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Found Poem -  New Hampshire Avenue and Piney Branch

By Sami Miranda

Please

          (this is what my mama taught me to say

           before I ask for anything)

I am need

           (this is my alter ego, my superhero identity

           the one that makes me do this electric boogaloo

           along the double yellow line, that makes me tap

           at your window with this handmade sign)

help God bless you

            (cause you know he ain't paying you

            no mind, just like you

            ain't paying me no mind

            but he will if you just pay, a quarter

            a dime or nickel, he'd prefer you pay in dollar bills

            twenties if you have them to spare

            meet me with kindness, in exchange

            blessings, blessings, blessings)
Added: Wednesday, July 9, 2014  /  Used with permission.
Sami Miranda
Photo by Mignonette Dooley.

Sami Miranda is an educator, poet, and visual artist who makes his home in Washington, DC. His work has been published in Full Moon on K St, the Chiron Review, DC Poets Against the War Anthology, MiPoesias, and Beltway among others. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian Museum of American Art, The Arts Club of Washington, GALA Theatre, and other venues.  Sami curated the Sabor Sunday reading series in Washington DC, bringing two poets, a trio of musicians, and two visual artists into conversation, and is currently working with DC based artists and musicians to create collaborations between the arts. He develops and facilitates interactive poetry workshops for youth and adults and holds an MFA from The Bennington Writing Seminars.

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