Staten Island OutLOUD

Many young Islanders (18 and younger) submit their original poems, and we publish them here on our website. 

We  also post Young Poets’ work on Staten Island OutLOUD’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/StatenIslandOutLOUD.

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We rotate poems continuously, so this page will change from time to time.   Keep checking back to see what new work by young Islanders appears, and tell your friends to visit too!

CP      by Nigel Coleman

You don’t know what you see when you look at me.

I might look fine, but I’m not.

When I’m at school people whisper,

They talk about the boy with the limp.

Some kids even ask if I’m trying to be a pimp.

When you look at me, you really don’t know me.

I have CP or Cerebral Palsy.

When I was five and started school I had a brace on my leg.

My momma told me God made me this way for a reason.

My confidence speaks for itself.  Look at me now!

I have CP but as you can see, it really doesn’t matter to me.

There were some challenges that I faced

Like riding a bike and roller skating all over the place.

Sometimes I get frustrated and I SHOUT

I cry when I know I can’t do something because of IT.

But I know if I can’t do something I want because of CP

It’s going to make me a stronger person.

Now you know what you see when you look at me, you see a person who is okay to have CP

YEAH, I HAVE CP      BUT CP DON’T HAVE ME!!

The Listening Experience,  by Vivian Rapacciuolo

The only light is from the window

I carefully choose a CD

Cradling it in my hand like a jewel

I press play with anticipation

Then step back

And the music brings euphoria

Faces, by Anne Le (written in the style of Emily Dickenson)

Those faces

That you can see from afar

They fill the empty spaces

In your fragile heart.

They speak of how

The world can be so much more;

And how you can make a new day out of now,

Even when you don’t know what you want anymore.

The Next to Normal Album,  by Vivian Rapacciuolo

I shut my eyes

Striving to know nothing but the music

I feel the beautiful orchestrations run through me

Then the vocalists

And the music brings euphoria

The music can’t stop yet

I quickly put on Hair

Wanting to dance and sing

I shake my head and scream the lyrics

Then it hurts

And the music brings euphoria

The day speeds by

I don’t even try slowing it

Letting each album tell me a story

I’m taken through every emotion imaginable

Then I’m complete

And the music brings euphoria

Inside My Heart  by Julie Moses, PS 6

 My brother can’t speak

Or even understand

We all must work together

To lend a helping hand

Sometimes he is quiet

Sometimes he is loud

People may be staring

But still I am proud

He works very hard

Every minute of every day

If something is wrong with him

He has no words to say

Sometimes he gets angry

Sometimes I’m afraid

But I love him so very much

And I would never ever trade

My brother has autism

He is such a mystery

Still he is always inside my heart

And he means the world to me.

 Just Be Kind   by Jackie Moses, PS 6

 I try to wear a smile

I hide the sadness in my mind

My brother has autism

Why can’t people just be kind?

Some kids are in a wheelchair

And others may be blind

Some kids can’t read and some can’t hear

Why can’t people just be kind?

If only people would take the time

To lend a helping hand

We could learn from one another

We could learn to understand

If we all look deep inside our hearts

I think we all would find

The world would be a better place

If we all would just be kind

The Road   by Ryan Arazi, Staten Island Academy

Life is like a road,

Sometimes there is traffic ,

And sometimes It is clear.

Sometimes  you get a flat tire,

And sometimes,

 you get stopped by the police

sometimes,

you might just want to take it slow,

even if the road is clear.

But Never rush,

When you rush,

you crash.

And you will never,

Be able to fix it.  

I am who I am    by Joneise McCrae, Curtis High School

I am who I am

The mirror will smile today

All masks put aside

I thought I should hide

But, it takes a dream to find

Gold inside my eyes

I am a dreamer

Dare to be a believer

Pursue who you are

Can you fathom pain?

Life is such a fragile game

But who cares, take risk

Closing out the rain

Be who you are without shame

I am who I am

My Black Rose   by Danielle Daniels, McKee High School

My rose symbolizes my pain

So you are the soil, my foundation

The reason I am who I am today

I wasn’t much when we first met

But, being in your presence made me blossom.

You didn’t give me the attention I needed

So, I started to lose color and die

Now, I’m nothing but a black rose.

No emotions, no way of speaking, and now, no place of comfort.

With you was where I needed to be.

But, I guess everything doesn’t work out for the best.

My Five Senses at the Stables!    By Esme Ng, 2nd Grade

I hear horses

I see sheep dogs

I smell hay

I taste snacks that my mom packs

I touch my horse’s hair

Freedom Captured a haiku by Sal Cento

Limitless flight through

And through, until it is no

More, the freedom of . . .

Everyday Life a haiku by Sal Cento

The sun rises up

Evolution begins now

Then the darkness strikes