African Angels Released by Paula
America’s Gift
Overweight in backward hats,
Challenging the stupid stats,
Waddling their selves around,
Reggaetón and rap resound.
Clouds of marijuana smoke
Titillate their womenfolk:
Pouting tattooed baby-mamas
Bulging out of loose pajamas.
Welcome to modernity:
Unpromising maternity…
Our services prolong this scene—
Forget whatever might have been…
PROMPT #29
write a poem in which you muse on the gifts you received at birth — whether they are actual presents, like a teddy bear, or talents – like a good singing voice – or circumstances – like a kind older brother, as well as a “curse” you’ve lived with (your grandmother’s insistence on giving you a new and completely creepy porcelain doll for every birthday, a bad singing voice, etc.). I hope you find this to be an inspiring avenue for poetic and self-exploration.
Graded

PROMPT #28: write a concrete poem. Like acrostic poems, concrete poems are a favorite for grade-school writing assignments. A concrete poem is one in which the lines are shaped in a way that mimics the topic of the poem.
MOSTLYDULL
O
D
E
REVOLTING ☻
N
V L I W
E U A N O
R F C A R
S W E A K N S
E A S E TRASH
(inspired by John Wall Barger and Jessie Raymundo)