“Self Portrait” by Katie McDowell (18), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts "An Old Man in Military Costume" by Simone Wuttke (18), Dartmouth College (recent Benjamin Franklin High School graduate) "This oil on canvas painting is inspired by Rembrandt's 'An Old...
Centerpiece
By CORINNE BOWEN
I have not come from poverty
And I am not your centerpiece
But you are the enemy
That’s between you and me
You hate my anatomy
And you shun my masterpiece
Cause they don’t jibe with your poetry
Or match your mantelpiece
You tear me down
So you’re the only voice to be found
You take away from me
The ones who look like me
To keep your power
You dwindle our numbers
Lock us up in droves
Or kill us on the scene
The videos on the screen
Have nothing on you
Reduce us to animals
That’ll eat your babies
And rape your ladies
Take a look around
There’s only ruins on the ground
There’s nothing you’ve left for me
Nothing left of me
I have come from poverty
But I am not your centerpiece
Corinne Bowen is a senior at Louise S. McGehee School. She is passionate about writing and also enjoys playing the cello and making soap.