Redemption

3 Haikus

Eighteen with a child

Left son and mother alone

Now he sends money

Drinking and Driving

Sentenced to Eight Years in Jail

Never drinks again

Went to Prison for

Destroying community

Converts to Islam

2 Tankas

A family of four

About to be evicted

Slot machine eating

Dad’s money while they starve

Mom threatens to leave, he stops

The love of money

Challenged her integrity

The blackness in her

Soul fading away prompted

Woman to give it away

1 Cinquain

Labor

They got was free

Put chains on our feet

To Repent for sins they threw God

At me

1 Limerick

Just graduated college now

I want to move out of town

Shoot, I owe an arm and leg

My father, I have to beg

To help me pay off loans to get around

By: Deneja Atkins