THE NOTE

THE NOTE

In 1968
my two girl friends and I stood
on the corner
outside of school
the last day of classes
We joked
about going to school in 1969
We huddled together
and carefully
unfolded the note.
The paper was pressed
in half, lengthwise
then in half lengthwise again
Bobby had then taken the long thin column
and creased it triangularly
all the way up the long paper white formation
and finally tucked that last quarter inch inside, itself.
After taking her time undoing
as to not tear the precious piece
Charlene smoothed the
lined notebook paper
across her thigh
with her hand
Finally,
after inhaling deeply
she repeated what she read
Charlene,
I really like you.
Bobby
We giggled like school girls
because, after all
we were.
I remember this
forty some years later
and I wonder
will girls from today
remember a text
the same way?

 

 

 Thasia Anne

YOU, WHO

YOU, WHO;

I came from deep peace, to dreadful sleep

Crawling, screaming, and scraping, from the blackness

I then broke surface, gasping for air.

You, who entered my window, my bedroom, and my life

to destroy everything I ever knew about me.

You, who held the shiny silver blade tight against my neck.

You, who smelled of cigarettes, beer, and belligerence, stole everything.

I was sweet, innocent and good-natured, and going places.

You were the detour from hell, and

I never quite found my way home.

However, I will never let you own me.

You did your despicable deed and are done.

Now I move on, to better places.

Scrubbing and scraping the traces of you from my skin.

I will begin anew.

Help arrived on white horses with courses of antibiotics

and the removal of anything neurotic that you left behind.

Doctors, nurses, law enforcement, and counselors

did their best to shore up my spine and mind.

They gave me the resolve to never let you, who tried to steal me,

ever have power over me again.

Now, it is you, who has to worry.

You, who behind bars, now know the fears that grow when you try to sleep deep.

 

School started two weeks ago. I chose to put all my classes on two days a week to save gas since I come from Erie. So, the challenge has been to run from class to class with only fifteen minutes between and with thirty pounds of books on my back! Not only will I come out of this some day a social worker extraordinaire but, I will be able to run track!
I really like all my professors and the classes I have.
Hope you are all having as much fun as I.

Sunday September 16th is the Governors Art Event. I will be at Beach 6 at 4 o'clock with some friends. We will be spitting the word. Come on out, put your feet in the water and hear some powerful work. Then some hand drummers will rock the night to bed.

Hey Gang,
It is August 7th already and school will be starting again soon.
Summer has been great, hot, and flying by on wings.
I will be on Edinboro Main Campus this semester, so look out for the poetess. I will be involved with the October Domestic Violence Awareness activities.
In March I will be presenting Women of Word, a poetic conversation, during the Women's History Festivities.
I am excited and anticipatory about being on main and diving into my new classes.
Hope to see familiar faces and meeting new friends.

Happy Honey Badger Valentines Day

To all you guys and gals out there fretting Valentines day.
Take a lesson from the Honey Badger. He don't care!
Hope every one has a good day.
Happy Valentines Day

Martin Luther King Memorial

This Sunday at the Erie Art Museum, 6pm
Enter from 5th street, between State Street and French Street
Poetry by yours truly, and the incredible Kieth Moses
Music, youth Choir, and great art done by local students.
Stop by and enjoy a free local event.

Honey Badger Don't Care

If you don't know who the Honey Badger is,

I suggest you go to Youtube and get acquainted!

Because Honey Badger don't care. He is Bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg&feature=share