The Never-Ending Sinkhole

The NeverEnding Sinkhole

To walk in my shoes is to be scared to go outside because of my color & gender.

To walk in my shoes is to be drained to the point of feeling like a walking corpse.

To walk in my shoes is to take in the new beginnings to be happy again.

To walk in my shoes is to be surrounded by people that love & hate me.

To walk in my shoes is to have good grades.

To walk in my shoes is to make sure that you complete your school work & house work, even if you have to stay up till two in the morning.

Ayanna Rose

To walk in my shoes is to feel like a shadow is taking over you.

To walk in my shoes is to feel like your brain is on fire.

To walk in my shoes is to feel like when you speak, you’re stepping on needles.

To walk in my shoes is to feel joy when you’re with people you love and trust.

To walk in my shoes is to feel like your world is ending and beginning over & over.

To walk in my shoes is to feel like you’re a castaway.

To Walk in My Shoes

Danyelin Sanchez

To walk in my shoes means that you lose the one person you love, to feel pain and depression.

To walk in my shoes means that you don’t sleep, insomnia and nightmares every night.

To walk in my shoes means that no one loves you, to live in darkness, because the light has died.

To walk in my shoes means that you see shadows at night, to feel lonely and like everybody hates you.

To walk in my shoes means that you lose yourself, to feel like you will never be good enough.

To walk in my shoes means to look in a mirror and believe all the bad things that they say to you.

To walk in my shoes means that you have to live with a fake smile on your face everyday.

To walk in my shoes is to be motherless, even though she promised to never leave you alone.

To walk in my shoes means to not have the opportunity to say goodbye.

To walk in my shoes means to feel cold, almost like death.

To walk in my shoes means to cut your arms, to remind yourself that you are alive.

To walk in my shoes means to lie, telling yourself that you are happy and everything is ok.

From Two Worlds

Genesis Tavarez

I am from rice and beans for every meal, Where merengue at 7:00 AM is normal. I am from having my family there for me, always. A happy neighborhood where you feel the music vibrating at your feet. I am from a place where part of my family is so destitute they don’t always have three meals a day. We try to help. I am from palm trees. I am from the sun being so bright it makes me squint. I am from where my mom was born and raised. I am from where coming to New York was a such a big accomplishment it made my heart feel like it would jump out of my chest. I couldn’t contain my excitement.

I am from bacon, egg and cheese, From the city that never sleeps. I am from where you can’t tell if it is a firework or a gunshot. Where everybody on your block is family. I am from where getting pulled over is frightening, Where gun violence is normalized, And young kids are forced to grow up too fast.

I am from Santo Domingo and The Bronx.

Our Last Christmas

Genesis Tavarez

My world changed when I got that call. I sobbed at the thought of never seeing you again.

On my birthday, all I could think of was how you aren’t with us anymore.

How much I miss your hugs and gifts.

It was almost as if you enjoyed my birthday more than I did.

Now we light candles for you in your absence on every holiday.

Christmas will never be the same, it was your favorite.

Why you? Why did this have to happen? Why did God let this happen to you?

I could only think how much you must have suffered, how much pain you went through . . .

My heart shattered, never the same.

I will never forget, never forget this pandemic that took you from us.

You will never be forgotten, your pendant will forever be over my heart.

La Expectativa de una Chica

Sabrina Tavarez

Soy una revolución.

Soy una vuelta de 180 grados.

Soy un cambio.

Soy una esperanza para esos sueños no logrados.

Soy una chica con sueños.

Con ganas de ser ella misma y no temer a estar condenada a un destino no deseado.

Soy un refugio para mis amistades.

Soy una mente que nunca para de maquinar pensamientos no deseados.

Soy una chica que encuentra seguridad en la música.

Soy una chica que detrás de su locura esconde tristesa en su interior.

Soy una chica que de la noche a la mañana su vida entera cambió 180 grados.

Soy un ejemplo de resistencia y perseverancia.

The Expectations of a Girl

Sabrina Tavarez

I am a revolution.

I am a 180 degree turn.

I am a change.

I am a hope for those dreams not achieved.

I am a girl with dreams.

With the desire to be herself without fear of being condemned to an unwanted future.

I am a refuge to my friends.

I am a mind that never stops engineering unwanted thoughts.

I am a girl that finds safety in music. I am a girl that behind her madness hides sadness within.

I am a girl that overnight her life changed 180 degrees.

I am an example of resistance and perseverance.

Teachers:

Maya Petrillo Daniel Nohejl

La Casa North