"Beautiful Flower"

Evelyn Montiel

Blooms like a sun shining in the sky or when you just all water it brightens your day and makes you smile like a newborn baby. Opens its petals and blooms to see what awaits it. Opens its petals like a newborn butterfly just spreading out of its cocoon and opening to the new world. Describes happiness and joy which can bring a smile to your face by smelling the delicious fragrance running through your nose. A flower is a flower that just opens just for you.

"Hypnotized"

Rolando Gomez

Hypnotized
The word that comes
To mind when,
I see your eyes
Your lips. They are like magnets
That attracts me right to you. When I see
You, you make me stop thinking, but
You make me start thinking of you as
If you were a beautiful red rose with soft petals.
When you talk to me, you got me
So hypnotized that the only thing I see
Is you brown eyes, I myself sometimes get embarrassed
To talk to a beautiful girl as a
Beautiful butterfly flaps its blue-violet wings in the blue sky.
You hypnotize me to no end, just as there is no end to us.

"Nigerian Princess"

Unwana Ekpa

I don my offspring iwud--lacy, vibrant scarf wrapping around my head.
"Sine offong! Ini ekem edidaka!"
Mommy yells at the top of her lungs, rushing me to hurry up and get ready to go.
What to wear... what to wear
I choose the pink outfit, but
stares of admiration slip from my eyes.
I can't help it,
falling into this daydream;
this outfit transforms me.
In the midst of the vast, deafening Independence Day festival
looking down at myself brings such glee.
Floating in the embroidered pink lace,
the pattern of the silver vines.
The silky, cloisonne designs
are a clever alternative to gold.
A scalloped edge intertwines the colors: the gentle pinks and the striking silvers and golds,
and finishes my appearance.
How do i look?
Outsides
hating the itchy Nigerian clothing;
insides churning--I do not do my garb justice
Frantically, I search for a mirror
the revealing glass brings tears to my eyes.
Is this me? Me,
black girl whose parents happen to be born in Africa?
Or me,
governor's daughter, niece, something?
Anyone but me.
Whenever mommy wears her Nigerian garb,
she is so blissful.
The stunning queen of her terrain.
Not the Houstonian.
Akwa Ibom royalty.
One who says, "Abadiye! Idioko?"
To her state that knows her so well,
and "Hello! How are you?"
to the outside world who does not.
She represents my country.
Where NEPA frequently turns off the electricity;
where fufu and egusi soup are eaten daily.
And I, fruit of her womb,
I have never felt this pride
until now
though I see it
in her eyes all the time?
Born with innocent embarrassment around my heart,
these clothes make me feel what she feels.
Please to embrace me, Nigeria
simply because
that's who I am.
Nigerian princess.

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"I am" by Zainab Animashawn

I am Zainab
I am Zee
I am a change
I am that person that is going to make a chenge in the world
I am an Animashawn
I am giving
I am hopeful
I an that difference in this world
I am caring
I am somebody in this world
I can make a big change
I can help with poverty
I can help with homeless
I can take them off the street
Nothing to do
Nothing to get but
to strive; to strive; to strive
I am that change
I am Zainab
I am Zee
I am a change
I am that person that is going to make a change in this world

"Life" by Jessi Munoz

What is life?
Is it the fact that you live
Or that you have a heart in your chest
A soul in your body
Amind in your head
Life

Is it bravery in your heart?
Is it the culture in your blood?
The color of your skin?
Color you ask
Yes that's right

Is it the beginning of your roots?
Is it the family you are in?
Is it the money which you hold?
Or is it something more drastic?
Is it the memories that you give?
Is it the love that you share?

Love
that's right love
Is it the pride in your soul?
The dreams that you have
The people that you know
The fact that you're Mexican, Salvadorian, Equdorian, Martianian

Is it the fact that you live?
Or the things that you do
But I do know here today that life is all about...
Taco Bell's Cibatta