8.31.2007

happiness is just around the corner

i said happiness is just around the corner.
confident that this stumble will not result in permanent paralysis
i, doctor lovo, prescribed a road trip to the other side of the street.
she looked up at me hopeless, still hurt, still confused.
nothings really changed.
i watched her as the arteries leading into her heart were tied
with zip ties stretched as hard as possible
leaving her with enough blood pumping to stay alive
she cried
i told her the scissors are in my hand but i can't cut the ties
if you won't let me get inside
i can love you like forever was yesterday

8.30.2007

children


child: [chahyld] Pronunciation Key –noun, plural chil·dren.
1.a person between birth and full growth; a boy or girl:


Children, they're beautiful. Innocence can be defined through words spoken by the smallest version of ourselves. I've spent two days with my new after school center and I can already see the kids growing to love me.

I won't say any names for privacy's sake but when I refer to any of the kids specifically, I'll use letters. For example, child A was riding a bicycle and child B was watching.

So today was the second day I got to interact with the kids. I was helping child A with some math homework. I can remember doing the same problems in New York, and remember the different things going on around my neighborhood and in my life at the time. My alcoholic uncle living with us and his friends visiting the house being the clearest memory. Back to present time, before the flashback; I was trying to get him to try to do the work. He wasn't interested in the least bit with my deep, thought out insight on the NUMBER LINE. I mean who in their right mind can't get excited about the number line... Seriously though, I could relate to him being uninterested and his constant glance at his surroundings. The voices, laughing, screaming, running and playing seemed to wander in his thoughts as they did mine; I could read him so well because I could relate so well. When we finally got through with the problem and I left him working on the next one, I was moving on to helping child B focus on her homework. She was singing: "my momma wear no underwear, blah blah blah she ain't got no hair". So I move over to this young mind that needs to be reached. Child B saw my approach coming and she quickly justified her self by saying: "Mr. Antonio, I'm sorry but I'm a freak". What do you say to that? I wanted to bust out laughing, but I didn't want to crush this eight year old's concentration. So I simply said: "child B, quit playing around and focus on your homework." When homework was done, I took them to the park to play. I haven't watched kids have fun playing together in so long... brought back hide and go seek memories. Makes me wonder where the kids I grew up with are now. Besides Johnny of course, who ended up in jail for life. Thats another blog.