This Is It.

Its true, your blood runs thru my veins.
We have the same face & sense of humor,
But its you who hurts me so & gives me the
feeling of going emotionally insane.
Actions speak louder than words... a saying I
wish you would truly apply & hear.
Because the more this continues,
The easier it will get for me to no longer be
near.
I've stuck by your side,
& given you love and support,
But when it comes to me,
I feel like you can barely even make it to see
me do what I love on the bball court.
Time & time again I've heard you make
promises to right the past and start fresh
with a new beginning,
But all its done is left me feeling disappointed
with my head continuously spinning.
I wish sometimes I could forget it all & say
everythings okay,
When really now a days the only thing I feel we
have in common is our last name...Ray.
I never thought I'd have to try so hard for you
to give me the time of day, let alone your
attention,
Now every time we talk I have to remind you of
all this and put you in check like a 7th grader
in detention.
Regardless of it all,
I love you & I always will.
But this is now out of my hands and up to you
to fix,
Because I can no longer be the one putting all
the effort into what should be a mutual mix.

Mrs. Smile So Bright.

As I write I reminisce.
As I reminisce, I think back.
So many good times,
I can hardly keep track.
First day of 10th grade.
With all new teachers & classrooms,
At the end of the day all I thought about was
the outstanding impression on me you so
powerfully made.
Dare to be different.
Rockin' the orange in your hair,
You told us what the class truly meant,
And to let our work show how much we care.
With a new day,
Came a new Mrs. Jackson outfit.
Everyday that passed you pushed us to never
quit;
Thru your words of wisdom & clever wit.
Your hunger, desire, and passion for history has
inspired me to want to be the best.
I felt like the world was mine when I would get
A's on your tests.
You've helped me succeed
& you've helped me grow.
For me now my dreams can be realities,
Thanks to you & the worldly information I now
know.
I feel so honored to have met & been taught by
a woman so humble & smart,
I, Chanel Nicole Ray, am forever thankful as you
should know you will always have a place in my
heart.

-This poem is for Mrs. Ellen Jackson. One of the best teachers and individuals I have ever known. She has forever changed my life, so this I wrote specifically for her! :]

Momma Dearest.

You are my strength.
You are my base.
You are my number one fan
and the reason I will never come in last place.
You make me who I am.
You are my hero.
You’re the cool mom who says “Shit Happens!”
when I get an F on an exam.
You are the strongest person I know.
You always make me smile.
You were the first to take me to the snow and
even taught me how to soe.
You are the one who makes things just fine.
You who is so beautiful inside and out.
You even let me have my first few sips of red
wine.
You are the one who always says, “Be nice to
your mother.”
You are the one who never ceases to amaze me.
You are the one who is more effective than
medicine in helping me recover.
You are the one who taught me to always be me.
You are the most amazing mom in the whole
world…that’s a guarantee.
This is you.
This is who you have been since day one.
This is nothing brand new.
This poem is just for you.
Written by your daughter Chanel Nicole Ray,
because I Love You. :]

Wrote this for Mother's Day yesterday.This poem is for the one and only Susan Ray. She has given me life, laughter, love, confidence, a forever smile, & millions more. She truly is the best mother there is and ever will be. I love her more than anything. This is for you momma. Happy Mother's Day, even though I celebrate you being my mother 24/7 365 as I should be! :]

Background.

Your the secret behind pieces of my writing
'cause your life and its impact on mine gives me
material.
Ideas on a continuous flow like the milk pouring
over my morning bowl of Frosted Flakes Cereal.
Can't stop these words from flying out like
Mean Girls word vomit,
Punch lines so out of this world sometimes I feel
like I'm sitting on Comet.
This writing I do is like a continuous hunger, I
never want to be full,
Because each and every syllable I write has its
own role in advancing my life's creative goals.
I write when things aren't fare,
I write when I feel a sense of scare,
I'd write during a game of Truth or Dare.
My writing is raw emotion, something rare.
I write because its the thoughts and feelings
behind my words that everyday, like a
Superman suit, underneath it all I wear.

Thank You.

