Our Words and Ideas: Freshman Year
(Villanelle) “Thoughts of Oppression”
1. ______This is a poem for the oppressed.
2. ______The ones who never did anything wrong
3. ______The ones that were unjustly put to rest
4. _______So our hearts and our minds and our time we invest
5. _______into sending our message and staying strong.
6. _______I am speaking for the oppressed.
7. _______We pile into the streets ready to protest
8. _______in the name of Sandra. Tamir. Michael. and Trayvon.
9. _______The ones that were unjustly put to rest.
10. _______These issues and problems need to be addressed
11. ________We won’t tolerate the solution being prolonged
12. ________This is a message from the oppressed.
13. ________The feelings we have will not go unexpressed
14. ________we’ve been waiting for justice for far too long
15. ________we must fight for the ones who were wrongly put to rest.
16. _______There must be a way to solve this unrest
17. _______that will create change that’ll be lifelong
18. _______We will stand strong and refuse to be oppressed
19. ________And be the voice for those who were unjustly put to rest.
Nneka Obiekwu
January 25, 2018
(Villanelle) Untitled
Their freedom was taken
They were stripped from their homes
Everyday’s a fight and their faith is shaken
They say that their fine and you know they are faking
They work until they are weak in the bones
Their hands are tired and their bodies aching
This terrible practice it must be forsaken
These people end up with gravestones
The hearts of their family members will be breaking
Of the life they have left the most of it they are making
What the future holds for them is unknown
They will lead a good life do not be mistaken
The heart and hope of these slaves remain untaken
The strength that they have has already been shown
The hope inside them is being reawaken
Their hope to be free will remain unshaken
One day they'll be free that is known
Until then it is work they will partake in
They’ll stand together until that day is breaking
Nneka Obiekwu