A Superb Coffeehouse, Indeed.

At my school, The Park School of Buffalo, we have coffeehouse events taking place a few times a year. They are spectacular occasions with music that takes your breath away and poetry that leaves you lost for words. Yes, they both have the same meaning, but I did want to express some variety in the latter sentence. There was a coffeehouse/poetry jam event last night and it carried so much importance to me. (February 9, 2009)

The proceeds from the coffeehouse event went to the Gay-Straight Alliance and other diversity groups at my school. This event held much importance to me because of the life defining moment it carried for me being a gay adolescent. Coming out of the closet has been made easier for me due to the many friends and teachers that have been extremely supportive of me. I wrote a poem, to which I would like to dedicate these people for being there for me, even if they all live back home in Canada.

On the local front, Park School has a wonderful atmosphere of GLBT acceptance and a strong progressive principle for student individualism and success. Ms. Aja, one of my most trusted teachers at Park, wore an "ALLY" button at the even last night and it made me smile. I will write more about my beloved school soon. All of my Park friends mean so much to me. They have made being gay accepted and loved by other students, and most of all, I can be "The Coffee Teen" at my school. Yes, I drink and embody coffee at school and people certainly know me for it!

This poem has no title, but it is dedicated to the following friends in this "Coffee Teen"'s life (friends in Canada). For Park people, you are all loved. I will write another poem, or even a song, for you very soon. Maybe next Coffeehouse?

$240 were accumulated and half of it will go to the GSA alone! Impressive, wonderful, and I love Park School dearly. Thank you all, for letting me be who I am and want to be.

Exposure,
It opens you,
It moves you,
It drives you to change,
To be the change,
To stand up for what is right,
And away you're out,
Your soul is exposed,
Off you go,
On an uncontrollable path,
With no roadsigns,
Off you go,
Out the shell,
Out the closet,
Your soul is exposed,
And it's free,
To grow,
To live,
To jam,
And even to serenade,
You are the soul,
Your soul talks the talk,
They unite,
They hold you,
These collection of souls,
Dance of the soul,
Congregation of purpose,
They lead,
Feed each other,
All for servitude,
With gratitude,
And exposure required,
I stand proud,
A soul stands tall,
All of us souls,
United,
Courageous,
Going to seize the day,
Strive for goodness,
Run with curiosity,
Started from exposure,
A soul makes a legacy.

This is the poem I wrote and read for last night's coffeehouse. You know who I care about and it most probably is whoever is reading this right now. It most likely could be you. Thank you if you are reading this post. Coffeehouse went really well last night.

NOTE: I finally came up with a title in March 2009 for this poem and it is entitled: Exposure of The Soul.