This week, the Beat continues posting work from writers in the Writers in Baltimore Schools (WBS) program. This work was created at WBS’ Young Writers’ Summer Studio, a six-day writing camp held each year in August. This year, the Beat’s Lisa Snowden-McCray and Brandon Soderberg worked with the students for two of those six days. Some of the work here and much more will be published in WBS’ Writers’ Studio anthology out soon. We began with a piece from WBS founder Patrice Hutton and so far we brought you poems by WBS writers Abigail Mokuba, Jahi Heath, Christian Pearson, Kenniah Woodson, A.H. Berry, Gerard Johnson, and Kyra Smith. Today, we have a poem by Ernest Johns…
I look at her
But always from far away
Never up close
I’m shy when it comes to this girl
I don’t know why but when I see her
I get anxious,nervous
Were friends we talk sometimes like in class
Only in class
she wouldn’t hang out with someone like me
Would she ?
I still have this broken umbrella she gave me on the first day we met
The next day I gave her a good umbrella and kept the broken one she told me to throw it away if I wanted to…
I still have it
A week later I told her about it
She laughed and called me funny I didn’t see what was funny about it at the time but I was mesmerized by that smile I couldn’t help but smile back
I’m in love with her
Or is that too much
I’m not sure I’m just saying what my heart says
She is so beautiful,smart,funny,
amazing in every way
Next I’m riding the train home
Once I get off to transfer lines
I felt this nudge on my shoulder
Like as if my attention was being taken from me
I thought I was about to get robbed
But no it was worse
It was her
I tried not to make eye contact
But it was too late
I could feel my heart pounding against chest
We talked for a bit, she talked way more than me
But I had no problem with it
I just stood there and listened
Trying to soak up her words and learn something
Then she asked me to ride the train with her
to her stop
I was amazed she even wanted to be around me
I accepted her request,
I mean why would I decline
When we got off at her stop we said our goodbyes to each other but she
sealed it with a hug
But not just some regular side hug
A double arm wrap around hug
With a side of passion and warmth on the side
At that point I thought I had a shot but what if she says no
She won’t say no
or would she
I don’t know
I just know rejection is scary
Why does she make so nervous
What’s the worst that can happen
I want to give her the world
or at least try my best
(Breath)
Okay let’s give it a shot