Alike Jay-Z, I'd like to say thank you.
Thank you to my ride or dies,
For always having my back and being truthful
with never any lies.
Thank you to my family,
For being my back bone and giving me the guiding
light to see.
Thank you to all the jobs to ever turn me down,
'Cause once I have a successful career I'll come
back around to wave Hii! & Bye like a kid on the
merry go round.
Thank you to all the fake friends I've ever had
who have come and gone,
For proving trust isn't something to hand to
just anyone and that people come and go
without a care like the cars on the German
Autobon.
Thank you to all my teachers,
Whether good or bad,
For giving me the education I have today and
being that one to reveal life's daily hidden
messages like a Sunday morning church
preacher.
Thank you to all the strangers I've ever met,
For reminding me to live life to the fullest with
no regrets.
Thank you to all my past basketball coaches.
Whether or not you stood behind me with
complete support,
But for teaching me lessons that will forever
stay with me on and off the court.
Thank you to the man upstairs,
For giving me life, air, and a chance.
My respect for you is oh so immense,
I promise thru whatever I can to stand strong
and tall,
Like the historic Eiffel Tower in France.
Thank you to all,
Whether you helped me grow or fall.
Thank you to those who love me for me
& those who choose to hate,
For being my reminder this life is too short to
waste not being great.
Thank you,
Thank you,
Thank you,
For uncovering my life's purpose,
& showing me what in this world I'm meant to
change, better, and do.

Overwhelmed.

Fragmented.
Headaches.
Loss of appetite.
Stressed be thy verb.
With the increased need to get away
& put a sign on my door that says, "Do Not
Disturb."
Second guessing if right is right,
While afraid of being wrong.
Thoughts racing thru my mind,
Like the orphan always pondering,"Where do I
belong?"
One minute its yes,
The next its no.
While I constantly think I don't know,
I really start to wonder,
Should I stay or should I go?
Stressed.
A state of mind or an emotion?
With so much mental baggage,
I wish it to all go away like a witch's magical
potion.
Stressed.
Brought upon others,situations, & self.
Take a breather...let it go
& watch how much it betters your spiritual
wealth.
Stress personally is only temporary.
'Cause this is a purse full of nonsense I'm not
willing to carry.
Stress.
It comes across us all.
As we think about the reasons and why,
Remember its okay to fall,
As we then will remember we all deserve to fly
high.

So Far Gone.

It was here then there.
It went from that to this.
One big mistake.
Its crazy how one can go from so real to so
fake.
So far gone.
In too deep.
There's no turning back.
Memories are all that's left to keep.
So far gone.
Lost with no map.
Looking to seal the deal,
Like a bottle to its cap.
So far gone.
Unsure of where to go,
Hoping for an epiphany,
So I'll know when I know.
So far gone.
In denial of reality like I'm on vacation,
Need to find the solution,
Like Ben Franklin during the Industrial Revolution.
So far gone,
But on my way back,
Missing a key factor,
Like Jill without Jack.
So far gone.
But found the missing key,
Ready to unlock the next door of life,
& continue being me.

Miss Sophia Grace Ray.

I miss my little sister
& the way she laughs.
I know at 7:30 she's taking her daily bath.
I love her little smile,
& the way she runs.
I love how she effortlessly makes everything fun.
I love the different expressions she wears on
her face,
& the way her name flows, Miss Sophia Grace.
I love when we walk she holds my hand.
With her I am on a natural high,
& know once I leave I will again safely land.
I love when she quizzes me on animal sounds,
Her intelligence is above the norm, already leaps
and bounds.
I love when music comes on she dances and
sings,
A smile to my face is what she never fails to
bring.
I love when she talks I hear her precious little
voice,
Saying hi to strangers is just her 2 year old
choice.
I love her hair,
& how its curly like mine.
I love how when I talk about her its so easy to
rhyme.
I love when she calls me Sissy and tells me to
come here from the other room,
& how she laughs when I tickle her stomach and
say, "BOOM!"
I love her chocolate cheeks and little baby
kisses,
& being there to see her make her first two
birthday wishes.
I love everything about her,
From her head to her toes.
I love her with all my heart,
I believe she truly knows.
I love when she says she loves me,
Because I love her too.
She is forever apart of my heart,
Without her I'm an unsolved mystery with no
clues.

