Kallaija Alexander

Kallaija Alexander

A Waterways Project Publication Richard Spiegel Barbara Fisher codirectors Thomas Perry adminstrative assistant

Miriam Lock teacher

Shirley Edwards, Principal EBC High School for Public Service Bushwick

Stephen E. Phillips, Superintendent, Alternative High Schools & Programs

©1996 Ten Penny Players with funding support from

the NY State Council on the Arts

Time to Settle the Score

You took me and gagged me,

And showed me the ledge, where I was

supposed to fall You stole my life

And what I lived for

It's time to settle the score

You bagged me and hit me with your stick, And spat your gum in my face,

And laughed

You think the silver on your chest,

The blue suit you wear, and the nine or six shooter

you carry scares me, No, not any more,

It's time to settle the score

2

Who Was the Brother Who Pulled the Trigger

Kid, some people think it's an about the yayoo

man, bank roll back And pu11ing the trigger on any brother,

Who pul1ed the trigger on thee.

And I've got to get these demons off me,

As he walked the streets he sees nothing but fear and pain from his past, thinking - what should he do when he goes in his home, So he doesn't, after what just happened to him. All that's in his mind is what to do to get these demons offme

And a real trigger that he pulled just to get home

safe.

As he saw the problem he crept as he came, He asked himself - will my mother ever figure Who was the brother who pulled the trigger?

3

There's No Tomorrow

As I walk across the street corner,

The pictures of the dead and gone brothers of

mine Are too caught up in the game to care what's next, r bet the sun will shine tomorrow,

Maybe, maybe no, should it shine?

I wouldn't even care

I'm too busy planning out a way to survive tomorrow without my bottle My 40 OZ, my dose, dose, or just a cup of vodka, Another tragedy caught up on me, can't stop the

pain,

Inside me it rains,

They get swerving like in coke, Ready to get my swerve on They never stop me

There isn't a tomorrow

4

My mind's playing tricks on me

I can't sleep I look out the window I see a black wrangler jeep

As I weep

Someone else is coming to creep, to watch me My mind's playing tricks on me

I'm not wasting time so I walk to the store for groceries for my mom.

I hear more footsteps

Three, maybe four, but when I turn I see my shadow on the ground

I tum again and walk on

I don't hear it any more.

I ask myself, what's wrong with me

As in my house by myself alone I hear some

laughter Like someone's laughing at me, saying words, Like 1999 world change and multiple execution

So I fight, I see blood all over,

It's me, my shadow, my soul, my blood.

5

New York's Broken Chambers

Solitude brings these thoughts They stop the pain

And I have this brainstorm about Twelve times a day ...

Knowing that the only floor I have is The floor of this alley

That the rain keeps hitting ...

Knowing that the only space I have Is the space between the barrel

Of this Glock with my name on the bullet For when he's ready for me,

You Know? My Shadow.

The world sleeps without me tonight, Here on the bad side of the streets, Where the sane stay underground, And I see a monster on the news ...

I look in the broken mirror, and

I break and see the monster is me.

6

I'm Your Archangel!

I will be your protector

Whenever you need me I'll be there, Because you're my sunshine,

I'll be the rain that saddens the soul, And maybe put a chill in your soul, If you saw me person to person,

I will never let you lose your life in a battle, I'll be in battle at your side.

I will never lose faith in you, For I am your Archangel,

Th others, I am the soul taker, You help me, I help you,

I need you to survive, to live, When you're there I'm th e re,

When you're here, I'm here at your side, my love, My competition is my shadow, you can destroy,

I will leave, but until then,

I'm your Archangel!

7

Who Do You Love?

I'm livin' that bugged life, baby

Stressin' hoppin' , the indo got me going crazy, Am I lazy, do I think of loved ones,

Do I see loved one's,what do I love, who do you love,

Is it me, my money, are you game, If so why don't you play me, baby,

Come and hug me, when you rub me and cuddle with me

Turn the lights down low, lie in the dark, Tell an your girlfriends

What's going on, how does it feel to be loved by a lover,

Take it easy, baby, just squeeze me, When I cry wipe my tears,

Smile away the sadness,

Make me happy,

Don't be a Jackie, I Wanda see you in the air Control me,

tell me,

Breaking the ladies that are bugging me Who do you love

Maybe it's the thug in me.

