Everyone Has A Voice...What Does Yours Have To Say?

K.Y.D.S  has published a collection of poems and personal essays written by young people ages 12-19.

The official release party was

Thursday, July 24, 2008. "Our Voices"  will be an open mic series and workshop beginning in Novenber. Youth interested in the workshops and open mic should contact us via email or at the number above.

(Tiera Wright, one of the poets) 

The following was inspired by the JENA SIX and the “White” tree in Louisiana.

TRICK OR TREED:

A. Tree’s Perspective

Oak, maple, apple, and pear? We come in many shapes, sizes and types. For years, we've been abused, and yet we stayed silent. But no more!

My fellow peers and I have evolved much. It has always been said that silence speaks a thousand words, now the Trees do. We use to mark changes in seasons, now, we’ve been lessened to racial crimes. I’m sure everyone has seen the latest headlines, apparently we Trees HAVE RACES! So much so that violence ensued. Who knew racial crimes would involve a Tree?

Plus, what's the deal with all these horrible clichés and bad jokes? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree; used and abused, next! Make like a tree and leave (Drum roll anyone). I’m just so insulted. I don't get how we Trees became one big joke. I’m literally stumped. What happened to the times when we were treated like a work of beauty? Living in a peaceful state where

we were the apple of an artist or poet’s eye. What happened to the days when parents would hang up a swing for their children’s entertainment, instead of the hanging of nooses to degrade the races of others? What happened to the days when people could sit under my wing for shade? What happened to the days where I used to house birds, bees, Pooh and Tigger too? What happened to the days when people wanted to save the environment, themselves, and us? Now no one has respect for anyone, and what's sad is they don't even have any respect for themselves either.

I think we’ve been through enough; if it's not paper, it's racism. Why can’t we be left alone? There may be no “I” in TEAM, but there is a Tree in RESPECT.

Article by A. Tree

The book is now available from this site, and can be purchased at on line bookstores within the next few weeks!

Click to buy or preview

Here's a sample of work  by Anthony Vega

 If You Feel Pain

 You're Still Alive

If you feel pain

 you're still alive.

Is something I keep in my mind.

Go through struggles

where pain is its partner -

I say to myself

If you feel pain ...

you're still alive.

Weakness takes over

 as I keep on striving -

Close to the point

where I feel like dying.

Trying to stay focused

so my body won't take over.

And I say to myself -

If you feel pain...

 you're still alive.