Bennett College is a small, private, historically Black liberal arts college for women. The College offers women an education conducive to excellence in scholarly pursuits; preparation for leadership roles in the workplace, society, and the world; and life-long learning in a technologically advanced, complex global society. As a United Methodist Church-related institution, Bennett College promotes morally grounded maturation, intellectual honesty, purposeful public service, and responsible civic action.

Bennu

A Literary Journal

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Bennett College for Women
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-2549-6

Chapter One

I Say I Am

I say I am music
For the rhythms move me
The lyrics, they are the air that I breathe
I say I am like Dr. King
For I too have a dream
But it's for black people to live together in peace
I say I am like the mute, unable to speak
For my thoughts are better off read than said
I say I am like the Virgin Mary
Since it will only be by the Holy Spirit that I conceive
Don't get me wrong, I do love children
It's just not my job to bear them
Instead I tend to nurture those already here
Who no one seems to want
So like Michael Jackson, I'll be there
I claim to be like Cinderella
Except I am already a Queen waiting for my King
To one day come and rescue me
So what if I live my life like a fairy tale
Just call me Sleeping Beauty
Since I'm walking through life with my eyes closed anyway
Dreaming every night and all day
I say I am like a leaf on a tree
Just being until the time is up for me
Then I will rest and let my works speak for me
And my tombstone simply states
I AM ME

Queen


Fresh Woman

Fresh woman
Confused in the dark
A little black girl so lost
Views still black and white

Dream of the unknown
Lying beyond the limits
Rushing from the breasts

Green as a string bean
Pretending to be all grown
Eyes so wide and long

Eager to be free
Blinded by the glare of lights
Still full speed ahead

Cannot stop so fast
Too close now she can't pull back
She hits the mirage wall HARD

Konica Haynes


Defining Hope

There are two Shadows of leadership
In this black stillness, destiny is to fade the light
They ease slowly and surely toward dignity
In Long stretched wheels—
Long stretched wheels that glide up capitol hills to fight—
To fight a battle that seems to have already been won
But it is by this challenger who knows the battle has just begun
Change and hope shiver the bones to breathe desire
Hands to foreheads salute as we wait to be inspired
First Ladies arrive and it's their strength their men survive
Survive the testing times

There is a flag that waves cheerfully
Horns play in patriotic symphonies that shower
Drums roll silent for victories are in the hour
Unity vision and greatness are echoed through a pledge of power
It is these cannons that against the odds are raised
Raised from purpose, faith and duties connected to a face
Heritage of falling heroes and guardians of liberty we no longer see
Moments of a defining generation whose movement generated and
started with me

There were frozen smiles of prosperity on that cold but memorable day
Inclusion not exclusion is what must pave our way
Keepers of legacy unbroken in no need of restraint
As our President speaks of the future we no longer imply the word can't
Although it began with the persistence of a man
We are a nation, together, in efforts we stand
Hand in Hand
Our country
Our land
Torn are the Shackles
Because
YES WE CAN

Nicole Miller

About Roses

Her father said, "Give her one Rose, one perfect Rose each year
to mark this day."
Her lover said, "A Rose, a perfect Rose! Roses are not bread or earth or
sustenance—and one should not make promises that one can't keep."
Yet out of the bread and sustenance came bushes and bushes of Roses.
Which only goes to show
Fathers can't know everything
Not even when it comes to love.

Ruth Lucier


Marching To The Dream

One day I met a man holding up a sign.
Cold and lonely he was wrapped in a blanket
Looked at me and started crying,
"Tell me how can I survive tomorrow
If I can't get through today?
I lost my job I worked my whole life
and my savings are spent away."
I told him, "My brother walk with me
and together we will march
And spread Martin Luther King's dream through the slums of the parks.
We will get through this time together
Nobody can survive alone.
Let's end poverty forever and make our nation a home."

One day I saw a lady crying on the street.
She looked scared and helpless
Terrified she cried to me,
"Tell me how can I survive tomorrow
If I can't get through today?
No friends, no family, no love
Alone in the world with AIDS."
I looked at her and said, "My sister walk with me
And together we will march
And spread Martin Luther King's dream through the slums of the parks.
We will get through this time together
Nobody can survive alone.
Let's care for the sick forever and make our nation a home."

One day I met a young boy standing on the corner.
Selling drugs to support his family
To take care of himself and his mother.
He said, "Tell me how can I survive tomorrow
If I can't get through today?
I don't have an education, or degree
And the rent is two months late."
I told him," Young fellow walk with me
And together we will march
And spread Martin Luther King's dream through the slums of the parks.
We will get though this time together
Nobody can survive alone.
Let's end violence and drugs on every corner forever and make our
nation a home."

And side by side we all marched on.
Through the slums, ghettos, and hoods.
Transforming ourselves into kings and queens
Until everyone understood;
That when our sisters are dying
So are we.
When a child is hungry
We all starve.
And when one man suffers pain and sickness
America loses the DREAM.
So next time you see a hopeless man struggling to survive
Tell him, say to him, "My brother you are not alone," and march by
his side.

Tiara Miller


Untitled

Separation between fingertips and loose smiles
As the wind blows my hair over my shoulder, I look back
Back to where the smell is familiar and where the touch
comforts my soul
Back to where the acceptance is honest in the grips truth,
dearest now holds
Proud as the trees towering as the leaves take their route to coast
Coast to a balance of understanding

Separation between fingertips and loose smiles
Ease of temperature in stress fires
Change in landmarks but acknowledgement of desire
Origin is longed for, on the tears of rain that drops everclear
But as the nature exists to suggest here is ever near

Separation between fingertips and loose smiles
Knowing worth is worthwhile
Sacrifice, red wine that is swished lightly round closed lips
Ever so sweet, lightly kissed, missed and therefore savored
Savored for blind eyes see slightly and as time exists
Existence past the evident through the present and toward the sky

Separation between fingertips and loose smiles
Conforms me to build independents dams worldwide
Dams tornados fan as the walls from pressure expand
Need for the essence to soothe once again greatly in spirit
Uplift it, in connection of ecosystems abroad
Closer for short—Closer is never too little charge

Separation between fingertips and loose smiles
Desolate...