PONGO POETRY | Trying to Change

Pongo Poetry Project's mission is to engage youth in writing poetry to inspire healing and growth. In the spring of 2022, Pongo began mentoring poetry with young people at the Echo Glen Children's Center, a juvenile institution for youth serving criminal sentences. Studies of incarcerated youth indicate that up to 70% suffer from a mental health disorder and that many have experienced childhood trauma. The isolation, economic upheaval, and turmoil of the last two years have only exacerbated this issue. Youth at Echo Glen have endured significant mental and emotional challenges in the last two years, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, sleep issues, and behavioral challenges.

Pongo believes there is power in creative expression, and articulating one's pain to an empathetic audience. Through this special monthly column in partnership with the South Seattle Emerald, Pongo invites readers to bear witness to the pain, resilience, and creative capacity of youth whose voices and perspectives are too often relegated to the periphery. To partner with Pongo in inspiring healing and relief in youth coping with mental and emotional turmoil,join the Pongo Poetry Circle today.

Trying to Change

by a young person at the Echo Glen Children's Center

Success
Trying to make my family proud
By making a change in my life
But I can't do it by myself
I need my family to support me
Because before I had no one but me

And look where I'm at now

In a cell
With four walls
And those are my
Friends

Trying to surround myself with good
Positive people
But it's hard because
I'm not used to it

I'm used to hanging around a gang
As my family
Now I gotta open my eyes a little bit more
And see that it's family over anything

Cuz I realized I got locked up and most of them
Forgot about me
So I don't have no friends
I only have family and brothers

Now I'm trying to get my diploma
And trying to change my life around
But deep down I will always be in a gang
No matter how hard I try to leave it
It will always be in my blood

I wish I could go back as a little kid
When I was a Mama's boy
And now I'm a street boy
And it hurts me
I'm not used to expressing my feelings
To no one else but me
But being locked up helped me realize
That they're here to help me
Not to judge me

I want to be able to take my nephew to
His elementary school one day
Because I was there when he was first born
So I want to be there for the rest of the time

Something that my dad didn't
Do

If I was to have a kid
I would be way better than my dad was
And I know that by heart

Tired of the Pain

by a young person at the Echo Glen Children's Center

My Uncle's death
A lot of hurt and pain
Because it just happened yesterday
A lot of anger towards his killer
I feel lost
Drained of energy
Tired of the pain

He was a loving spirit
So outgoing
Very Special to me
Was a positive figure in my life

When my dad was in jail
He was like a father figure to me
Was really understanding and listened to me
And supportive and caring

A really good person
Like, why did you take him God?
He didn't deserve what happened.

Like, why do I feel so much pain?
I needed you, and you left.
I feel so lost.
Drained of energy
Tired of the pain

A Lot

by a young person at the Echo Glen Children's Center

You learn a lot from
who you hang with.

You learn how loyal
they are to you.

Which isn't a lot. you
learn how much they're

there for you. once again.
not a lot. You came in

this world alone. Same
way you're leaving it.

📸 Featured image by 周杰意 Jieyi Zhou.