A Sunday series from RVA Magazine featuring writers from Richmond and Virginia
Writer’s Block is RVA Magazine’s Sunday series highlighting contemporary writers working in Richmond and across the Commonwealth. Each week, we feature original poems, short stories, or essays. Just real voices writing right now.
Editor’s Note: The following poems were written by students participating in PodiumRVA, a Richmond-based youth writing program. They are published with permission.
I am a social work intern at PodiumRVA, and a master’s student at VCU. I am lucky enough to see how vital afterschool spaces are. PodiumRVA is more than an afterschool program, it’s a space where youth are empowered to speak honestly about their lives, and express themselves without judgement. Through writing and poetry workshops, students are confronting issues such as neighborhood violence, housing insecurity, racial injustice, and the need for positive change within communities.
The work I read from the sites I facilitate are powerful, and inspire me greatly. I am privileged students feel safe enough to detail their lived experiences with me. When they write about identity, resilience, fear, and hope, they are processing their realities. More importantly, they are calling for us to pay attention.
I want to highlight some student work that particularly moved me. I hope that after viewing them, you will help bring visibility to these voices, helping readers better understand and support Richmond’s youth. — Madeleine Warren, PodiumRVA
If you’d like to be featured, send your work to hello@rvamag.com with the subject line “Writer’s Block.”
A Better Country
A poem by Ava J from The Well
I lay in the grass and look up at the big, blue sky.
I look beyond the clouds and imagine a perfect life.
I imagine a better country.
Without corruption, bigotry, and hatred.
I imagine having a woman in office,
A step up for girls and feminists.
And I imagine everyone treated equally,
Everyone protected.
Until I open my eyes.
The blue sky now recedes behind the horizon,
And I decide.
I want to try to make my world beyond the sky,
Real.
Blocked by You.
A poem by Skylar B from Dogwood Middle School, 8th Grade
Racism.
You blocked me, I have so much more potential only if you weren’t blocking me.
Justice.
Justice for my people, because you categorize us by our skin color.
Fear.
Fear of going outside and losing my life all because of your judgement.
“Trigger.”
You act triggered every time you see the pigment on my body, knowing good and well I’m not harming anybody.
You act like it’s my people holding the gun, when really you’re the one pulling the trigger.
My Black life.
You are consistently judging me off my Black life.
Your Judgement,
Your Racism.
America
A poem by Joshua M from Armstrong High School
America.
A country that symbolizes liberty.
With all the mischievous activity going on in every city, what makes you think that’s gonna sit right with me?
America.
A country with a flag to which we pledge allegiance,
But the system is breaking down, and it’s appalling.
We as Americans are diverse citizens, people of culture.
We must work hard to make the spirit of this country fly high, like a vulture.
The land of the free and the home of the brave is patriotic to us, yet we continue to uncover the source of all that is wrong with the world.
We complain about the treacherous behavior in our country, yet our leaders barely do anything to stop it.
Main photo by Alizea Sidorov
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