Growing Up

By Geri

When did 
my greedy paws 
start feeding my brother and sister? 

When did 
my elders fables 
revamp from boring to brilliant? 

When did 
I stop wailing to the world 
and start muting my tears in the bathroom?

When did 
clowning with boys 
turn into warnings about their evil ways? 

And when did I realize that time on the bus when the boy bullied my braids ran deeper and darker like the glow of my skin? 

When did I start growing up? 
 
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Geri

MD

17 years old

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    Battle Cries

    One girl’s lanky frame against the dark turf field,

    lit up by fluorescent lights 

    She saunters toward the building 

    holding another girl’s hand

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  • Poetry

    By Geri

    Surrender

    The screen stares back at me: 

    9:30 pm, 

    an unfinished assignment, 

    a deadline due. 

    My weary chest heaves a heavy breath. 

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