PONGO POETRY | Family Ties

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

To all of my family,

I kind of feel like I don't want to go down the same path that I'm on right now
and my mom she be worrying about me
She always be there for me
She be coming to see me at court
and she came to visit me while I was locked up

I just be praying to God that me and my brother get out
and I hope that me and my brother change our life
Like I miss my little brother cause I'm locked up
can't see him no more

That's kind of two stories,
that I don't want to follow my brother's path
cause it led me to a bad place
and he told me not to follow his steps
I just be praying to God that my mom is doing okay without me
and that she isn't worrying about me too much
cause this is what I deserve
I chose this path

When I was little
I didn't really know who my father was
I be telling my mom, "Where is my dad?"
I hope that one day I get to see him
and I hope that he gets to see me when I grow up
I just hope that me and my brother see our dad again

I really hope that my brother changes his life
cause my mom is worrying about us
like we're in jail, we're far away from them
I wish I didn't do the things that I did to lead me in this place

Hope I get out soon.

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

I'd like to be a weeping willow
never trapped by society

I'd like to be the flowing rain
free to fall as I wish

I'd like to be me
in my own life

Free from chains
locked doors
prison

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

My family
I miss them
I remember us going out
and spending time 

We went shopping and to arcades
go-carting
going to Silverwood
a big water park
I was feeling very happy

The last time I felt happy was
when we went to go shopping
spending time with my family
and going out to eat
made me feel happy.

To My Parents:

I apologize for my mistakes
I wish I could go back in time
and fix them

I feel sad I'm not able to see you guys
If I could see you I would 

Tell you about my hard times
here at Echo
if I could spend time with you
I would want to go to the arcade together

Thinking about you guys
makes me feel how much I miss you
if I could see you
I would feel happiness again

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 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 of inspiring healing and relief among youth coping with mental and emotional turmoil, register for their Speaking Volumes event today.