Poetry is not always pretty

Feelings are raw, and the words express this.

I cannot be politically correct when my students want to be heard.

Here are emotions that reflect 2 teenagers' perspectives:

"What a World!" O what a world we live in! Through years of anguish for many, No one deserves anything as simple as a penny! Out kind neighbors are being treated unfairly  by our meaningless grins! It's not just our neighbors, but the world for its race. We had the audacity to insult one another By their face or skin, yet we show kindness  to a related brother.  A brother who is similar to you  instead of a person with a different face. These people have feelings too  which the common man does not know. He pretends he is superior to all because of his skin, Yet, he may have committed more sin. How can we penetrate his icy heart without being slow? Does no person envision a future?  A future with people hand in hand and love at every corner. That all skins are equal instead of coming as a foreigner. A future where eyes meet  and no utter of cold can be hopefully sooner. Where my small heat is not hurt by an ignorant man, Because I'm not like him for any stupid reason, And he wants me gone as his treason. A treason of social justice  where any man for their skin is banned. So I say to you, Do you have a heart of stone  to hate your fellow neighbor? Because I'm hurt when you insult that colored man  when you have done no labor. Change your hearts for the better so no one has to rue. Hark! I hear the bells of brotherhood. Ring-Ring-Ring that sweet sound plays. But I start to hear it fade everyday. I want to hear those bells again  if we work together if we could. The sounds of bells can be upon us, If we put our petty differences behind us. Rahul Mannepuli

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Discrimination Equality that is what we shout for Brutality that is what we receive Beaten and killed Raped and hushed Black or white Woman or man The world laughs in our misery Suppressing our thoughts Suppressing our pain Killing us off like we are prey Watch what you do you already look suspicious Watch what you wear your body is already provoking They will kill you for being at the wrong place at the wrong time with your hoodie on They will take you for being walking these streets alone in your new pair of shorts You're asking for it when you dress like that when your skin is like that just because your hands were in your pockets or your top is a size too small Justice is what what you plead for a hand over your mouth is what the world gives you Andrea DeLeon'-Rivera ********************************************************************** THANK YOU, RAHUL AND ANDREA Let's all say our prayers.