• Poem from HMYOI Lancaster Farms
Black Man in the White House
By Roy, who has recently been released.
Barack’s been elected
Bush has been ejected
From the thing called the White House
It turned black when Bush turned the lights out
Barack painted the town like a night out
Brought tears to my eyes I nearly cried out
He got votes from Alabama right up to Montana
They called him a Muslim
Just ‘cos he’s black
Sly digs to attack Barack
But he didn’t back down
He bounced right back
Took it on the chin and kept his pride intact
Now America’s on track
There’s rumours they wanna shoot Barack
Before they do that he better pull the troops out of Iraq
He’s an inspiration to the younger generation
He’s got a way with words – could he be my relation?
Only difference is he’s leading a nation
I’m busting rhymes we both need some patience
He lives by his oratory giving him authority
So remember remember the fourth of November
So yes we can from Jan to December
No matter what race
No matter what gender
The Best Thing My Mother Ever Said To Me.
By Eddie
She came into the living room, sort of smiling. Sort of. She wasn’t happy in the mornings, mornings were bad, she’d have fits. I think she was probably scared… ‘Am I gonna have a fit today…?’ But this morning she was sort of smiling, I stood up and put my arms around her.
I could feel her back with my hands, her shoulder blades, a bit skinny, a bit shivery. She smells of smoke, but she wasn’t smelling of drink. That was better, I was pleased, I didn’t like her drinking, the nurse says it makes her fits worse.
I give her a big hug, I hold on to her. ‘Happy birthday!’ I hold out her present, a little box, wrapped up, she opens it and a smile creeps up on her face. In the box is a gold cross on a chain, like the one her own mum used to wear – that’s why I chose it. So, she knew I’d thought about her and I knew the cross would make her happy. I’d say she was amazed.
‘I’m proud of you!’ she said. That was the first and last time she said that to me.
First published in Bodies, a collection of writing from HMYOI Lancaster Farms.