Gay Marriage Satire Poem for English.

In my English class, we are currently studying satires and their underlying meaning, so in this poem I had to illustrate 5 different forms of satire including exaggeration, overstatement, sarcasm, irony, and hyperbole that are shown through a cartoon I found on Google showing an old man holding a sign that says gay marriage is evil and him asking these 2 innocent gay guys to try to look a little scarier, since the country seems to have some huge problem with same sex relationships. I personally think we all should be able to date or marry whoever we want regardless of skin color or sexuality. Read through and try to find the 5 different forms of satire that I illustrated. Hope you enjoy it!

Now a days the gays are multiplying.
With all the hatred and negative words being
said,
They are forced to resort to sneaking around
and lying.
Some against it all say, "OMG gays are so scary!"
So ignorant and narrow minded,
Saying things like why is he with a guy named
Larry instead of a girl named Mary?
All this animosity adds to the equation of us all
being divided,
Makes no sense when I thought we were apart
of the country known for being oh so united.
Gays are like "aliens".
So out of this world different because they like
men,
Less human than E.T. from that movie way back
when.
We are all on our own when it comes to knowing
who we are,
According to the cartoon,
All "evil" resides at the city's gay bars.
Aside from it all,
Be who you want to be no matter what anyone
has to say,
Because in the end happy is the original meaning
of the term gay.

I See.

I see,
Gays being denied marriage
& 16 year olds in the mall pushing new borns in
carriages.
I see,
Minorities being deprived because of the color
of their skin
& world class Olympians training harder than
ever for the Games to come away with the big
gold medal win.
I see,
A world so divided and corrupt,
With crimes and sexual harassment acts
occurring on the daily,
Although no one courageous enough is there to
stand in its way and interrupt.
I see,
Kids without a single stressed thought, care, or
worry playing on the playground,
Getting oh so excited over the little things in life
like the pretty ladybug they found.
I see,
Young teens trying and getting hooked into
drugs,
& others thinking its cool to be in a gang and
dress like thugs.
I see,
The television I watch being over run by the
many reality shows.
Where they find these crazy attention fiends,
who really cares or knows.
I see,
The majority of society struggling due to the
economy declining,
While the rich & wealthy continue their high life
with no changes, night after night, out wining
and dining.
I see,
A bright future within humanity's reach.
After all the knowledge and education given over
the years,
The rest is up to you to handle and control
because there's only so much one can teach.

Strength.

Can't break me down like a car with a flat tire,
I've been through it all like Kanye through the
wire.
Solving the impossible is my mind, body, and
soul's desire.
With a story so captivating, alike the magazine,
you will "Enquire."
Strength you must acquire,
Like a position or job,
Will you be one to hire?
Or just another to get rid of and fire?
Strength is beautiful & something to admire.
In the words of Rihanna, no pain lasts forever,
So let your true colors and strengths shine
through
Like the outstanding voice in the choir.
Strength is not something to doubt or
underestimate.
Without a sign or a warning,
It can grow at a fast rate, but never let it
vacate,
Because on no specific date,
That same strength can lead you down the right
path to finding your life's true meaning and fate.

Super Gma.

With a heart so big
And a smile so bright,
You bring the love into my eye’s clear sight.
With the power to bring light to a dark room,
You bring a smile to my face with your elegance
And grace.
Always there for me,
Like peanut butter to jelly.
Whether happy or sad,
Even when I got stung by a bee or would fall and
scrape my knee.
One of a kind,
Whether I’m with you I feel like a kid again or as
if someone pressed the button entitled
“Rewind.”
You better my state of mind,
No other grandmother I’d rather have or find.
Ever so sweet,
You’re the perfect verse over an unforgettable beat.
Turning the grey clouds blue,
I appreciate you and every little thing you do.
On our life’s journey we embark,
I will always love you with all my heart. :]

-This is for my wonderful grandmother who I love with all my heart. She doesn't know I wrote it for her and that it'll be in her mailbox in just a few short days. I love you Grandma! :]

Decisions.

