Naia Lee-HendricksLafayette Park, St. John’s Church At the barrier, there was a man painting not much older than me. He painted his friends as they shouted, but we could never forget their screams. Behind me, there was a girl with crutches. Sixteen years old. Her parents said it’s time to go, but she didn’t want to. By my side, there were my friends. Similar in age. My friends said “but it is peaceful”, but it didn’t matter. In front of us were lines of figures in combat gear. They were too ambiguous to distinguish age. They said nothing, but advanced with their weapons anyway. He watched them break his easel. She watched them let her fall. I watched them hurt my friend. I saw him yell, I saw her cry, I saw him fall, I saw the tear gas. I never saw them again. It was all for a picture with a bible. I later learned his name was Hector. My chance to learn her name was taken from me. I Will Never Not Think of GreenWearMy Stan Smith sneakers come with me almost everywhere. Their hint of green is always with me Those beaten up shoes have been there as friends and lovers have came and gone They have been through the things I could never forget and the things I wish I could They saw the best New Years Party ever, the ins and outs of all my favorite places, and the pavement as I ran away from fights I started with everyone along the way. My green translucent vinyl jacket is the coolest thing I own I always wear it when I’m going on a night out to a rap show at the Anthem venue It has been brought out to my favorite concerts and parties, which were the most fun I had ever had. My neon green eyeshadow is a staple in my makeup routine Sometimes I will add a little chartreuse, or sometimes I will add some green glitter instead But it's always a crazy day filled with random shenanigans downtown when I am wearing that neon green eyeshadow SeeI see a forest after rain I took a detour on the way home one day And ended up on a back road after a storm I drove through the most vibrant greens I have ever seen I see that adorable old lady from Brooklyn who got on the news for loving green so much A seventy-year old lady who is the happiest person I have ever seen Because she has dressed herself in full green And covered her house in green for the past twenty years I see Neil Hilborn He is performing spoken word poetry for our high school But all I can think about is the Emerald green aura around him FeelGreen is envy I feel jealous when I see the things I wish I had, love, caring parents, and get-togethers I wasn’t invited And I felt guilt that comes with that Green is luck I feel all the good things that have happened to me, my education, my friends, my privilege And how blessed I am to be given the life that I have Green is health I feel the privilege of being healthy right now And the weight of those not as fortunate Naia Lee-Hendricksprevious page     contents     next page
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