Inspired February 2015 Inspired February 2015 | Page 26

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POETRY
 I’D RATHER BE

CHAINED

I’d Rather be Free and in my grave
than alive and a slave.

Growing up wasn’t easy
Being young and naive was deceiving
Now I know I had it better then some
Counting my blessings, I was never done
But we were in the epidemic of snapbacks and tattoos
No gas, but new shoes
Gold chains enslaving our brains
The TV teaching us black people can’t be tamed
Turned on the radio and heard crap rappers lusting over
fame
Love and money went hand in hand
To be the diversion was my plan
No perm or relaxer, I didn’t need to look like someone
else
Proud to say I was comfortable within myself
Black and proud
Not ghetto and loud
And that’s the way I want to go out
Individual, without a doubt
Nya, 15

I’d Rather be High with my Lord than
being thrown off board.
I’d rather be killed and done than to
watch my people run.
I’d rather be.
If you could grasp me, pick me up,
you could almost feel the pain
coming through my veins
almost making you insane
...and so you drop me.
If my life were canvas, the only color
you would see would be black
Black on black smeared in pain.

St. Florian Center
Indianapolis, IN

I’d rather be.
My voice is a living pen telling
my story, Listen to my words make
history
I’d rather be free and in my grave than
alive and just a slave.
Amani, 14
St. Florian Center
Indianapolis, IN