“to walk alone” by Sonia Skolnik

to walk alone

i have scars and blisters on my
fingers
keys
between
my
fingers
instead
of
her
fingers
and i have blisters on my scars

4/11/2023

Sonia Skolnik is writer born and raised in Washington D.C. She is a freshman at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, studying in the Department of Cinematic and Literary Arts & Media Production. Skolnik is an aspiring author, playwright, and poet, and has had a love of writing since the age of seven. She primarily works with various forms of poetry and prose, but she is interested in cinematography and photography, as well. Her publications include a nonfiction article entitled “History Repeats Itself” in the Washington Jewish Week. More of Skolnik’s work can be found featured in upcoming showcases at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and at other such events.

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The Poetry of Anouk Schneider

Lovely Lilies Can’t Touch the Truth

Lovely lilies touch her hair,
When
She
Is
Bleeding,
When
She
Is
Crying,
When
Her hair touches lovely lilies.

Her tears water lovely lilies,
Flooding
Droplets
Of
Guilt,
Flooding
Regretful
Past
Choices,
Flooding
Her, tears water lovely lilies.

Her fingers pollinate lovely lilies,
Gifting
Presents
Of
Peace,
Gifting
No
More
Trauma,
Gifted.
Her fingers pollinate lovely lilies.

Life can now chase the lovely lilies,
And
Old
Vengeful
Vines,
And
Old
Rampant
Roots,
And
Now the lovely lilies can chase life.

—–

Unexpected Motherhood

I’m yet a mother, yet a child
I
Ought
To
Know,
I
Ought
To
Understand,
I
Am yet a child, yet a mother.

—–

Not So Hollow Bones

I shall become hollow bones,
Fluids
Empty,
Notions
Gone,
Fluids
revealing
pride,
Emotions
broken,
Fluids.
Hollow bones, I shall become.

The hollow bones warn me not to speak
I’m
only
Small
Sand,
I’m
A
Wandering
Warrior,
I’m
Not to speak, I warn the hollow bones.

And now am I a hollow bone forever?
Perhaps
I’ll
Break,
Or
Perhaps
I’ll
Grow,
Although
Perhaps
I am a hollow bone, now and forever.

3/28/2023

Anouk Schneider is a writer and filmmaker at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, known for its prestigious art programs. Schneider has been writing stories since the moment she understood how, and spent the first years of her life in Paris, surrounded by art and culture. She has been recognized within her art department for a comedy film entitled, “Lost in A Ruff Day” presented in the school film festival, “Awakening.” To be sure, Schneider is also recognized and very much valued here at The Skinny Poetry Nation.

The Poetry of Sabrina Butler

my body is a temple but
empty
stricken
walls
violated
empty
robbed
forced
barren
empty
but my body is a temple

3/20/2023

Sabrina Butler is a poet and storyteller based in Washington, DC. She attends Duke Ellington School of the Arts as a part of their exclusive Cinematic Arts and Media Production program (also known as CAMP). Butler enjoys writing about issues that aren’t usually addressed. In the future, she wishes to pursue a career related to Literary Media. For that, and for her talent, the world should be very grateful.

The Poetry of Melodel Amdemariam

close your eyes and close your mind
you
don’t
need
pain
you
will
survive
if
you
close your eyes and close your mind

3/20/2023

Melodel Amdemariam is a student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. This student writer very much enjoys the wide range of art choices that Ellington makes possible–and finds the school “marvelous.” Moreover, she expresses an interest in being a “full-time poet forever, in order to break walls and build bridges,” with her writing gifts. All of us at TSPN wish her nothing but success on that noble journey.

