothing is said Like torture Only got a quarter As nothing is in order I ain’t get no education All these implications Got a bad sensation I ain’t got no temptation Work hard it’s a plantation All it is is pain I ain’t insane All I got is grain Mad, I’m a tiger Their liers I’m on fire Only got desire