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18/F/Florida
Poems
Iris Nov 2020
Demode Dodo
Iris
Nov 2020
Demode
Dodo
Dorothy doesn’t talk to me much about her feelings, she’s either happy as an elephant or angry like a needle being forced through skin. Dorothy doesn’t go by Dorothy. She was Dodo to everyone but her aunt who didn’t know who she was. Dorothy lived across the road in her sizable yellow house, with way too many windows, mum says. Her mother is a big business owner working in the man's world. Dodo’s father is her mother, we joke, always doing a woman's work. Dorothy has a little sister Iris. She looks like Dodo, but Iris doesn’t have the same bruises on her face as Dodo does.
Iris must be quiet.
Mum does not want me hanging out with Dorothy, she says, she doesn’t act like a lady. Dodo never crosses her legs, but why would she do that? She doesn’t even wear skirts. She doesn’t finish chewing before her words and spits of food fall out. Dorothy does what she wants. Iris doesn’t do that. Men remind Iris that she's a beautiful young lady as we walk down town. Dodo flips them off.
Iris is quiet
I don’t sit with Dorothy at school. She sits with the boys, and I’m not allowed to. Dorothy fits in with the boys. She has a voice of a lion roaring through the cafeteria. Iris sits with me instead but we don’t talk. We stay quiet. Dodo laughs too much, the girl with red ribbons in her hair says. Dodo is just asking for it, responds to the girl with blue barretts. She’s gonna get hurt if she doesn't shush her loudmouth red ribbons says. Dorothy doesn’t care what girls with ribbons think. Iris does.
Iris stays quiet
Sometimes I wish I was more like Dorothy. I could tell mum to mind her own business and to let me get my ears pierced. I’m old enough to face the needle. Dorothy likes her big hoops, but I would rather have studs like Iris.
Those are quiet
Dorothy is a bad liar. I know she didn’t fall and hit her head on the table. The yellow house with too many windows tells me Dorothy’s mum hurt her. No one does anything because we don’t know what to do with women who work in a man's world.
We all stay quiet.
Dodo
Dorothy doesn’t talk to me much about her feelings, she’s either happy as an elephant or angry like a needle being forced through skin. Dorothy doesn’t go by Dorothy. She was Dodo to everyone but her aunt who didn’t know who she was. Dorothy lived across the road in her sizable yellow house, with way too many windows, mum says. Her mother is a big business owner working in the man's world. Dodo’s father is her mother, we joke, always doing a woman's work. Dorothy has a little sister Iris. She looks like Dodo, but Iris doesn’t have the same bruises on her face as Dodo does.
Iris must be quiet.
Mum does not want me hanging out with Dorothy, she says, she doesn’t act like a lady. Dodo never crosses her legs, but why would she do that? She doesn’t even wear skirts. She doesn’t finish chewing before her words and spits of food fall out. Dorothy does what she wants. Iris doesn’t do that. Men remind Iris that she's a beautiful young lady as we walk down town. Dodo flips them off.
Iris is quiet
I don’t sit with Dorothy at school. She sits with the boys, and I’m not allowed to. Dorothy fits in with the boys. She has a voice of a lion roaring through the cafeteria. Iris sits with me instead but we don’t talk. We stay quiet. Dodo laughs too much, the girl with red ribbons in her hair says. Dodo is just asking for it, responds to the girl with blue barretts. She’s gonna get hurt if she doesn't shush her loudmouth red ribbons says. Dorothy doesn’t care what girls with ribbons think. Iris does.
Iris stays quiet
Sometimes I wish I was more like Dorothy. I could tell mum to mind her own business and to let me get my ears pierced. I’m old enough to face the needle. Dorothy likes her big hoops, but I would rather have studs like Iris.
Those are quiet
Dorothy is a bad liar. I know she didn’t fall and hit her head on the table. The yellow house with too many windows tells me Dorothy’s mum hurt her. No one does anything because we don’t know what to do with women who work in a man's world.
We all stay quiet.
House on Mango Street Sandra Cisneros inspired Vignette, Literary foundations freshman year
Cyclone Wolfok Baltimore
Aug 2019
(An mémwa granfré an mwen Dodo, frè jimo a Roderik, ki disparèt an *** lanmè koté Sentlisi lé disèt maws démildisèt anbo kanno ay, In God we Troust, menm jou ti frè an mwen Toto fété swasantkatran ay)
Lè Manzè Frégat, on vyé zwazo épi tèt a sizo lan mè, rivé
Konpè Dodo té ka ba dé kudmachwa adan on ponm arak kon i té ni vyé labitid fè
Dépi lé i té ti manmay chak trwazyèm vandrèdi a mars o pipiri chantan
Sété on sèl pélrinaj pou y té pran gou a sé prèmyé ponm malaka ki té vinn friktifyé
Vyé zwazo la diy konsa: « chaben, apakonsa zafè ka fèt ! avan ou té sèvi kow, avan menm ou té comansé manjé plen vant aw, ou té dwèt ban mwen lajan an mwen, ban mwen sa anfwamenm »
Konpè Dodo pa enmé pon vyé zwazo diy pon vyé biten ! I wondi bouch, i toufé, i manké tranglé :
-Ki pawol a foumi fou ki la ? i taw ?
