Free Teens USA

What a lovely thing it is

When a man meets a woman

How her smile brings a sparkle to his eye…

He steps in close, then waits

Contemplates, then hesitates

Watch him fumble with that first “hello” or “hi”

What a lovely thing it is

When a young man finds “the one”

Hearts are woven, lives begun

Together, pleasure, see them run

Towards direction of blessings sung

Both joined as one

Under covenant

Of

The marriage altar…

Oh what a lovely thing it is….

Oh, I’ve seen such beauty

How it draws, controls, consumes me

As I wait and watch him hesitate

Contemplate, back track, and meditate

On which way and with what words to

Approach me

And oh, what a lovely thing it is…

See, what a lovely thing it is

When her spirit draws his eye

For now I know he sees the inside

Deep down in forever soul ties

Looking past the vain distraction

Of hips, legs, and lust attraction

Forget the flesh for soul satisfaction

True love proof put into action

When he gets down on one knee

And asks her “Please will you marry me?”

Two separate souls become a “we”

Nervous as heck, tries hard to breathe

Chest heaves with pain like heart disease… Please!

As he waits…

Oh yeah

And meditates…

Time strays yet still he waits

For her

To give an answer…

What a lovely thing it is…

The stress, no sex,

Still no regrets…

What a lovely thing

As he holds his breath

Comes close to death

And waits…

What a lovely thing it is

The stress.

But even lovelier when her response is “yes.”

-Celmali Jaime

Woke Up 

When I woke up this morning

I didn’t hear cars rushing down the rough asphalt.

When I woke up this morning

I heard the trees blowing in the quiet wind.

When I woke up this morning

I didn’t hear people screaming outside arguing over little things.

When I woke up this morning

I didn’t hear a single solitary sound.

-Hilary Collins, 13

The Other Side of Me

The other side of me is not the one to mess with.

Yes you think I’m sweet, and also very innocent,

Sometimes I can be deep, but not too sweet.
So listen to me very carefully

I don’t like liars, I don’t like backstabbers,

And I sure don’t like people saying I can’t do nothing with my life.

If you don’t want to see what I can be,

Just stay five feet away from me.

Love me or hate me

But trust me, I will break thee.

Person standing right next to me

With that attitude on their face

Just don’t mess with the Queen Bee,

That’s me.

-Tiara Cook, 13

Real Love

When he says “Let me whisper in your ear” or

“I’m gonna give you the world”

And stuff like “when you gonna come get with me?”

That’s not real love.

When he calls you “Shorty,” “Baby Mama,” and “Sexy Lady,”

That’s not real love.

Real love is not conditional,

Involving STDs

Or pregnancy before marriage.

But real love is

Commitment

Significant

And symbolizes the life-long journey to find…

That special one.

-Hilary Collins, 13

Who I Am

 I come from a long line of crazy people, mean people, and nice people.

Loud people screaming surround me.

But I am like flowers blooming in the spring,

butterflies flying in the sky,

and trees growing leaves.

I am Rosa parks, not giving up her seat.

I am Martin Luther King’s civil rights movement.

I am Harriet Tubman running away from slavery.

I will get an “A” in math.

Stay in Free Teens,

And be abstinent.

My surroundings don’t control me.

-Tiara Cook, 13

I Am

I come from a long line of Blood and Crypt drug dealers

And alcoholic drug fiends.

Fast-paced, dangerous, crazy and fun loud people

In the city that never sleeps

Surround me.

But I am like rain falling from the heavens.

Trees providing the air we breathe

And birds soaring high in the sky, just to add beauty.

I am Paul Revere during the midnight ride.

I am the soldiers of the Civil War.

I am the many leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

I will have a steady income.

Be a teacher,

And own my own house.

I am not a product of my neighborhood.

- Hilary Collins, 13

The Victim of Incest 

Consequences.

I stand here fearing for my life.

A victim of incest.

God knows I’m blessed,

He’s brought me through a mighty long way.

Yes, I know I’m young

People tell me all the time

But with who abused me, I have to be strong.

Not only for me, but because my mom thinks she raised me wrong.

Every single day, telling me not to say a word.

Five years. Five years from eight to thirteen.

Never realizing a baby is what it would bring.

You know I’ve been out there.

I know the road is tough.

I’ve had my first and only abortion.

But I guess God doesn’t think it’s enough.

See I could’ve said something.

I could’ve took the information and flew.

Yeah, I know I could’ve said something.

But I feared for his life too.

I don’t know why I still love him.

Is it because it’s my fault?

I don’t know why I still love him.

For my life, I’ve never fought.

See it took me a while to realize

But he was never there for me.

The love I have is now at cease.

A man that everyone says I’m supposed to respect.

He ain’t my Daddy no more.

I’m sick of the stress.

Life is getting hard now.

I’m leaving it alone

I’m here today because God kept me in his arms.

God knows I will get through it.

He has kept me strong.

-Hilary Collins, 13

Freedom  (Workshop #2)

Liz:                   Question: What does it mean to be free?

Mariah:             I’m free from disease, unhappy relationships, repeating the cycle, low self esteem, and having to explain my situation.

Liz:                   I’m free from corruptions, sorrows, mistreatments, pain, anger

I’m free from having babies out of wedlock

I’m free from having men use, abuse, and leave me with excuses.

Priya:                I’m free from, accusations, assumptions, criticisms, and ignorance.

Tiara:                I’m free from attitude, pain, yelling, teen pregnancy, baby mama drama, anger, and people who hate me.

What does it mean to be free?

Mariah:             I’m free to live my childhood before I decide to have a child, proving wrong all the people who thought I would fail and walk proud.

Liz:                   I am free to put God first and have him direct my path. I am free to live. Free to reject things of hindrance, and I am free to say no, and say yes… when the time is right.

Tiara:                Free to have fun, hang out with my friends, meet new people, live long, love God, love myself and others.

Priya:                I’m free to worship God freely. Free to express myself. And free to be myself. I’m free.

Mariah:             I’m free.

Tiara:                I’m free.

Liz:                   I’m free.

Everyone:         Are you?

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