Month: June 2020

Education Proclamation – Prose

BrookeLeave a comment

I want to know why our country doesn’t value education. I want to know why schools are underfunded, why children aren’t even educated on the workings of this country, and why younger generations are constantly cut down and called lazy and stupid when most of these kids aren’t given a chance to learn and grow. It’s a broken system.

I want to know why my governor (California– Gavin Newsom) proposed to cut funding for schools by 10% when our state ranks towards the bottom half of all rankings I’ve seen for public schools/education in the country. Schools are already so strapped for money, even in mainly well-off areas like where I live. He’s probably never attended a public school in his life.

I want to know why our government doesn’t prioritize the next generation when they are this country’s future.

I want to know why wealthy people, some of whom have never stepped foot in a public school, have control over the public school system. Not only do they have control, but they don’t even prioritize it or work towards making it better. Budget cuts increases every year, the schools suffer, and the students suffer. It’s a cycle.

It frustrates me that in such a wealthy, technologically advanced country, our education systems are lacking. Our education system is so inadequate compared to European countries and such.

I am lucky enough to go to school in a highly-ranked school district in my state since I commute to school, and I recognize that my school exceeds the state/country standards in many ways. However, I still get fired up about this topic because my education has been such an integral part of my life so far and I want other kids to have the same opportunities nationwide.

If you are eligible to vote, please do when it’s the time to do so. Vote for candidates that understand how important education and our public schools are to communities and to securing a better future for America’s youth. Vote for candidates that plan to serve everyone as best as they can, especially the next generation that is growing up during these scary times.

I hope you enjoyed this piece. It’s definitely more political, but it’s something I’ve been dying to say and needed to formulate into words and throw out into the universe. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke

Why Don’t You Care? – Poem by Me

Brooke1 Comment 
i've lost count of how many nights i've laid here
            without hearing from you, wondering when i would
now i don't wonder when, i just wonder if
            write it off as foolish young love-- not even love,

infatuation. first, i schemed to get your attention. of course you
            already know that failed, but at the time i couldn't
believe it. the next step in my plan was having an honest 
            conversation with you. i should've realized that's impossible.

you're anything but honest. i would give up completely,
            but that would end this game of wondering who's going
to give up first. i guess i can't let go of you just yet
             half of me still believes you care. the other half

remains asking why you don't.

I hope you enjoyed this piece! It’s definitely a lighter one than the last few I’ve posted. Please let me know if you have any feedback on this post or any writing challenges you’d like me to try out in the future. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke

Time Is Running Out – Poem by Me

BrookeLeave a comment 
the clock is ticking; the alarm's about to go
off. it's up to you whether you want to turn

it off, ignore it before the ringing blares
throughout your ears or roll out of bed and

face the world. you choose to face the world
today. a smear of red lipstick and a tousling of

two-day old hair will suffice-- who knows
what's hiding around the corner from you 

today. you don't waste a moment. not on getting
ready, not checking up on current events, not 

on early morning coffee. it's your day, and you're
not letting it escape your clutches.

I hope you enjoyed this piece! I feel like it expresses how a lot of young people feel– the world is a scary and overwhelming place, and some young people stay away from the media and informing themselves. However, it is so important to educate yourself, no matter how hard the information is to stomach sometimes! We are all in this together. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke

Why America Has To Change

Brooke3 Comments

Hello everyone!

Normally I try to stay away from being too political in my posts since my blog isn’t focused on politics or similar issues, but today I’m going to get into it a little more. If you haven’t seen my last two posts (poems about the George Floyd protests and situation), you should check those out too if you want to get a sense of my beliefs.

Frankly, our country is in shambles right now. The coronavirus has rocked the world, but even that has to take a backseat when describing the injustices and institutionalized racism that thrive in our country everyday. I do not condone the violence that occurred/is occurring in protests and understand that some of these people are acting out without actually protesting for the cause, but something has to be done. It’s foolish to think that protests will always be peaceful, and with a huge injustice like this, it does make sense why things got out of hand. For people wanting to protest, I suggest you participate and use your voice peacefully and watch out for the people who are committing acts of violence, but I understand people need to do what they need to do.

