Bleeding From Love
By: Arlette Morales
- Love
- Something so powerful it can destroy any war.
- Hate
- Something so powerful it can destroy one’s self.
- East Oakland,
- Where two households alike in dignity are held.
- Both stained with the blood of eachother.
- The Crips
- The Bloods
- A feud that began in the 70’s.
- Both gangs have love for the game and hate for the player.
- Guns being fired
- Bodies dropping
- Mothers crying
- Brothers dying
- When one dies, its family bleeds with him.
- That’s just Oakland.
- Oakland is who has the most power
- Who can make it to the top
- Who can have the bigger bankroll.
- A gang member from the Bloods thought it was all about money and power
- Until she met him,
- A Crip.
- How can two sides love?
- A Crip, the enemy
- How can hatred be overcomed by love?
- Meeting in secret
- Only because if they were caught, they’ll both be done.
- “How can someone love a Crip?”
- Love destroyed the 2 love bird’s war
- They just needed to show the rest that love is key to ending the gangs war.
- “How can two sides come together and fall in love?”
- It was love at first sight
- The shortness of her breath when she saw him
- The race of her heart beat
- Like bullets racing at the speed of light
- It wasn’t long until both gangs found out about them.
- The girl was waiting to meet with him again,
- Only to discover the Bloods had shot him.
- “How?”
- Dreadful thoughts crossed her mind
- “How could we have met without them finding out about us?
- The tears that rushed down her face seeing him in his grave.
- What was the point of breathing when the worth of her living was dead?
- Love
- Something so powerful it can destroy any war.
- Hate
- Something so powerful it can destroy one’s self.
- East Oakland,
- Where two households alike in dignity are held.
- Where my love was shot and killed.
- I destroyed myself.
- Because I loved,
- Because I loved you.
Artist Statement
Love. Something so strong it can end any war. In Romeo and Juliet, their love was invincible. Two love birds from fighting families came together and found love in one another. Their war ended because love overpowered hatred. I wrote my version of Romeo and Juliet. Two opposing gangs came together and found love. Both weren’t allowed to have feelings for each other because they were supposed to be enemies. If they were caught they would be killed, but they were willing to die together than to pretend they didn’t care for each other. Meeting together was like a dream come true. Almost like destiny put them together. Throughout my poem I didn’t say any names because I wanted them to be a mystery (until the end of course). My poem is about “two star crossed-lovers” that fall in love but can’t be together because they’re from rival gangs. The Bloods and the Crips, a feud that began in the 70’s, but the feud between the two love birds ended once they found each other. My poem is a true story based on me and the love I had for a Crip.
Dear advisee,
Your poem is so deep and powerful. I loved it since the second I started reading it because I could identify when you started talking about love. I felt what you said and I totally connected with it. You’re such a natural at writing, keep up the dope work.
Dear Arlette,
I am surprised with your poem. One sentence that stands out for me is “Something so powerful it can destroy one’s self”. I never thought of it that way. Thanks for writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next.
YO Arlette,
that poem was amazing, and i’m glad that you think that way and deep thinking about life is always something that makes us realize what we have and that really got to me. And i like your shadow box too, raiders baby! and i really love black so it was beautiful.