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Wanaume Wenye Furaha

Acha niweke mazingira: Ninatembea hadi wanaume watano wanaoteleza kwenye skateboard karibu na sanamu katika Prospect Park, wananing'inia kila mmoja na ninakaribia na kusema, "Hey, niliandika shairi juu yako, kwa ajili yako, naweza kukusomea?"

Wote watano wananitazama kama, nini, kuzimu nini kinatokea hapa? Na kisha mmoja baada ya mwingine wanasema, "Ndio, hakika, fanya hivyo." Simu yangu imesalia na chaji 1%. Inaweza kufa kabla hata sijaanza. Mimi ni mwanamke wa kizungu mwenye umri wa miaka 40 aliyevaa tabaka ili kukimbia na macho yangu pekee ndiyo yanaonekana. Ni vijana watano wa rangi, wenye umri wa miaka 20, wote wamefunika nyuso zao. Hali hii inakubalika kuwa aina ya kitu ambacho ungefanya mzaha. Kwa njia zote, fanya.

Nilikaribia kuwafuata baada ya kuiandika, lakini nikawaza, kwa nini usiuambie jumba lako la kumbukumbu kuwa ni jumba lako la kumbukumbu? Inaweza kuleta madhara gani?

Mimi ni mpya kwa ushairi, lakini, napenda kuwa ni rahisi sana kushiriki kuliko mchezo mzima. Unaweza tu kumpa mtu shairi.

Ningependa kuishiriki nanyi nyote pia. Nadhani sanaa huponya, hutufungua na kuziba mapengo, na kutufanya tujisikie tukiwa peke yetu. Ni kweli kwangu hata hivyo. Na nilipenda kuwatazama wakiteleza, furaha yao ilinijaza.

Wacheza skaters wenye rangi nyekundu na nyeusi

Bodi zinazozunguka

chini ya sneakers nyeupe

Vijana wenye vipawa na

Kuvutana kila mmoja

A laini yehhhhhh

Miguno ya furaha

Mazungumzo ya mbwembwe

Whooo hapo

Kuongeza mbegu mbili zilizopinduliwa

Rangi ya chungwa ya barabarani na 911 bluu

Hawa ndio wanaume wenye furaha zaidi

Imepandwa kati ya mikuyu

Deki zikigongana

Inaonekana kutojali

Hadi digrii ishirini na tano

Chini ya jua la Brooklyn

Kwa wale wanaoshangaa walidhani nini - Walipigwa sakafu. Walipenda kuwa mada ya shairi. Wote walitoa matuta ya ngumi. ... Ilikuwa ni kubadilishana mapenzi. Nilikuwa nimewapenda na ndipo nilipata kuwaonyesha. Nao wakarudisha. Na kufikiria karibu sikugeuka nyuma na kusema nini kuzimu na kuwasomea. I mean, ilikuwa ajabu... hey, niliandika nyinyi shairi naweza kushiriki nanyi? ... lakini, ni furaha gani.

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8 PAST RESPONSES

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Anonymous Feb 12, 2021
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Maren Baturin Breazeale Feb 11, 2021

Love the story - and the poem. I can see and feel the joy in those moments of sharing. Thank you.

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Debbie Dargavell Feb 11, 2021

Your story made me happy.

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Chris Page Feb 11, 2021

It’s really interesting, because, obviously, you took a great risk. Whenever we share our personal creativity, it’s a risk, but way more so sharing with complete strangers. Brava for that! (And the poem is really really beautiful..,)

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Patrick Watters Feb 11, 2021

Ah, yehhh, healing the world one small act at a time.

A wave and a smile go a long to smooth another’s journey, and perhaps even soften a bully’s heart. }:- a.m. proverb on the hoof

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ChiefTB Feb 11, 2021

That is a wonderful story and poem. Sharing with the muse. Love it!

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Vicky Smith Feb 11, 2021

Thank you for these pure-hearted demonstrations of love. You "See No Strangers!"

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Kristin Pedemonti Feb 11, 2021
Thank you Winter for listening to your inner voice that said, "stop & share" I resonate deeply! I've had the most amazing and deep connection in the streets, on subways, busses, sidewalks when I simply stop and connect. usually I'm the one initiating. Though at times, it's also the willingness to stop and engage ♡In DC, it was with Mr Weeks, a towering man with a booming voice, ebony skin and a twinkly grin. I'd see him when I walked to work. I dress rather "loudly" in pink with like green, turquoise blue and Mr Weeks began our initial connection with "hello, where you goin' dressed like that on a Tuesday morning?"I began our connection by stopping & responding, "World Bank where I'm teaching Storytelling"Mr Weeks: "phhhhhpppphhht, World Bank?! They don't need you, the kids, the teens, they need you..."And thus began the glorious nearly daily encounters and conversations, "being schooled" by Mr Weeks. And my payment to Mr Weeks were Hugs. Initial offer from me to him an... [View Full Comment]