Gemini Ink's Writers in Communities program

Gone

Gemini Ink — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:09:37 +0000

I wait and wait
(Waiting is like standing still)
Like I’m a piece of bait
(Bait is like taking a pill)
It’s time to go
(Go is for run and leap)
Let’s move with the flow
(Flow is everything without a peep)
It’s finally here
(Here is everything you see)
We don’t have to wait ‘til next year
(Year is what is going to be)
I really want to quit
(Quit is to leave right there)
It’s time to move on
(Move is like a dare)
(On is when you’re about to bend)
Gone
(Gone is like the end)

Nicolas

from Give or Take, writings by residents of the Turman Halfway House. 2011

Curious Rage

Gemini Ink — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:47:21 +0000

It was a frightful moment for me
I didn’t know what to do next
A big pressure hit me like a weight in my chest
When I saw your lifeless body in the seat
I felt a wave of revenge over me
My mind could only react at one thing at a time
You left the world, where you were in the backseat
of my car
But when I leave this insane place
I shall rest in peace where you will be having fun
In a castle in the afterworld

Buddy

from Give or Take, writings by residents of the Turman Halfway House. 2011

It Hurts to Know

Gemini Ink — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:45:52 +0000

Just chillin’, lyin’ in bed awake
Thinkin’ ‘bout changin’ for my daughter’s sake
Wonderin’ how much of this chaos I can take
I can see the pain
And it hurts to know that I was the main
Reason for your cries and tears
I hate that we’re so far, I want to be near
You before I give out and just break
Hopin’ that the sun finally shines through
And shows me what path I should choose
I’m prayin to my lost homies. What should I do?
I hope I’ll get to see them soon
Not soon, enough, not so fast
While I’m lyin’ here reminiscing on the past
I should’ve been there when you passed
Rest in peace homeboy, I’ll always have your back
But I got a family now, I can’t get off track
I can’t retaliate and get that vato whacked
But you know I’m down ese, I still represent you then and now
So R.I.P. homito, I know you’d be proud

Isidro

from Give or Take, writings by residents of the Turman Halfway House. 2011

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Gemini Ink — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:41:12 +0000

I   remember   very   well   the   year   of   1989.   It   was   New
Year’s   Eve.   My   sister,   my   brother   and   I   had   already
gotten   presents       from   our   mother   and   grandmother.
We   were   going   to   celebrate   New   Year’s   Eve   only
with   our   friends.   Everything   was   ready   but   we   did   not
have   a   Christmas   tree.
I   decided   to   get   one.   I   went   to   a   certain   place,
cut   a   tree,   brought   it   home   and   everyone   was   very
happy.   We   decorated   the   tree,   celebrated
New   Year’s   Eve   and   had   a   good   time.
I   was   afraid   of   everything   for   I   knew   what   was   waiting
for   me   the   next   day.   A   man   came   to   my   house   and
Told   my   grandmother   what   I   had   done.   She   had   to   pay
for   the   Christmas   tree.   I   felt   very   foolish   and   sad.

N.V.

from Her Eyes Were Truth, writings by residents of the Battered Women & Children’s Shelter of Bexar County. 2006

My Memory of the Stars and Constellations

Gemini Ink — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:39:45 +0000

We   were   on   our   way   to   pick   up   my   oldest   brother
from   his   girlfriend’s   house   in   Floresville,   Texas.   I   was
in   the   back   of   the   truck   and   that   night   I   saw   the   Milky
Way   and   a   satellite.   The   Milky   Way   looked   kind   of
like   a   faded   light   with   dark   white   dots   which   were   the
stars.   The   satellite   was   two   blinking   lights.   Red   and
blue,   I   think.   They   were   not   that   bright.   It   was   a   very
scary   dark   night.   I   could   hear   noises   in   the   woods   that
were   surrounding   us.   They   sounded   like   someone   was
walking   in   the   woods.   The   sound   of   crickets   was   also
heard.   They   were   very   loud.   I   was   with   my   brother
Adam   in   the   back   of   the   truck.   He   didn’t   do   much
because   I   guess   he   had   already   seen   them   before.   I
was   excited.   I   had   never   seen   the   Milky   Way   before.   I
was   amused!

A.P.

from Her Eyes Were Truth, writings by residents of the Battered Women & Children’s Shelter of Bexar County. 2006

My Dreams at Night

Gemini Ink — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:38:18 +0000

When I Sleep
I   don’t   have   dreams.
It   is   pitch   black.
It   is   like   a   computer   screen   when   it’s   turned   off.
I   may   hear   the   click   of   the   heater   going   on   and   off.
I   don’t   feel   anything   when   I   am   sleep.
I   am   a   deep   sleeper.
I   don’t   feel   anything   when   I   am   sleep   unless
it   is   my   sister   rolling   me   off   the   bed   to   wake   me   up!
Sometimes   I   don’t   even   feel   that.
I   may   have   a   dream   of   me   falling
but   it   is   just   my   sister   pushing   me   off   the   bed!!

L.G

from Her Eyes Were Truth, writings from residents of the Battered Women & Children’s Shelter of Bexar County. 2006

Untitled

Gemini Ink — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:34:33 +0000

El   amor   es   lo   mas   bello
de   todos   los   sentimientos
del   ser   humano.   Brinda
amor   y   recibirás   amor
Y   si   no   lo   recibes   no
importa,   Tu   brindalo
y   no   esperes   nada   a
cambio.
Y   que   Dios   te   bendiga
por   leer   mis   palabras.
Gracias.

from Her Eyes Were Truth, writings by residents of the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter of Bexar County. 2006

Long Life Short Journey

Gemini Ink — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:14:30 +0000

I’ve gone a long way
But haven’t got very far
It’s been a million days
But I can’t move fast, I’m stuck in tar
My life is on slow mo
All I can do is look out the window

Randy

from Give or Take, writings by residents of the Turman Halfway House.2011

Of All The Things

Gemini Ink — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:12:53 +0000

The countdown starts with only ten days ahead
And just to think, two years ago I could have been
dead
And as all kinds of thoughts rush through my head
I wonder if I could’ve prevented what was said.
Thinking about the world inside out and never out
side in
In the back of my mind thinking if I really care
about goin’ to the free
Or goin’ to the pen
Of all the things, all I remember is the pain
Wonder why? Cuz it’s the only thing I felt as Mom
Said she missed me through the lonely Holidays
And now I’m almost home but the pain hasn’t left
It feels like a scythe in the grip of Death
About to cut my life short
Or send me to the pen
But then I snap back into reality, and everything
becomes clear
It’s like I was never asleep, but I was for more
than a thousand years
Mom, I see the truth now and no one can stop what’s
already in progress
The countdown starts with just ten days ahead

Matthew

from Give or Take, writings by residents of the Turman Halfway House.2011.

Now They’re Just Good

Gemini Ink — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:09:55 +0000

I know the things I do are bad
It has something to do with not having a dad
And I guess sometimes it makes me mad
But still I can’t face the fact that these are the
hands
Of a mad man, a killer.
Once the hands of an innocent child, so crazy wild
and fun
Now they’re just good for loading and unloading a
gun.

Matthew

from Give or Take, writings by residents of the Turman Halfway House. 2011.