what goes around, comes around

gracie cavallo

Have you ever cried so hard? at the tears rolled down your cheek, ey made you feel so small and meek. Have you ever cried so hard? at you couldn’t open your eyes, All you felt were the lies. Have you ever cried so hard? at your heart felt like it was broken, And that something new had awoken. Have you ever wanted to get revenge on that ONE person? e empowerment you gained from the pain, Giving you strength from the pain you gained. But no, You wiped your tears, Dusted yourself o , Moved forward, And watched, As the world burned behind you. Because you remember the phrase: What goes around, Comes around.

My skin is a death sentence Rushing through a train station to beat rush hour Packed like owers crushed in hands of a monotonous pool But as I hear the cruel noises of chatter e conversations fuel my fear eir eyes scatter burning holes in my esh Numbing my body, deteriorating my bones

My skin is a death sentence Causing white women to clutch their purses and pearls Since underneath my feminine touch and Alexander McQueen’s I’m a thief in disbelief

train station.

ahmari whitehead

not receiving any grief I don’t clutch my purse and pearls when elds of pale homogeny dominate My meek voice shields your hatred and harm My Southern charm playing as my rearm ghting to disarm your overbearing racist alarm

My skin is a death sentence Marked and labeled from birth as an inmate My fate is innate without a blank slate In the third grade I was a criminal Subliminal tests sealing my destiny Every arrest to trap us in a cycle