8

In Search of a Song Volume 172

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Marisol Rolon

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Marisol Rolon

A Waterways Project Publication Richard Spiegel Barbara Fisher codirectors Thomas Perry adminstrative assistant

Miriam Lock teacher

Shirley Edwards, Principal EBC High School for Public Service Bushwick

Stephen E. Phillips, Superintendent, Alternative High Schools & Programs

©1996 Ten Penny Players with funding support from

the NY State Council on the Arts

RIP Angel Joel

My angel, so innocent, so pure Is a flower that grows,

My Angel is one that I will always know

January 28th was the day that my precious angel Came out to play,

9 month s of enjoyment, a lifetime full of pain, God gave me my Angel,

And God took him away

2

RIP Joel Micheal

A child born too early into this world, Joel was his name,

August 1st was the day he lived, A mere 8 days, then he was gone

He had the stunning looks of his mother, The eyes of his father,

And the strength of a man, He brought us all hope,

And he brought us all dreams, He was our future,

But then he had to leave,

He was put here for a purpose, And now he's gone,

But the love we have will forever stay strong

3

Young

I said I didn't love him,

I claimed it when they asked,

I said he wasn't the man for me, And that it wouldn't last,

He told me that he loved me, I acted as if I didn't care,

I felt he needed a love that will always be there, Once we were united,

But now we're far apart,

But I know this special someone,

Will always have a place in my heart.

4

} }

He asked me if I loved him, I answered with a kiss,

I told him I never knew a guy Who loved me quite like him, He told me that he loved me, He told me that he cared,

But every time I needed him He wasn't even there,

He taught me about love, He taught me about life,

So I knew how it felt when I caught him with his wife,

He told me it was his cousin, He told me she was his friend,

But when she came up to me,

I knew it had to end.

He pleaded and fought until I kissed him goodbye,

And that's when we both knew our relationship Was based on a lie.

5

Feelings

I said that I didn't love him,

I claimed it when they asked,

But whenever I was around him, Everything just seemed to go blank, He claimed he felt the same,

He said it when I asked,

He said the love he had for me would forever last, He told me that he loved me,

He showed it in every way,

Whenever I would fuss or fight,

He would know the words to say,

Two years later I'm thinking of him,

What ever happened to that guy

Who taught me two or three things

6

When I'm alone sometimes

I sit and think about my future, My life and my dreams,

A lot of people said it couldn't be done, But now look at me,

Don't they all feel dumb,

I made a lot of mistakes,

And that I'll admit,

But as life goes on I'm sure they'll get fixed, I sit here and wonder,

What my future holds,

But a real close friend told me Never wonder, just let things flow.

7

Black and white show who they are,

The red represents what they've come for, Brothers and sisters that show love each day, They even sit together and pray,

Always there for each other,

No matter the place,

No matter the day,

They're there when you need them, They're there when you're feeling down, And when you're feeling low,

But that's just the beginning,

There's never an end,

They're there when you need a real good friend.

Yellow and black show that they're united, They're very proud of their colors,

So they shout it,

They're really one in a brotherly way, They even help each other every day, They started out of weakness

Now they're strong and they came from 'The Almighty Chicago Storm'

8

In Search of a Song Volume 173

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a waterways publication

Malika Shabbaz

Malika .. Shabbaz

.. A Waterways Project Publication

Richard Spiegel Barbara Fisher codirectors Thomas Perry adminstratvie assistant

Miriam Lock teacher

Shirley Edwards, Principal EBC High School for Public Service Bushwick

Stephen E. Phillips, Superintendent, Alternative High Schools & Programs

©1996 Ten Penny Players with funding support from the NY State Council on the Arts

Love

Love is mysterious

Things suddenly happen accidentally But are they accidents?

Good things, bad things,

Things you'll never forget.

You are getting older

And your point of view oflove is changing It's no longer about pretty faces

Things that go through your mind, Should you, or shouldn't you,

Wondering constantly are you really

in love

~

I

How would you know and How can you tell

And if it's real

When will it happen? What are the signs? Love again is mysterious

When or where it happens is the question that remains

2

What is love?

Do you love that someone the same way you love your mother?

How do you show your love?

Making love?

Is that the right choice? Love is so confusing. What is love?

Tell me. Tell me about good love. Help me. Help me find true love.

3

Choices

Should I? Shouldn't I? Could I? May I? And please. Choices are made daily

Sometimes you judge them quite fairly. Should I with this one?

Is this the right thing to do? Am I making the right choices To guide me through?

Oh God help me, I'm lost without you Should I go? Shouldn't I go?

If I go will I get in trouble?

Good choices and bad choices

There are all the same

You have to always come up with an answer

Or ifnot, the choice remains the same.

4

My Beautiful Music

I escape my fears

I turn to my music

To ignore the problems faced daily I turn to my music

To block out everyone except myself I turn to my music

To relax, kick back, and chill I turn to my music

\Vhen I'm in love

There's music for that

When I'm hurting there's music for that When I'm in the mood for loving

There's music for that

When I'm dazed and thinking to myself, There's music for that too!

Different sort of music I don't know

where to start, So I listen then, my music forms into a VISIon,

5

If it's about death, I see it,

If it's about love, I see it,

Music, music, oh my music, my beautiful

music.