-i tan mwen. ban mwen lajan an mwen, man, ou alo, ranjé zafè aw byen pas dènyé vandrèdi aw rivé !
ou pé kriyéy jan ou vlé malaba, malaka, kwachimelon, otaheite, pomme d’amour, ponm tayti, manzana malaya, séw ki sav, ou pa papay
sé mwen ki mèt ay, ou tann ! Ou tann byen !? Pa fè mwen trapé dézod épiw
Pa fè mwen jiréw, avan ou ay pran zafè a moun prokiré sav ki moun ki mèt a kann la
mwen ja las jouwé domino épiw, kouté sa byen, wouvè gran zorey aw ! An ja diw sa, yo ka kriyé mwen an lot koté Jambo, Prensès Scisour Lanmè
mwen pa vlé sav si ou métodis si ou advantis si ou ka fè penti
si ou rosikrisyen si ou catolik ou si ou ka trasé lèt asi olivetti
si bon dyé aw vodou, endou, ou témwendjéova, fwa aw sé taw, tan mwen sé tan mwen,
Non an mwen pa Séza non an mwen pa Bondyé sé Jambo
ponm arak ta la sé tan mwen, sé awryè granpapa granpapa mwen ki té arawak
ki plantéy, si ou vlé sav, ban mwen diw on ti biten malgré vyé mannyé érétik ou ni dépi toupiti. ou ka ékri tout koté « In God we Troust » sé pousa ou dwèt ka vinn trousé mwen ! foutémwa likan, espèce de malélivé
manjé kénèt aw ou chenet aw ponmsitè aw fé sa ou vlé épi yo mé pa mannyé vyé pyé ponm arak an mwen
sa ja ka fè plis ki katvensètan ou ka fé la fèt asi pyé ponm arak ta la
Ou pa sa li fransé , chaben ? espèce en voie d’extinction! An ké diw li on lot fwa an nanglè si ou pa vlé tann fransé
Endangered species !
Mé Kompè Dodo pa té vlé tann march ! Kompè Dodo mété koy ri ! I pa té pé rété ! Telman i té ka ri i té ka pléré !
Ki jan i té kay péyé pou on ponm arak pou on vyé frégat malkadik, dapréy non ay té « Prinsès Scisour Lanmè »
Manzè Frégat ou ni on jan dapréw ou sé yen a dan lé trwa Moiw, on Manzé Atropos
Konsidiré séw ki mèt a bobiné é débobiné
Mé apa mwen ou ké kouyoné, sé pa jodi jou disèt mars pon vyé zonbi ké koupé filsèvolan mwen
Banw diw sa, Tiré gran zèl nwè aw anba la pli la é ay pozé kow anba on pyé kowosol
Demen samdi avan jou ouvè mwen ké vinn kué ti ponm arak an mwen
Manzè Fregat pa pèd tan, vitman i poté mannèv, i anki ouvè gran gèl ay, bèk ay té ka parèt sizo
I vorey i varéy i valéy, i wotéy – zyé a zwazo la té ka sanm on sèl fé dartifis woz fichyia –
A las siete y media de la mañana, eran las siete y media en punto de la mañana
Kompè Dodo bat dènyé ti domino ay, a las siete y media de la mañana
Manzè Frégat comansé ranjé tou dousman sé domino la an bwat a domino la
Epi rès a ponm arak la i préparé pouy on ponch ponm malaka.
Sé pa pou ayen ni on proverb ki ka i konsa:
Pa jen jouwé domino épi on frégat si ou ka dwouéy on biten.
Lè Manzè Frégat, on vyé zwazo épi tèt a sizo lan mè, rivé
Konpè Dodo té ka ba dé kudmachwa adan on ponm arak kon i té ni vyé labitid fè
Dépi lé i té ti manmay chak trwazyèm vandrèdi a mars o pipiri chantan
Sété on sèl pélrinaj pou y té pran gou a sé prèmyé ponm malaka ki té vinn friktifyé
Vyé zwazo la diy konsa: « chaben, apakonsa zafè ka fèt ! avan ou té sèvi kow, avan menm ou té comansé manjé plen vant aw, ou té dwèt ban mwen lajan an mwen, ban mwen sa anfwamenm »
Konpè Dodo pa enmé pon vyé zwazo diy pon vyé biten ! I wondi bouch, i toufé, i manké tranglé :
-Ki pawol a foumi fou ki la ? i taw ?
