Sleepover

Painting our nails
combing our hair
the games are endless

Popcorn popping
Juice is pouring
sweet smell of cake
whisk by my nose

Laughing smiling
moving about
finding our comfortable spaces

Fantasy feels the room with silence
whispers like lullabies
so much fun goodnight

Friends forever

Every time I see her face a feeling just tickles my tummy
The way she bounces her straight ponytail is sometimes really funny
She gets so happy when I smile at her we giggle together
Holding her hand we walk so fast entering the world of wonder
Trying to figure out what to do next
can't believe we made this mess
growling stomachs scream for snacks
escaping our disaster
full of love and laughter
we are best friends

Football

No School today
on the couch I lay
I'm on one end
Dad on the other
Trying hard not to bother mother

Screaming and jumping we can't sit still
the ball goes up then down the field
running, pushing
then falling into place
he made it, he made it
high fives in the air
Dad and I we make a great pair

Sundays are my favorite days
to share with dad
on the couch I lay

Past, Present, Future I Stood

Awakening with only one thing on my mind
Pushing that stroller, I checked the list for snacks
My body whispers its a little too early
The baby is content, she'll understand why mommy has her up and out so early

I stood and stood
Moving slowly one small step at a time
Seeming to only move two steps an hour
The cameras waist little time capturing the smile on my face and
excitement in my voice

Making friends while I stood
The cracking in my back sometimes blurred my focus in friendly conversations
Mitigating myself, my eagerness reminds me, this all means something

Only 2 years old debuting one of her most precious moments
She lay peacefully while cameras recorded within inches of her face
The only child in the very long line

Pushing the stroller over the threshold overwhelmed me with cold chills
Four hours pass
Turning the corner, I am prepared with Id's

One step to the most important machine in the world
My finger shook as I excepted a new piece of history
For my children I stood

Orphan Child

Take me with you
Please don’t go
I’ll be very good you know


I can color and help you cook
I can even read a book
I’ll be a best friend or little brother
I will even call you mother
I’ll be the best kid you will see
Please oh please ask your heart to pick me
I wipe my own tears when there are fears
I pick myself up when I fall


I really do these all on my own
But it would be nice to have a home
To sigh and cry with girls and boys
And share my used old broken toys
Take another look to see
If God has told you to pick me


This is the day I’ve waited for
Lonely days will be no more
Because I have a family
Who promised to love and care
For me

THE COLOR OF BEAUTY

The color of my skin is golden brown
The shape of my lips are a little round
My attitude is sweet and bubbly
Mommy says I’m warm and cuddly
I love when mommy washes my crown
It curls up like the woman of the past
She invented the hot comb to make it straight
Now I can bounce it twirl it or make it shake
I love who I am and mommy does too
She says I use to look just like you
I had your hair, your lips and even your nose
I even had your cute little toes
So be proud of who you are and where you came from
There is so much more in life to come
There is so far for you to go
Don’t worry about your lips or nose
God made them the way they should be
Plump and round as can be
When you look into the mirror
Look within your soul
You’ll always see that you are who you were
Meant to be
A brown skin, curly headed, plump nose
Perky lip girl with a heart of gold

NATURE

Green high and low
A pounce on the head sitting beneath
Stretching beautifully towards the sky
He shares his gold to help with growth
For we are blessed to hear, see, smell all that is given

Within the Mind

Reaching high it seems so far away
moving too fast only slowing down to catch a breath
Thinking no time to waist
Time moves so swiftly
Trying hard not to sway
Keeping one foot in front or the other
Head lifted
I will get there

Love Surprise

I watch the feet as they come closer and closer
man look at those jeans
afraid to fully lift my head,and that hot blazer
could he be walking up to me
hearing the strong rumble of hello, I finally lift my head
hhhhh...hello, I muffle dang I sounded stupid
asking if I'm sitting alone I too quickly say yes
reaching towards me with a bouquet of roses, it pours from
those masculine lips, these are for you
sitting there with my mouth open I take them from is hands, I whisper
thanks as he slowly walks away, turns looks over bold shoulder and says
Happy Valentines Day from me to you. I watch him stroll into the distance
with that walk um um um. As I sit there wondering who that handsome man was
a young man proceeds to point at me. I'm thinking what is it today, do I look lonely
or extra cute Before I could finish my thought, the man reaches touches my back, lays a piece of paper in front of me. It reads, help i'm lonely on Valentines Day! I could only smile.
Well at least I got some beautiful flowers. And he was so cute. Hope to see him again
but without desperation.

Its in the Air/Valentine

Roses, cards, candy
hugs, kisses, scents and oils
shall I smile
Its all so overwhelming
The feeling is sweet
The emotion is happiness
A day set aside to do a litte
more than the norm
Show love like no other day
Cherishing every moment
Lets keep this going
I love it

Truth

I say what's on my mind, do you
No problem repeating myself
Not bullheaded though, just being myself
Not mean at all, just mean what I say
That's the way I feel most respected
don't you
don't you want people to know you're strong
and can stand up for yourself
I do
Might be small but man I got a big voice
I demand to be heard when the time is right
But hey two ears and one mouth means something
So keep your head up
Stay positive
Don't brown nose
Know brown
Be yourself
Peace

What Does It All Mean

I am one but not the only
I have what they have just a little different
I feel as they feel
just more expressive
My soul speaks when necessary
it calms me when outraged
I dream like they dream only bigger
who am I to judge
who are they
why judge at all
Individuality is beautiful and unique
What does it all mean

Discrimination

The dull ache moves slowly from my head to my chest. Thumping thumping, the sound never misses a beat. I hear my emotions rumbling with confusion. I am warm inside, but feel so cold. I shiver with fear as the rain drips from my face. I am falling with weakness . My strength lies in my humble heart. Filled with sadness, a new dawn is near. The pain is not gone The hurt is not over. In time my head will lift higher than the clouds. Every minute promises healing . Life goes on.

Fall

FALL



The trees sway so quietly dancing to the sound of the wind
Forcing the colorful leaves to blow everywhere
Painting the canvas with abstracts of reds, golds and bronze
On the bench shaking with a chill, the warmth of color drapes over me
A short day has darken, moments pass
Asleep I fall

Love

My Man

We’ve been together for 8 years through all the laughter and the tears

We’ve grown to love each other more and from one you became four

A family who truly honors love and this greatness comes from above

I thank God everyday for a young man who looked my way

I caught those eyes and claimed them mine and since that day I

often find that we really compliment each other my love for you is for no other

but the girls who are proud of you and happy to call you daddy too

This poem I wrote is from my heart, each word I wrote is from my soul

I wanted you to know I’ll always be here through all the laughter and the tears

I love you

Delicate Memory of My Daughter

My Beautiful Ballerina

I love to watch her move with grace.
Each twirl and whirl always tickles my
face. With the wind under her wings and

the sky above she glides and
sways like a free flying dove. Up and down
and all around, sometimes my emotions can
never be found. I cry, I laugh and even
sigh. If you saw her you'd understand why.
I'm so intrigued of the way she flows while
skipping and jumping and standing on her
toes. I can feel that she is pleased that
when she had the time to play she maturely
decided to stay and fulfill her dream with
the rest of the team and become a beautiful
ballerina.

Rashika Terry Roberts

Copyright ©2004 Rashika Terry Roberts

Little Woman

I can swing my hair like the tail of a horse. I can make my face like a clown in the circus. I can put on clothes that make me look famous. I can be short or tall at the snap of a finger. When I talk everyone listens. When I walk I don’t miss a beat. I am a Little Woman.