Feelings of Gratitude in Fall, 2020

The clearest way for Pongo to express our gratitude this year is to share a group poem written over Zoom last night (11/25/2020) with youth at CFJC. Enjoy!

GRATEFUL

by a group of youth residents at CFJC

I am truly grateful for my supportive family
like my mom, my lil’ brothers, and my older brothers.
I am truly grateful for another year of life.
I am truly grateful for my family.

It’s easy to be grateful when I’m in a good mood
and feeling good— being happy and goofin’ off with my brothers

when everything goes good
when I wake up and I know
that it’s one day more and one day less of being here.

It’s easy to be grateful
when everyone else abandons you because then you realize

people’s true colors.
You’re alone
and that makes you stronger
because you realize
you can do it.

But it’s harder to be grateful if
you expect it
or your family isn’t doing
or feeling okay.
It’s going to be hard
to be grateful
if I spend a third year in jail.

Through being grateful, I have learned
how much I rely on you.
Through being grateful,
I’ve learned blood
isn’t always thicker than water.
Through being grateful, I have learned
to just take life as it is.

Thank you to the youth, CFJC staff, our volunteer Pongo Poetry Mentors, and all our supporters around the world!