PONGO POETRY | Let Me Look At It This Way

Echo Glen Children's Center

Pongo Poetry Project's mission is to engage youth in writing poetry to inspire healing and growth. The Echo Glen Children's Center, a juvenile institution for youth serving criminal sentences, is one of Pongo's flagship program sites in the Seattle area. 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 learn more about Pongo's work and how you can partner with it in inspiring healing and relief in youth coping with mental and emotional turmoil, register for Poetry In Motion, their upcoming youth short film showcase.

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

There are so many ways I can relate to a waterfall.
When I'm sad and I cry
my tears fall down hard and fast
just like a waterfall!

When I'm angry and I wanna scream and fight,
the anger inside me pours out
just like a waterfall!

And when I love someone,
I give them my all,
every last piece of love, care, and support that I can.
It pours out of my heart
like when you watch water fall from a waterfall

These drops of water,
I look at each of them like a memory.
Every time I've ever cried,
there was always hurt involved!

And when I looked at it this way I realized,
maybe I'm just like a waterfall!

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

Struggle
It's hard getting started doing things you want to do
but knowing that they're not okay

I want to go back to my lifestyle
I want to go back to doing things I shouldn't be doing
Half of me knows better
the other half don't care

It's like fire and ice, they don't get along
This part wants me to do better
and I want to do better
but then, the fire takes over me
and I just don't care

Wish it was easier, but then nothing in life is that easy
I hope one day I can break this habit of not caring
I know it's going to be tough
but at the end it'll be all worth it

This is my journey
And there could be others too
One step at a time
And then soon I'll be at the top.

I can't breathe.
I try to scream
but it's hard.

I feel like I'm
drowning in the bottom
of a dark ocean.

Life.
Life brings nothing but pain.
Pain becomes trauma.

Trauma turns into scars and blood.
Scars are permanent.

I hate.
I hate the fact I called you father.
At the same time, I'm glad.
I'm glad because CPS gave me to Mom.

Mom.
Mom is who I trust.

I'll never be what you are.

Abuse.
Abuse is why I hate you.
I wanted revenge.
Revenge would help you understand my pain.

Peace.
I'm finally at peace.
I love my mom and sister.

Love.
I love them to where
I'd do anything to protect them.

Protect them from harm and from
What you have
done and caused.

I can breathe.
Even though it
took twelve mental facilities.

I.
No, we,
my family is finally
at peace.