I remember the moaning mornings…
… Then the texts throughout the day made me smile.
Just to know you were thinking about me.
And how I would see you walking up the
street and I could spot you anywhere and as you’d get closer…
…The closer you were I felt butterflies as they call it.
… And we would talk on long walks and have late-night dialogs,
picnics in free concerts in the park and Sundays were…
On game day I would make all the Snacks and walk around
the house in my booty shorts, as we would always have opposite teams in.
And you used to tell me I was god’s gift to a man because I understood all the sports!!
We laughed and weathered storms.
We had laughter, like our first snowstorm, we dug out the car together and then had a snowball fight in the street like kids…
…and when spring came, we walked together.
With no fear of inclement weather, it was forecasted to be a
shower we were in a damn hurricane and made it safely home
through the wind walking, taking shelter for a few.
And the wind pushing me back, but you never let my hand go.
And we made it home safely.
And on the last high, I was scared but I knew I had you to protect me.
I knew I had you to protect me.
Fatal
About the Writer
Since the early age of ten. I've participated in NAACP as a youth representative and also assisted with her grade school at PS 189 in Brooklyn. In the early '90s, I moved to Canarsie to Breukelen houses and became the recording secretary of their resident association, Chairperson of the DEP (Department of Environmental Program) from 1992-1993 (better known as the drug elimination program) and was a part of the Breukelen head start advisory council.
When there was a lack of access to youth programming, the Community Center desired a football team and extracurricular activities, so I organized with other parents to form a team called the Pop Warner football and cheerleading team Canarsie Conquerors. during that time, I became a certified Pee wee coach, and a Parent coordinator and implemented a program for etiquette classes for girls, scared straight for boys, and homework assistance. In 2008 I moved to Farragut Houses and I have participated as a member of the VIDA democratic club, and currently, a part of the ICAC intergenerational community arts council in Fort Greene sponsored and in partnership with BRIC Media Arts and University Settlement, and a member of lotus chapter #7 under the order of eastern stars / masonic brotherhood and during the height of the pandemic I volunteered with other residents to form Mutual aid groups in NYCHA and partner with the local MARP BID in distributing food to residents in NYCHA and the surrounding downtown Brooklyn area.
Follow Tanja Richardson on IG Tanja Ladyk Richardson (@fatal_star21)
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