Walmart Poesy

Recently, our Engl 131-Intro to Poetry Writing class had to go to Walmart for an odd assignment. We had to name and write down as many products as we could... Bread, artichoke, frying pan, trash can, brassieres--everything. Needless to say, we ended up with hundreds of words. Then, the professor asked us to write a couple of verses in iambic pentameter using words from one section of the store at a time. Our professor often gives us odd assignments like this one, but they all have a valuable purpose. He said we had to learn to weave words together without having to worry about meaning or depth, at least not yet. Baby steps. I expect to be writing some mad free verse by the end of this semester.

Examples:

Clothes
pajamas, nightgown, collar, button, sleeve

Tools
compressor, hammer, level, pulley, screw

Kitchen
fork, skillet, ladle, saucer, baster, spoon


Cheers,
Charmonsta'

La negrita blanca (The little white Black girl)

La negrita blanca, or The little white Black girl

This poem tries to explain how the n-word is widely used in Puerto Rican society, often free from negative connotations, and the shock I received when I learned things were different here. You have been warned.

~

La negrita blanca

I don’t really like your enthusiasm for colored walls.

I now live in a land where I can’t even say nigger,

even though that’s who I’ve always been.

Torn like flesh from bone from a country

where black still reigns in even the lightest-skinned ones like me.

I see black in my people, in the food I eat,

in the air I breathe, in the soil I used to play with as a

child. The music that moves my bare feet to the beat of that drum,

played by hands of many shades of mother land.

Nigger, not demeaning, but endearing.

Nigger, not disrespectful, but full of love.

Take it as you will, I’m a nigger among niggers—centuries all

mixed up, our blood, our sweat, our tears, millions of fears,

Niggers—we are all.

I stepped into this foreign land where niggers there are none,

because it’s wrong, head-turning, battered, tarnished meaning,

meaning all gone.

And here I lay, broken-hearted in culture shock.

My pet name lies unmentionable, unintentionally oppressive on my lips.

My heart lays shattered in splintered pieces of

honey, sweetie, angel, nigger.

Don’t worry, grandpa. I’ll always be your little nigger.

(Just not when my feet are stomping on this country’s blessed earth.)

~

Cheers,

Char

Shoo flu, don't bother me!

So, I'm officially down with the sickness.

After a couple of hallucinations due to intermittent episodes of high fever, my friends finally convinced me to go to Campus Health Services. My doctor sent me home and told me to stay there for several days.

I'm so terribly used to getting sick that the flu doesn't seem half as evil as what people tell me it is. That's good, I guess. Much love to my friends who have sent me sweet texts and Facebook messages wishing me well. I especially love Kathia Davidson's message, "Char will beast flu! Flu, prepare to be beasted by the masterful Charita!!!" Thank you. You make me feel like a superhero. <3

On a more serious note, I'd also like to thank my wonderful professors and TA's for helping me get through this horrible semester. If I would've known about all of the health problems I was going to face this year, I would have taken a medical leave of absence. I'm truly grateful that they've made special accommodations for me; I know I wouldn't be in such good academic shape if it weren't for those considerations. Hopefully, things will be easier for me next semester when I start my treatment for ADHD, anxiety, depression, and all of that good stuff.

I also have to thank my family for taking good care of me. They've been treating my like a princess; I know I'll miss them when I go back to the university for finals. There is absolutely nothing better than to be at home with your mami, papi, and sis when you're feeling like crap. I love you all! <3

And last, but not least, I have to thank Henry Neufeld for being my life buddy. Henry came to see me a couple of weeks ago before Thanksgiving Break--it was the best visit I've had in a long time! It felt incredibly good to finally see him after long months without face-to-face communication. He took this beautiful photograph of me at the Old Well. What an eye! I love you and miss you!

Oh, lawd. I CANNOT wait for this semester to be over. Cybernetic hugs and kisses to all!

Cheers,

Char

The Diff. bet. Medicine & Poison is in the Dose

You don't miss the...

October 2, 2009

2am

2^nd Floor/ UNITAS Lounge

Morning full of laughs after a night full of tears

Savannah Copeland's words of wisdom:

You don’t miss yo’ water ‘til the well run dry.

You don’t miss the milk until your cow dies.

You don’t miss your electricity until it gets cut off.

Savannah: “I can’t believe you’ve never heard that!”

Iesha Bailey: *surprised* "Nooo!!!"

~*~

Iesha: “Do you guys even have a Walmart?”

Savannah: *stops* "We don’t have one in our town, but I’ve been to Walmart."

Iesha: “Do you know who the President is? He’s Black.”

Savannah: "Actually, he’s biracial."

Char: "LOL!"

~*~

Sigh,

Char