Author Archive
Resiliency
By DANETTE BILLUPS Healing the brokenRising from the ashes, like a phoenix arising from the flamesFlames of hatred and prejudice destroyed our beautiful cityLooting and pillaging not only hurt family businesses, but also dishonored our elders and ancestorsYet, here we are, doing what we do best:Supporting our neighbors in times of needProviding a meal or encouraging wordWe may not all look alike or sound alikeWe may have different customs and traditionsSome have blue eyesSome have hazel eyesOthers may have brown eyesSome may have kinky hairWhile others have straight, wavy, or curly hairBut one thing we all share is that we are hereWe are Minnesota on the best days and the worse daysWe loveWe hateWe fightWe embraceWe cryWe fall down, and,We get back upWe are the doctors and lawyers that heal the land and provide guidanceWe are the teachers and students who shape the futureWe are the mothers and fathers, the sisters and brothers, who are the keepers of the communityWe are from LaosWe [...]
CHANGING SEASON
By SHELIA BLAND Goodbye SnowCold frigid windy winterGoodbyeNo more bitter biting and burningTime now for winds to kiss and caress.Snows melt with emotionDiscarding winter coats to go skinning-dippingAs gentle raining dropsCascading water slides of wonderBabbling as brooksRiding the sloping curves and dips of earth.Beaming sunbeams, once frostyNow snuggle closer spreading warmth.Hibernation takes a hiatusJoints loosen, flexThe sky singsSpring has sprung Shelia Bland lives in Midtown Phillips. She has been writing most of her life to help herself understand the experiences and people in her shared world.