Crush Frustration Why am I so frustrated

I'm so confused

It feels as if something's missing What is it

What is it

This emptiness I'm feeling is tearing me apart And breaking me down

This simple crush is causing so much

frustration And bringing on something awful

The things you say and do,

Boy you don't know just by looking makes me want to react in unspeakable ways Why? Why must you torture me

6

One can only take out so much

Please stop playing hard to get and get caught

The game is wearing me out I'm tired, tired of this chase This run around again

Why must you torture me this way, why?

Day Dreaming

Staring off in space is what some people call it

I call it thinking hard Everything is blocked out What do you day dream about

Food? What you're wearing the next day? The punishment you're gonna receive later?

Or the most common one ... Thinking of that special someone ~ How he talks, walks, dresses, etc.

7

It's all natural, Nothing weird, Everyone does it.

Bored

Sitting, sitting, sitting, Listening, listening, listening,

The teacher goes on, and on constantly, Talk about run on sentences,

Oops I almost fell asleep,

Wake up he says,

How can I,

You're boring me,

I almost did it again, Now I'm day dreaming,

Yes, yes, there is a God thank you, Thank you,

Good, the bell has rung.

8

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a waterways publication

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In Search of a Song Volume 174

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Fanta Graham

Fanta

A Waterways Project Publication Richard Spiegel Barbara Fisher codirectors Thomas Perry adminstrative assistant

Miriam Lock teacher

Shirley Edwards, Principal EBC High School for Public Service Bushwick

Stephen E. Phillips, Superintendent, Alternative High Schools & Programs

©1996 Ten Penny Players with funding support from

the NY State Council on the Arts

Love

He is black

Handsome, sweet and gentle I love him and he loves me

I can hold him

Kiss him, hug him, squeeze him, He's my teddy bear

And I love him

2

You asked me to be your girl

You asked me to be your valentine You asked me to be your love Then you said, be mine

3

My Heart

Here, I leave you a gift Here's my heart

It's filled with love

It's filled with joy

It's filled with happiness I leave you this gift Take care of it

N ever let it go

One day, some day, You'll need it

You'll see a bright light Then you'll know.

4

Your Looks

t

'Kiss me' 'Hold me' 'Touch me'

'Most of all, love me'

5

Spring is in the air, Love is right there,

Face to face, there, or here,

Can't you smell the love in the air, Spring is right here.

6

Love is sweet, So hang on to it,

Keep the person in your mind

Hang on to the love you cherish in your mind.

7

Lemeet Ventura

Lemeet Ventura

A Waterways Project Publication Richard Spiegel Barbara Fisher codirectors Thomas Perry adminstratvie assistant

Miriam Lock teacher

Shirley Edwards, Principal EBC High School for Public Service Bushwick

Stephen E. Phillips, Superintendent, Alternative High Schools & Programs

©1996 Ten Penny Players with funding support from the NY State Council on the Arts

Blackness Is

Blackness is more than the kind of hair How dark you are

Or what you wear

It's more than talking about being proud Or speaking blackness extra loud.

It's more than being last,

Being late or being called second rate.

It's more than black blacks owned by whites. It's even more than civil rights

It's more than acting out a role

It's even more than having soul

It's more than a black community

Blackness is our unity

Blackness is how, what, why,

We feel blackness

Is love and being for real.

Blackness is what our people do Blackness is a beauty you have in you.

2

Starting the Day

This is the way hey

We start the day hey

We get knowledge ... hey To go to college ... hey

We won't stop there ... hey We're going anywhere ... hey We work and smile ... hey Cause that's our style ... hey We love each other ... hey Help one another ... hey There's nothing to it...hey You have to do it ... hey

This is the way hey

We start the day hey

Cause we don't play ... hey Now, what do you say ... hey!

3

Try

I'll try to think while I am learning And not just answer

Yes

I can't become truly smart IfI thoughtlessly guess I'll try to smile even when I am feeling sadness Maybe my smile

Will help someone else Feel gladness

I'll try to go through each day With these two things in mind Think and be thoughtful

Love and be kind

4

This One Boy

Sitting in the classroom with all my classmates Thinking about how to get through the day Every one is so loud and distracts

But there is this one that's so attractive He's sitting there with his big brown eyes That is just the center of attraction

Could this be a fatal attraction

He looks so good with his luscious lips Could I just go over and give him a kiss This one boy.

) )

5

It's Just so Boring

Being in a class for an hour Seems so sour

it's so crazy

It makes people lazy Sitting down then

You start day dreaming things About what you're going to do When you get home

Maybe alone

Or just talking on the phone It's just so boring

It's just so boring

6

One Sunny Day

The sun is so bright Today is so right The sun is gloaming

And the flowers are blooming The mountains are dry

And looking kind of fly

One sunny day

Just makes my day

7