Norena M. Jones Detroit, Michigan

My name is Norena M. Jones. I live in Detroit, Michigan. I am a member of the National Honor Society, an honor roll student, and a cross-country track runner. I was in the newspaper for knowing how to fix and repair computers. I've been invited to many leadership programs in the U.S. I have received state recognition for my achievements. I've been writing poems for the last three years. One of my poems was published in a book called Recollections of Yesterday by The National Library of Poetry. I was also elected into the International Society of Poets. In my poems I write about my thoughts and feelings on certain matters. Poetry helps me to relax when I feel tense.

Brutality Brutality is aberrant And not something we inherit Brutality can lead a person to a day that's bleak And not to a higher peak Brutality leaves a bitter mark And the one that hits, do not know the way in which to walk Are you being beat, kicked or even hit In your house, on the street, or in the alley where the ground is wet and slick By someone much stronger Not knowing if you can bear the pain much longer One hit is one too many And if you don't leave you'll be getting plenty You were elegant and had charm But now this person is doing you great harm Before you know it you're left to die You cry out for help asking yourself why Is this the person I love But because of them you have a tombstone that say beloved People that carry out these acts of violence today Need to understand that brutality is not the way This is a terrible sin But will brutality ever end?

Education You want to be in a gang And shoot up everything with a bang You say they'll have your back But education is what you lack Education is the key to life And not getting stabbed with a knife Education will lead you to great heights And not to everyday fights Education will help you excel Not lead you to a county jail You won't find yourself doing ten In any county pen Or being charged with first degree murder In a court of order And as your family wail You're getting life without bail Be in a gang and stay there for keeps You'll find yourself underground six feet deep So instead of being laid to rest Get an education and be the best.

All poems Copyright © 1996 Norena M. Jones. All rights reserved.