Original Thematic Poems

Three Original Thematic Poems (dramatic monologue, dramatic monologue, ode)

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Janie’s Poem

Freedom don’ ‘peer in

De middle of de night,

But

Sometimes

You find it dere

In de mawnin.

An sometimes love is jus’ lak de

Wind.

Beautiful,

Whisperin’,

Gone.

A breeze

Blow’d through.

Brushin’

Dust

Offa mah dreams.

De sun

Unfolded

An de grey sky

Crumpled intuh

Silky clouds in

Blue hebens.

Dey’s gone now

But

Ah got mah

Mem’ries.

Cuz Ah

Loved

An’

Was

Free

Once.

An dat’s all Ah need.

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The Eatonville Prayer

Lawd, dis life ain’t all we thought it shoulda been.

We work

We’s tired

De hard groun’ don’ get

Softer.

Whut’s de point

Of livin’

When life ain’t fair?

Ain’t you uh God uh mercy?

Whut’s you doin’ up dere?

Naw, you musta left us

Long

Long time

Ago.

Guess it sorta makes

Sense.

Too many ‘portant people

Dat yuh know.

So you sits up dere

Big comfy chair

Jus’ watchin’ all us

Crawl

Is our lives meer’kuls?

Don’ seem a bit true

At all.

But we’s still

Tired

An our chillins are

Hongry. 

So Ah guess here’s where we

Part de ways.

Guess Ah’ll try prayin’ again

When Ah’m old and

Dyin’.

Someday.

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An Ode to Wealth

Wealth, thy pow’rs dim

In the Light of Truth.

Thou hast murdered a man too many

Who wished to cut upon you a tooth. 

Thy Fame has gone far

‘Tis a fact well widened

By time and tale and trade.

Yet few appreciate thy mercies

At the end of the light of their days.

Hast thou an excuse

Thou pompous, porous penchant

For supply of grief and hunger and death?

I’d rather be a meandering mongrel

Than a child that thou hast blest.

Take thy sting, go sting thyself

Cousin to the angel dark.

Thy son Greed hast made me promises

Nay, take his pledges, over the breaking of them I’ll not lark.

I’ll find no delight in thy willful, wishful wars or thy Grace.

Please, leave off breaking hearts and in the earth’s bowels take thy place.

My hope is fixed more nearly

On Him whom waves obey

The seas make room for Faith’s mountain in motion

And calm for the One who Saves.

Wealth, I’ll no more seek thee, no more beg thee, for thou does rot in an earthly way.

I have called to the Lord for courage and strength, and this is what he has told me to say:

The Lord is my Shepherd, and gold will never be.

Though I was once blinded, My God has made me see.

Written by: Katrielle Guida