"Nothing Ever Changes"
Lawanna said in our meeting
with principal, social worker, mom, me...
"I keep getting in trouble
and writing letters to my mom.
It doesn't change anything."
"That's because you're the one
who's supposed to change,"
we adults said together.
She paused,
I wanted to
sit in her skin
get in her brain
figure out how it must feel
to try and try
but everything stays the same
getting in trouble for the same stuff
acting the same way
day after day.
the same, the same, the same
Walking by the same boarded up houses
hearing the same stories of brothers shot
the same troubles following
like a puppy dog
Here you sit, twelve years old
the whole world dim.
We rally behind you--
you do have power
your quick tongue
your strong will,
might just be what
throws off your troubles and
leads you to
change.
with principal, social worker, mom, me...
"I keep getting in trouble
and writing letters to my mom.
It doesn't change anything."
"That's because you're the one
who's supposed to change,"
we adults said together.
She paused,
I wanted to
sit in her skin
get in her brain
figure out how it must feel
to try and try
but everything stays the same
getting in trouble for the same stuff
acting the same way
day after day.
the same, the same, the same
Walking by the same boarded up houses
hearing the same stories of brothers shot
the same troubles following
like a puppy dog
Here you sit, twelve years old
the whole world dim.
We rally behind you--
you do have power
your quick tongue
your strong will,
might just be what
throws off your troubles and
leads you to
change.
posted by Emily at 10:22 PM
1 Comments:
I just love the way you see the individual's problem as being part of the child's total environment...and it isn't that the student is inherently "bad!" I also love the way you try to crawl inside the mind to see what's happening on the inside...wouldn't the world be a better place if more people thought as much about and cared as much for someone with a "problem?"
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