-i tan mwen. ban mwen lajan an mwen, man, ou alo, ranjé zafè aw byen pas dènyé vandrèdi aw rivé !
ou pé kriyéy jan ou vlé malaba, malaka, kwachimelon, otaheite, pomme d’amour, ponm tayti, manzana malaya, séw ki sav, ou pa papay
sé mwen ki mèt ay, ou tann ! Ou tann byen !? Pa fè mwen trapé dézod épiw
Pa fè mwen jiréw, avan ou ay pran zafè a moun prokiré sav ki moun ki mèt a kann la
mwen ja las jouwé domino épiw, kouté sa byen, wouvè gran zorey aw ! An ja diw sa, yo ka kriyé mwen an lot koté Jambo, Prensès Scisour Lanmè
mwen pa vlé sav si ou métodis si ou advantis si ou ka fè penti
si ou rosikrisyen si ou catolik ou si ou ka trasé lèt asi olivetti
si bon dyé aw vodou, endou, ou témwendjéova, fwa aw sé taw, tan mwen sé tan mwen,
Non an mwen pa Séza non an mwen pa Bondyé sé Jambo
ponm arak ta la sé tan mwen, sé awryè granpapa granpapa mwen ki té arawak
ki plantéy, si ou vlé sav, ban mwen diw on ti biten malgré vyé mannyé érétik ou ni dépi toupiti. ou ka ékri tout koté « In God we Troust » sé pousa ou dwèt ka vinn trousé mwen ! foutémwa likan, espèce de malélivé
manjé kénèt aw ou chenet aw ponmsitè aw fé sa ou vlé épi yo mé pa mannyé vyé pyé ponm arak an mwen
sa ja ka fè plis ki katvensètan ou ka fé la fèt asi pyé ponm arak ta la
Ou pa sa li fransé , chaben ? espèce en voie d’extinction! An ké diw li on lot fwa an nanglè si ou pa vlé tann fransé
Endangered species !
Mé Kompè Dodo pa té vlé tann march ! Kompè Dodo mété koy ri ! I pa té pé rété ! Telman i té ka ri i té ka pléré !
Ki jan i té kay péyé pou on ponm arak pou on vyé frégat malkadik, dapréy non ay té « Prinsès Scisour Lanmè »
Manzè Frégat ou ni on jan dapréw ou sé yen a dan lé trwa Moiw, on Manzé Atropos
Konsidiré séw ki mèt a bobiné é débobiné
Mé apa mwen ou ké kouyoné, sé pa jodi jou disèt mars pon vyé zonbi ké koupé filsèvolan mwen
Banw diw sa, Tiré gran zèl nwè aw anba la pli la é ay pozé kow anba on pyé kowosol
Demen samdi avan jou ouvè mwen ké vinn kué ti ponm arak an mwen
Manzè Fregat pa pèd tan, vitman i poté mannèv, i anki ouvè gran gèl ay, bèk ay té ka parèt sizo
I vorey i varéy i valéy, i wotéy – zyé a zwazo la té ka sanm on sèl fé dartifis woz fichyia –
A las siete y media de la mañana, eran las siete y media en punto de la mañana
Kompè Dodo bat dènyé ti domino ay, a las siete y media de la mañana
Manzè Frégat comansé ranjé tou dousman sé domino la an bwat a domino la
Epi rès a ponm arak la i préparé pouy on ponch ponm malaka.
Sé pa pou ayen ni on proverb ki ka i konsa:
Pa jen jouwé domino épi on frégat si ou ka dwouéy on biten.
Ralph Akintan Nov 2019
PONY ON THE POLO COURSE
Ralph Akintan
Nov 2019
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Gaiting out of the prescient of
the stable with pride.
Galloping for space on the polo course.
Hooves trotting on the footmark
of strength.
Now cantering for span with the
shield of victory.
White tail of strength flapping
the cognomen of success.
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Immaculate white mane arrays
against the ants of winds,
Absorbing the residuum of the
hardened breeze with relish.
Whitening coloured cresty neck,
White head, brown eyes,
White legs, blackened hooves,
Colourless long shaft holding the
***** of procreation.
Swinging like pendulum of nature.
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo.
Submissive strength clocked under
the apron of the stableman.
Cantering with honour.
Galloping in royalty.
Head collar rope ordering the
pace of strength.
Hostler tightly chained on the
tray of stableman.
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo.
Eshin dodo
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Gaiting out of the prescient of
the stable with pride.
Galloping for space on the polo course.
Hooves trotting on the footmark
of strength.
Now cantering for span with the
shield of victory.
White tail of strength flapping
the cognomen of success.
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Immaculate white mane arrays
against the ants of winds,
Absorbing the residuum of the
hardened breeze with relish.
Whitening coloured cresty neck,
White head, brown eyes,
White legs, blackened hooves,
Colourless long shaft holding the
***** of procreation.
Swinging like pendulum of nature.
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo.
Submissive strength clocked under
the apron of the stableman.
Cantering with honour.
Galloping in royalty.
Head collar rope ordering the
pace of strength.
Hostler tightly chained on the
tray of stableman.
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo
Kutupa kutupa
Eshin dodo.