More Writing from Members

Excerpt from "Diary of Ima," by Sonia Duarte

When we arrived on an island, called Hispaniola, the white devils violently pulled us into a cabin to clean us up. Those foul men put us up to look at as a display. We were examine by these people that look just like the white devils. These people disgusted me. My indifference and apathy made them attracted to me somehow. I was sold to a vile man with a lot of money. That man was worse than the devil himself. He was tall muscular with blonde hair and he had these laser green eyes that burnt a hole right through you every time he glared at you. That man would whip or beat me if I stepped wrong. He would glare at me with those vicious green eyes.

He has 5 slaves including myself, Dalji, Edet, Dada, and Rashid.
Edet told me about this place he and his friends took refuge and we can practice our culture. We practice Santeria which is a pre-Christian religion, brought to the Caribbean from Yoruba. We have orishas or gods that we worshipped and gave offerings to.
Later in the night Edet, Rashid, Dalji, Dada and I went to the hideout. It’s in the middle of the forest, as we got nearer I felt the spirits of my elders guiding me, I felt the sound of the drums beating. The rhythm guiding my body, swaying me we peacefully, then everything goes black. I know nothing of what happened next. I came back to my conscious self when Rashid ran his palm on my back. He told me I was possessed by one of the spirits for a moment there, everything is alright. We started dancing around the fire to the rhythm of the beating drums. Then everything fell silent when our babalu stepped out of his hut, we fell to our knees and bowed. That night I felt so alive. We sacrificed a lamb in the honor of the union of 2 souls a man and a woman were united that night.

Fourth Meeting

With Only One Kiss
By: Anthony Squires

You stand out
From everyone I know
Because you gave me something
That no one else can show.

It is something
That I can’t forget
And it all links back
To the day we first met

It was at the mall
You were with your friends
I was really interested in you
And I couldn’t pretend

I built courage
And asked if we could talk
You said sure let me get my stuff
And I said lets go for a walk

I let out my feelings
Everything you had to know
But time flies when you have fun
And it was already time to go.

We exchanged numbers
As we walked back to your friends
If there was anything on my mind
It was that I didn’t want the moment to end

Soon you left
And I walked back to my car
With the satisfaction that
I let my feelings out of my jar

As I drove in my car
And was on my way home
My seat started shaking
It was because of my phone

I looked at the caller I.D
And read your name
I answered with a soft hello
But you sounded like you were in pain

I drove off to the side
And told you to relax
You were crying saying
You hate the way your b.f acts

I was surprised to find out
That you had a man
But to get down because of it
Was not part of my plan

I told you to calm down
And take a deep breathe
But you said that you wanted to see me
And gave me your address

I raced over to your house
And immediately called you down
With intention of getting
Rid of your frown

You rushed downstairs
And out of the door
You gave me a hug
That knocked me down to the floor

You said you were glad to see me
With a smile from ear to ear
And that you felt a lot better
Now that I was there

We sat down on your porch
And we started to talk
You told me you left your b.f
And I was left in shock

You said that
You had done it for me
And that in my arms
Is where you wanted to be

I stood up
Trying to take in what you said
I helped you get up
And kissed you on your forehead

We stayed quiet
As I brought you in close
We looked into each other eyes
And I kissed you on the nose

You took a deep breath
I grabbed you by the hips
You closed your eyes softly
And I kissed you on the lips

We parted from each other
With faces full of delight
I looked deep into your eyes
And said it feels like love at first sight

You looked back at me
And said you felt it too
But and that you got convinced
Right there when I had kissed you.

I smiled and asked
Do you want to go out?
You gave me a smile back
And responded without a doubt

But to make you really mine I asked
Do you want to be my girlfriend?
You wrapped you arms around my neck
And said forever until the end.

Hunter's Moon
by Bayardo Lacayo

Love is a cycle, a rite between two
The werewolf which all must confine, contain.
It only appears with the moon of blue.
And like the beast, love can truly cause pain.
Bullet of silver we pray for and bless
Pray for one to hold against our muzzle.
The one that can finally complete us,
Like a jigsaw piece completes a puzzle
Love is entwined with our soul, our blood.
It is the werewolf's curse, so full of toil.
But when it is true, the tides cause a flood,
And the wolfsbane trait no longer a spoil.
And so the wolf inside contains two sides,
One that brings together, one that divides.