The teacher said the first day of class
As an ice-breaker, for your first assignment
I want to hear your voice.
I want you tonight to write a story about you
Something of you and your history,
So I can get to know you.
Is breaking the ice that easy? I wonder.
You want to hear my voice
But what’s my voice to you?
You want something of me and my “history”.
Well, I’m a girl, sixteen, came here six years ago from south of the city.
Maybe you don’t know it
Since it’s a lot different from here.
Being from there, people like us look different and sound different.
But I guess being from down south doesn’t stop me from enjoying what other people do.
I like waking up to cool, crisp, sunny mornings wrapped in my blanket
When the sky is deep and unmistakably blue.
I enjoy being by the river around sunset, seeing the water glistening
As I’m listening to music–from jazz, classical, funk, punk…
Do you dream of a better world too?
A world where we all have full control of our bodies and there's no underground
A world where our hearts and minds are valued more than our tits and ass
A world where we truly share and nourish and not rape and pillage.
Despite our different genders, I’m female and you’re not—
You’re flesh and blood like me.
We live in this world where I’m me, you’re you
And you get to be more free than me.
This is my voice.
Inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem, “Theme for English B”