Hate Dies, Love Arrives

by | Dec 19, 2019 | Detention Center Writing Contests, Poetry

Hate Dies, Love Arrives

Abdullah A.

Heard/Alexandria Detention Center writing contest, August, 2019

Happiness, What is happiness

When I smile at others,

And they smile back at me

That is happiness.

Your smile can change my mind

When anger wants to take control

It can loosen the tension I feel

Deep down in my soul.

When I smile at others

It affects the way they act

Quite often I’ll discover

That they are smiling back.

My smile sends out a message

 About the love I share today

My love gets stronger

Each and every time that I pray

My smile is contagious

When it’s spread around

My smile can lift you up

And will never let you down

My smile is like a package

As if it’s fragile

I don’t know about tactics

But I know about smiles

My smile is passed along

As I travel through time,

I can’t help to eliminate friction

But I can help your mind

Is my smile a test

I don’t know

But my smile is the best

Which I don’t have to express.

When I want to bless someone

If only for a while

I show the love within my heart

By giving them a smile.

So with all my heart I smile

Therefor love arrives

And then whom I don’t smile

The hate arrives.

Blackfoot Apostle

by | Dec 7, 2019 | Detention Center Writing Contests, Poetry

Eric Stewart, Arlington County Detention Center

 There’s many reasons to liberate on this behalf.

There’s a percentage within me that was explained by grandma.

From genetics to attributes, hazel eyes and good hair.

Within the adults it blossoms, still there.

It’s barely noticeable, as I get older I see with flair.

Something else that caught me by surprise was the time and place of grandma’s confession.

She was precise, authentic and peaceful when she opened a book of sequel.

Had an album with pictures and names of people.

Words can’t explain how the wisdom was a sudden shock as a nineteen year old lad.

I was so used to being ignored, but her eyes told me to hold fast (sit-down).

Always knew I was a leader and the intuition was obvious.

Growing up I was head-strong, fairly conscious.

Always wanted to change a situation to make things better for my dreams.

As the middle-child being courageous is what grandma saw in me.

Being called “Curious George” because of asking a lot of questions,

I had to find out myself and I did being aggressive.

Politics and friends was a “Head on” interest with passion.

Became agitated faster.

Wanted to lead my Generation but

Snap Back to reality.

Being too young I had to settle being unhappy.

Had broken laws, But education will also hail those to follow.

Grandma’s the Blackfoot Indian and I am her apostle.

Truly,

Dre