The Poetry of Zuri Kenyatte

Rose

She is a rose
Pricked
Prodded
Clipped
Cut
Pricked
Picked
Planted
Grown
Pricked
A rose,she is

~~~

Don’t

Close my door
Don’t
Let 
Him
In
Don’t
Look 
That 
Way
Don’t
Close my door

3/20/2023

Born and raised in Washington, DC, Zuri Kenyatte is a dynamic student artist at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. She is in the Cinematic Arts And Media Production (CAMP) department. Kenyatte is also a member and former captain of Taratibu Youth Association, a performing arts company based in Mount Rainier, Maryland. She has performed in plays and musicals, but prefers to focus on poetry. For that, and for her talent, the Skinny Poetry Nation is exceedingly glad.

“Fossil Fuel Vampire” by Rebecca Spring

Fossil Fuel Vampire

A fossil fuel vampire is biting into Mother Earth’s turned neck.
Vampires
Fangs
Sink
In.
Vampires
Keep
Sucking.
Addicted
Vampires.
Is Mother Earth turned into a neck-biting fossil fuel vampire?

Rebecca Spring
3/9/2020
________________________
Rebecca Joy Spring is a 9^th grader at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the Literary Media and Communications Department. She films and writes in a variety of genres and forms, and she loves doing all art forms for fun. Spring has made several short films that are available for viewing at Rainbow Rebecca Films on YouTube. She tries to use art to speak out about and fight the climate crisis. Additionally, she’s part of the media team at the climate organization Extinction Rebellion DC. 

This poem was generated from celebrated poet Derrick Weston Brown’s intensely inventive creative writing class at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Enduring thanks to Mr. Brown for continuing to teach the Skinny form and nurture young artists as they grow–and add beauty to all our grown-up days.

“Dyslexia and I” by Isley Gold

Dyslexia and I

Dyslexia writes for I
Don’t
say
I’m
slow
Don’t
call
me
Braindead
Don’t
I write for Dyslexia

Isley Gold
3/9/21
________________________
Isley Gold is a writer, filmmaker, and dyslexic advocate whose a freshmen at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Before Ellington, she went to the Lab School of Washington D.C., where she found an appreciation for the written word, despite having a learning difference. Outside of writing, she has been an actor in multiple productions, such as Fame, Hamlet, and Twelfth Night. In her free time, she spins tales of mystery playing Dungeons and Dragons and watching bad action movies with friends.




This poem was generated from celebrated poet Derrick Weston Brown’s intensely inventive creative writing class at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Enduring thanks to Mr. Brown for continuing to teach the Skinny form and nurture young artists as they grow–and add beauty to all our grown-up days.

“Cold” by Maya Ray

Cold

The distant eye is awake
Frigid
Hands
Reach
For
Frigid
Hearts
Warming
His
Frigid
Eye, the distant is awake

Maya ray
3/6/21
________________________
Maya Ray is a Sophomore at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the Literary Media and Communications Department, graduating class of 2023. She enjoys cross examining her classmates in Street Law, fishing at Fletcher’s Boathouse and apple picking to make homemade apple pies. In her spare time, she enjoys watching anime on Zoom with her friends.

This poem was generated from celebrated poet Derrick Weston Brown’s intensely inventive creative writing class at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Enduring thanks to Mr. Brown for continuing to teach the Skinny form and nurture young artists as they grow–and add beauty to all our grown-up days.

“I Can’t Cry” by Jameela Ayoub

I Can’t Cry

I’ve run out of tears to cry
Dry
eyes
leave
me
dry
cries
fill
me
dry.
Of tears to cry, I’ve run out

Jameela Ayoub
3/3/21
________________________
Jameela Ayoub is an aspiring writer and photographer based in the Washington D.C. area. She’s a sophomore at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and is a first year student in the Literary Media and Communications Department. She will be graduating with the class of 2023.

This poem was generated from celebrated poet Derrick Weston Brown’s intensely inventive creative writing class at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Enduring thanks to Mr. Brown for continuing to teach the Skinny form and nurture young artists as they grow–and add beauty to all our grown-up days.

“A woman’s world” and “Alabama, what have you done?” by Madeleine Voth

A woman’s world

you were her first
took
that
away
you
took
her
purity
you
took
first you were hers

***

Alabama, what have you done?
women’s
lives
forever
changed
women’s
bodies
not
a
woman’s
what have you done, Alabama?

Madeleine Voth
6/13/2019

Madeleine Voth is a third generation Washingtonian from Northwest Washington, D.C. She graduates from the Literary Media and Communications Department of Duke Ellington School of the Arts in 2021. Madeleine is a writer and filmmaker.

This poem was generated from poet Derrick Weston Brown’s ever-inventive and noble creative writing class at Duke Ellington School of the Arts.  Triple dap to the good Mr. Brown for teaching the form and helping to spread the skinny on the Skinny.