Pongo Poetry Project's mission is to engage youth in writing poetry to inspire healing and growth. For over 20 years, Pongo has mentored poetry with youth at the Clark Children & Family Justice Center (CCFJC), King County's juvenile detention facility.
Many CCFJC residents are Youth of Color who have endured traumatic experiences in the form of abuse, neglect, and exposure to violence. These incidents have been caused and exacerbated by community disinvestment, systemic racism, and other forms of institutional oppression. In collaboration with CCFJC staff, Pongo poetry writing offers CCFJC youth a vehicle for self-discovery and creative expression that inspires recovery and healing.
Through this special bimonthly 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 among youth coping with mental and emotional turmoil, join the Pongo Poetry Circle today.
by a young person at CCFJC
a lost soul
I feel I have
close my eyes
see myself
walking around
in a pit of darkness
nowhere to go
I look confused
as I wonder, where am I?
why am I here
how did I get here
So empty
So cold
because of cold dusty dry air
as I look around
I stare up in the dark pit
see memories play 1 by 1 by 1 and on
a tear drops out of my eye
as I rub it away opening my eyes
I see my bright green hoodie
and my cell door
I'm torn
hopeless
my soul
I have lost
by a young person at CCFJC
Yesterday wasn't a good day.
We were locked down.
Not good at all.
Modified almost all day—
both the beginning
& end of the day.
We were short staffed.
On Valentine's Day people
didn't want to come to work.
It made me mad.
I didn't stop yelling.
I felt disrespected.
I'm always thinking
about being out.
Before I wake up
I have dreams that I'm home
just out of jail
but I open my eyes
& I'm in jail.
It's been that way
for days straight.
Being in jail
always has me on edge.
On the phone I get set off
easily. I feel edgy
and angry.
Those feelings are trapped
inside of me
& I can't relieve them.
Maybe if I get out
they'll go away.
by a young person at CCFJC
Nobody wants to talk to me
but everyone wants to walk with me
and I've always been that kid.
Maybe I won't be if I live long enough.
I just keep it to myself
and I try not to cry too loud.
I just wanna lay my head
on your chest.
I want as close as it gets to your heart
and we could fall apart all over again.
Nobody knows me.
Nobody knows a thing about me.
Everyone doubts me
but I'mma make it all come true
and I'd do it for you.
I know all about the pain that you
go through.
Nobody wants to talk to me
but everyone wants to walk with me.
Everybody so fake, everybody act like
they care.
Take me away from here.
Everybody so fake, everybody act like
they care.
But I don't wanna go back there.
Everybody so fake, I swear.
Featured image via Jorm Sangsorn/Shutterstock.com.
Before you move on to the next story …
The South Seattle Emerald™ is brought to you by Rainmakers. Rainmakers give recurring gifts at any amount. With around 1,000 Rainmakers, the Emerald™ is truly community-driven local media. Help us keep BIPOC-led media free and accessible.
If just half of our readers signed up to give $6 a month, we wouldn't have to fundraise for the rest of the year. Small amounts make a difference.
We cannot do this work without you. Become a Rainmaker today!