I am from guns,
From laundry detergent and Xpression hair.
I am from the cement that I walk on
(sandy-colored, feels smooth).
I am from the Black-eyed Susan and foggy woods
Whose story was so scary and good that I
remembered it from 4 – 6 years ago.
I’m from cookie dough ice cream and principal’s honor roll.
From Ashley and herself.
I’m from loud-mouths
and know-it-alls.
From Period! And No-Cap!
I’m from I will fear no evil
with God being my flashlight and weapon
and being holy baptizer
with water and prayers.
I’m from Denny’s and Pizza Pleasers.
Hot wings with hot sauce and ginger ale.
From my cousin getting shot leaving her little
brother Jayden behind.
I’m from running and exercising but isn’t
losing anything.
From family, friends, and my money.
From amazing and interesting dreams that
I will never see again.
I am from the Baltimore high school parties.
That’s me! That’s me!
I am from a city that has a dead body in
its streets everyday.
Rest in peace to my dead loved ones.
I’m Kenniah Woodson to the government and public
I’m Glizzy.Niah on Instagram where
there is always news and drama.
I’m from a country that has an old
orange/white duck as president.
I’m from the store trips and snowy days.
I’m from cats, dogs, and hares.
I’m from the “yo wussup” and
“say your prayers, I love you.”
I’m from getting pushed over a ledge
of a 50 story building and getting
saved by Superwoman and going
out to eat with the Justice League,
Marvel Team, and DC heroes.
I’m from the lying, so called “friends” of mine.
I’m from Baltimore, one of the most dangerous
cities in Maryland.
I’M FROM BALTIMORE.
Kenniah Woodson has been part of the Writers in Baltimore Schools program for three years and is a rising ninth grader. Next week, WBS will hold their 8th annual Baltimore Young Writers’ Summer Studio a week-long, residential writing retreat for 32 Baltimore City students. Middle and high school students from ten Baltimore City Public Schools will spend six days working on fiction, poetry, and journalism with the editors of the Baltimore Beat. This program is offered completely free of charge to all students through the support of generous individuals via WBS’s crowdfunding campaign, which runs through August 1.