Life's biggest questions.
Yes or no?
Should I stay or should I go?
So torn between the two,
Will you ever choose?
Will you ever know?
Life is a rollercoaster,
Full of obstacles & questions.
With millions of things to wonder,
It all becomes a blur...never knowing what's next
to occur.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.
Regardless of age, they are all up to you.
Whether its something big or small,
You have the power.
The power to choose green over blue.
To play Checkers or Clue,
Even to right the wrong doers and sue.
With all this power, there's much to fix, change,
and do.
Who was aware?
Who really knew?
Life is one big decision.
We all have the power to excell & succeed.
Make the transition to find your vision,
And you'll find this life is a book you're intrigued
to read.

Always.

Few things are forever,
But my love is always.
Through the hours and days
Always here for the ones I love,
In every and all possible ways.
Regardless of the good or a single sin
Planted like a seed,
Always here through thick and thin.
People always have something they could say
More negative than positive
Push it to the side because I'll be here anyway.
In this life people come and go.
One day this, another day that
Unsure if they'll be there, you'll never know.
Never judging a book by its cover,
Whether your popular or a nerd,
I mean every syllable I say...down to the last word.
Agree or disagree,
I'll always be here & I'll always be me.
Stick around & you'll be sure to see.

Good Night.

As I lay my head to rest,
I put my hands together and pray for the best.
Peaceful resting for those I miss and adore up
above,
As well as all the good health and happiness for
my friends and family I deeply love.
As I lay here, I ponder.
Eyelids slowly getting heavy.
Falling into never never dreamland like Peter Pan,
my mind anxious to stroll and wonder.
Reflecting on the day's now past events
Did I give my all like the cast of Rent?
Was I able to leave a mark or even better a dent?
Like in Tennis,
Everyday is a new set.
A chance to start over
Leaving behind all stress & emotional debt.
As I say good night, I put my mind at ease.
Storing away all happenings and memories.
I wear a smile on my face knowing tomorrow is a
new day, a new way, to plant the seed of my
future's tree.

Good Morning.

Wake up in the morning
Blessed I lived another day.
With my health and wealth of love
Thank you God, for tune in to what more I have
to say.
As the moon fades into the clouds
And the beaming sun rises,
I begin to uncover the endless opportunities
awaiting me disguised in disguises.
Dreams over here, goals over there.
I can't help but stare at their lit up glare;
Achieve them? Yes I double dare.
Never out of my reach,
As they continue to multiply like the grains of
sand on Zuma Beach.
As the minutes pass by and the seconds tick
away like tick tock goes the clock,
I cherish every moment as I journey to find the
key to unlock the successful life lock.
This life is in our hands.
Either an uphill climb for the better or a downhill
slope that's slanted.
Find the key to the lock and hear the words, "Access Granted".

Pressured.

Nervous.
Stressed.
Uncertain.
In this instant pressured is all that you are.
Game is on the line,
Essay due date soon approaching,
Even getting peer pressured to have another beer at the bar.
We all have a boiling point
Are you soon to boil over?
Confused as to where to go from here
And how your going to pay off your new Rang Rover.
The issues of us all will continue
Its nothing brand new.
As the days go by
You can choose to quit and be blue
Or prove you can rise above whatever obstacle and illustrate how high you can fly.
The world never stops
But neither do the jobs of inner city cops.
Just breathe.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the live you live
'Cause in the end 100% effort is all you can give.

Auntie Warrior Part 2: The After Math.

You've now left us physically,
But you will forever be with us mentally;
As well as through mind,body, and soul spiritually.
As we lay you to rest
And send you on your way to the higher heavens
We are all so blessed to have known one of God's best.
On this beautiful day we are gathered
Gathered here together to celebrate you and the wonderful life you lived.
Like an angel from above
You welcomed us all into your world with open arms
Always there and waiting with nothing but love.
This is just another chapter in the book of life,
But for you its a new book from off the bookstore shelf.
A new book without pain and struggle, but instead renewed health.
This is not goodbye, although we can't help but cry.
With the thousand miles of compassion and love
It's never goodbye,but a see you later
'Cause I know we will meet again up above.

-On December 21,2009 my aunt made her transition into the next phase of life. This is the second part of the first poem I wrote for her. Today was her memorial and I know she was watching me from above when I was up there speaking for her. I love you Connie Bereny with all my heart...this and my graduation in June is for u! :]