Safe Space
Where they will cherish my scars instead of trying to erase them
Every y has an x
Everything broken is not infinite
Every person can survive, not just survive but grow
Don’t photoshop me.
Scars may be ugly, but
Perfection is death.
Please help me breathe.
I fear we are drowning in silence.
No one wants to open up because that means
Stripping away the sticky untruths and alternative facts we keep telling ourselves
Don’t photoshop me away but make me feel like I belong here
The world, too, is riddled with lies.
Strip it away, we are all imperfect but that does not mean we are mistakes
Safe space, safe space
It is needed these days
I fear we are drowning in silence and conformity
Putting ourselves through the agony of a filter for our words
Don’t run, dear
You are your own story
Your story is you
The world is not too fragile to handle
Your truths, but it does not require your lies.
– By Maya Martin, 16, VOX Staff
A safe space not just four walls.
A safe space not just two arms.
Safe space for me means wherever you are.
When I say you, I don’t mean nobody else.
Safe space for me where I see myself.
Whether I find it through a door or beyond ocean depths.
Safe space somewhere I can’t wait to go.
Safe space somewhere I can feel myself grow.
Safe space somewhere I don’t got on loan.
Safe space ain’t something that can get repossessed.
Safe space ain’t somewhere I gotta sign a check.
Safe space ain’t somewhere Imma have to forget.
Safe space somewhere that won’t get foreclosed.
Safe space somewhere I can say that I own.
Safe space somewhere I ain’t gotta pay rent.
Safe space somewhere I got when I vent.
A safe space not just four walls.
A safe space not just two arms.
Safe space mean wherever you are.
When I say you, I don’t mean nobody else.
Safe space for me where I see myself.
By Billaé Blanding, 16, VOX Staff
Safe Space
Like sticking your hands inside of the couch cushions
After a cold winter day
And a bowl of ice cream
Because you’re more than about continuity but
Blasé in the order in which things are done
This is that warm cave
The space between the polar bear and the ground
Between you and the obstacles that obstruct your victory
This is the blanket over the bed
And you’re under bed
That is the safe space.
By Catherine Boyd, 19, VOX Staff
Calling all Atlanta Teen Poets – Deadline: March 24
VOX is accepting submissions from poets, rappers, leaders and activists ages 13-19 to represent Atlanta as the 2017 Youth Poet Laureate. To apply, email AtlantaWordWorks@voxatl.org your resume/CV and 5 poems or YouTube links. Find out more from the Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate Promotional Booklet.
A joint program of Urban Word NYC and VOX, this program seeks to identify young writers and leaders who are committed to civic & community engagement, poetry & performance, human relations, diversity, social justice and education across Atlanta.
Along with the prestigious title of Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate
