Our thoughts in exchange for yours.

FEATURED BELOW IS A READER RESPONSE TO A PREVIOUS PROMPT.

NEW GROOVE/LODESTAR

by kae osei

fear is crippling and stasis is a thief.

my hands may be ragged and voice hoarse, but hope hangs low from sallows— and so my new groove: when I awake in the dawn with the yearn to do, I blaze war on stagnation; peace be my muse. when times were thundering with unrecognizable defeat, the insurmountable suffering I say this too, I will beat. in the face it all, I hold myself close. keep my head in the clouds, get my sunshine dose. looking at life lacquered, speak of milk & honey. find reasons to sing, holla, shriek, & make funny.

& to the Black Stars, who always guide us home, Black as the abyss I sprung from; I thank you for my restless soul.

The Exchange is the Weekly’s poetry corner, where a poem or piece of writing is presented with a prompt. Readers are welcome to respond to the prompt with original poems, and pieces may be featured in the next issue of the Weekly THIS WEEK'S PROMPT:

This could be a poem or a stream-of-consciousness piece. Submissions could be new or formerly written pieces. Submissions can be sent to bit.ly/ssw-exchange or via email to chima.ikoro@southsideweekly.com.