I am disgusted by President Trump’s failure to address the situation in a humane way and respond, but I’m not surprised. During his presidency, racism and hate has been encouraged and exacerbated in our country, and it will continue to be unless he is gone. I can’t believe we have a president who tweets out garbage like “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

Our country was built on the principles of freedom and equality, but it’s clear from our history up until now that those principles are not applied to minorities as they should be. It’s time to break the system and the attitudes of people and shape our country into what it’s supposed to be but never really has been.

It’s also important for me to acknowledge that I am not a POC. That being said, I am an ally and I am here to stand up for POC and others accountable to treat everyone as they should be– equally.

For those of you who can vote (I wish I could), PLEASE show up to the polls when the time comes. Vote for candidates who are going to bring change, who want to make the United States of America a better and safer country for ALL people, regardless of race or gender or any other factor. Please don’t let Trump win– with another term for him, that brings our country closer to an authoritarian regime and a one-party system (but that’s an issue for a different post).

Please take action. Sign petitions, speak up, peacefully protest if you are able. Enough is enough, and we need change. Do it for George Floyd, and do it for the countless other lives that have been lost unjustly. No lives matter until black lives matter. Please stay safe and healthy out there.

Brooke

Black Lives Matter – Poem by Me

BrookeLeave a comment 
black lives matter because they are lives
and if they don't matter then no lives 
matter because this is america and we're
supposed to be the land of equality, freedom,
and opportunity but that's the farthest thing
from the truth when these injustices happen
all too often and racists who have shown
the utmost cruelty get to walk free or 
walk with their reputation preserved.
an arrest is a start but it's not enough. 
until we make this place a safe place for 
all regardless of the color of your skin we 
can't go on. be an ally, use your voice, stand
up, and let it be known.
black lives matter.

I hope this piece resonated with some of you guys. I still can’t completely formulate my thoughts and fully express the strong emotions I have towards the horrible events that have recently occurred. If you are white like me, please acknowledge your white privilege and please use your voice to be an ally and stand up for these minorities. We need to change the attitude in this country, and you can help. Sign petitions, donate to reputable organizations, and look up other ways to help. We’re all in this together, or at least, we should be. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke

Stand Together – Poem by Me

BrookeLeave a comment 
self-serving doesn't really serve you
when our world is falling apart

stand up for what's right, stand together
with your friends, neighbors, community

and be an ally. stand tall, proud,
and use your voice to speak for those

who can't, out of fear or inability or 
anything else. the world is in shambles

but you're not. you're powerful, brave, 
and can help change the world if you're

willing to try to move mountains. to
push yourself up against walls that

have never really been broken through,
only fortified. keep pushing.

if we're not together, we don't stand a 
chance. if we stand as one, we can make it

all happen.

I hope you enjoyed this piece. It’s one of a few I’ll be writing to address the events that occurred last week. I pre-write and schedule my posts a week in advance so that’s why this is coming late, but don’t mistake me as someone who was avoiding speaking out on the situation! Please let me know if you have any feedback on this piece, and make sure to stay safe and healthy.

