The Quotidian Smiles, Smoke & Mirrors; But Am I there?

by Maqsud Hashi (age 18)

And so it begins, the non-stop intrusive thoughts that plague and enervate my being. In my place is the ghost of the empty shell I left. Like a drowned rat, I fight, but I am spent. I reach for my goals, but this malediction makes my mind weak. But just like a dog with a bone, I shall reach my peak. And thus, my cupidity to succeed shall not wear off. And so, even in the face of this trickster, I scoff.

Loud and Proud by Dio Rivera (age 20)

The sun gazes in my eyes, time ticking by, as I sit and think why. All the predicaments and all the choices, it's like a wave that sways its way towards me. But I can't shout, too scared to be loud. I'm not used to a crowd, just sitting in fear in a room with the same air. Nothing’s fair in this life, people say I say damn right. I had to make my own way, all my choices coming back like a boomerang. I said it once, say it again, it's just my luck. They look down when I approach, aware of the art on my arms They clutch their bags, keeping alarm. I’m seen as a threat before seen as a person, same struggles, just a different story and they ignore me. They overlook my presence, just a menace.

No real guidance had me question my life and my existence. Now it's different. When they sit and listen, makes them rethink their thoughts and now it's different. Small circle but I'm known to a lot, not because of what I jot or how I walk and talk.

They know me as the brown warrior whose fought battles bigger than any man can. I’m known to my community because I keep my brown fist raised yelling, “Si Se Puede!” because I believe it, because nobody else can. I’ve kept it brown and I was down since a child.

From those Sunday night cruises on Federal where it's known to get wild, I’m not hiding. I yell it proudly, Chicano Power! I get louder on a mission to glory with nobody to hold me, just ignoring the stories. Like a rose, I keep growing. Now I sit, sun gazing in my eyes,