Brooke

Goldenrod – Poem by Me

BrookeLeave a comment 
the Crayola crayon that you used to color in the
sun in the upper left-hand corner of the page

the vibrance of the honey blond color 
found in the tips of your hair after summer

the centers of the wildflowers blooming; you
notice them on a hike by the beach

more than golden, but golden more than 
anything else

I hope you enjoyed this short piece! It was fun to write– I really did love that “goldenrod” crayon in the Crayola 64-pack. 🙂 Please let me know if you have any feedback on this piece or any writing challenges you’d like me to try my hand at in the near future. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke

A Very Unfestive Birthday – Poem by Me

BrookeLeave a comment 
He hated his birthday so much that he 
didn't even want to celebrate.
His parents protested, his sister prodded,
his grandparents sent emails trying
to determine what kind of gift
to mail over, but he didn't care.
No one knew what he wanted, especially
not him. But they celebrated anyway.
They celebrated through hugs and 
cheers and the 'Happy Birthday' sign
Mom hung up on the stair railing, and
the same chocolate cake from the 
grocery store he asked for every year--
his one request-- and the tearing open 
of envelopes to reveal thoughtfully
picked cards. You might've thought it
was unfestive, but it was festive in
the right ways for him.

This is a super random piece, but I hope you enjoyed it. It’s actually inspired by my brother (his thirteenth birthday was last week!) who hates being the center of attention and therefore doesn’t enjoy his birthday very much. I’m actually not a big fan of my birthday either– who else can relate? Please let me know if you have any feedback on this piece or writing challenges you’d like me to try out in the near future. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke

Gone Swimming – Poem by Me

BrookeLeave a comment 
when i was younger i was scared of the 
pool cleaning machine-- it was too much

like a robot. too loud, too intimidating, and
it would make anyone cringe with the 

horrible soul-sucking sound it made if it
climbed the walls of the pool and was no 

longer completely submerged in the water.
this monster and my young self were 

constantly at odds. it was a battle i couldn't win.
the machine had to stay, whereas i always

eventually had to get out of the pool. it was
a pretty big failure of a turf war. now i 

would love to return to the endless days
of splashing and playing in the somewhat

cold pool waters. even if a lot of that time was
spent clinging to the walls and wedging myself

in the corners to avoid The Monster. he's still
there, inching along the pool floor. but

when was the last time i went swimming?

I hope you enjoyed this piece! It was definitely a sillier one, as I was having some writer’s block when I sat down to write it. To be honest, it took me quite a while to get over this little fear of the pool cleaning machine. 🙂 Please let me know if you have any feedback on this piece or any writing challenges you’d like to see me try out in the near future. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke

Cinnamon – Poem by Me

BrookeLeave a comment 
Cinnamon is her name, my grandmother said. 
Like the color of her fur. The dog's fur was dark

brown, almost black, but I said nothing. Arguing
with her never accomplished anything. 

I could tell she wasn't the brightest- her ears 
didn't even perk up at the mention of her name.

She wagged her tail expectantly. When I was eating 
a turkey sandwich come lunchtime, she jumped

onto the table (no easy feat-- she hopped up on the chair 
next to me and clawed her way up within seconds)

and tried to take a bite. I was immediately annoyed.
As more food robberies and shenanigans were 

attempted, I learned to ignore her. I had always been 
a dog person, but I wasn't a Cinnamon person. 

My grandmother moved in. She brought Cinnamon with
her, of course. No matter that my dad, her own son, had '

always been allergic to dogs, and that we'd never had a dog 
in our home in my life. Rules she had never had to follow

were laid down. No sitting on the couch, no going upstairs, 
no stealing food from the table, no going in the dining room.

She spent most of her time outside, napping on a lounge chair
in the sunshine. Specifically, the place that was "my spot"

in our backyard. I laid on the chair anyways. Cinnamon 
hopped up to sit there with me, and I ignored her...other 

than a few rubs behind the ears. I wasn't a Cinnamon person,
but she didn't like it here either.

I hope you enjoyed this piece! It pretty much sums up a lot of the frustrating experiences I’ve had since my grandmother and her dog (yes, Cinnamon!) moved in with my family in January. I don’t want to come off as rude or an animal hater, but as you can tell my feelings towards Cinnamon were mainly displaced. I actually spend a decent amount of time taking her on walks now. Please let me know if you have any feedback on this piece, or any writing challenges you’d like me to try out in the near future. Stay safe and healthy.

Brooke