Poetry Showcase:
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy through Creative Expression
Yonkers Arts is proud to present this dynamic art exhibition and showcase centering the voices of young artists, poets, and visionaries. Rooted in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to justice, community, and nonviolent resistance, the exhibition invites youth to reflect on his legacy through contemporary creative expression.
Featuring original poetry, the showcase explores themes of identity, freedom, resilience, and collective liberation as seen through the eyes of a new generation. Each piece serves as both a tribute and a call to action, connecting Dr. King’s vision to the realities, challenges, and hopes of today.
This is more than an exhibition; it is a meeting space for dialogue, empowerment, and intergenerational reflection. By amplifying youth voices, this Poetry Showcase celebrates creativity as a powerful tool for social change and honors Dr. King’s enduring belief that young people are essential leaders in shaping a more just and compassionate world.
WEDNESDAYS TO FRIDAYS 3PM - 6PM | SATURDAYS 12PM - 4PM
Zaylin Rincon | Grade 10
He fought for our civil rights, with non-violence as a sword.
And though he fell a fight, his legacy still outpours.
He dreamed of equality, left a long lasting impact on society.
He stood for what he felt was right, with courage and determination in his heart.
Just before everything went dark, a guide for us to start.
King spoke of love and peace; the most poetic dream came from flowing like the sea.
It’ll all work out eventually,
Sanaa Nue Barron | 11th Grade |
Grow in Love
Everyday we come together
Regardless of race,
color or manner
Hate makes us grow apart
But truly we all have our own spark
No matter of color
We should all learn to love each other
Race doesn’t mean you stronger
Race doesn’t mean your better
The difference of race should bring us all together
Having differences makes the world better
And differences should bring us all together
Why should color matter when we’re in this space called earth all together
Disliking someone off of one factor like race
Makes us discount all other factors
Learn to appreciate and accept all
For the benefit of us all
Giselle Torres | Grade 7
The King
As Martin Luther King Jr. said his speech. I listened with great interest.
His speech was so uplifting and amazing, that we all agreed in an instant.
Soon enough the world decided that equality was right, but other people did not agree with this,
and those people were mostly white.
Sadly in 1968, King passed away, but his actions and legacy will live on till this day.
Today, everyone has rights including you and me.
“Thank you, King!!” We shout in glee!
Justine Villanueva | 12th Grade
Soughtman
Dusk had come to carve a piece.
Likely covered with unblemished varnish.
Certainly driven - proliferating peace,
The wicked world ought to be replenished.
Consistent grit, the aura it emits,
Against the iniquitous character to vanish.
Shadow of hatred lurks and spreads,
In his name, the depraved living shreds.
He with integrity, who alters dark to bright,
The rising voice of the oppressed, reveals light.
Brings harmony in his comfort trail,
Rejoice in the world, rebukes pale.
As the dawn came, a legacy was made,
People gathered and defeated once grayed.
From embers, to hopes and dreams arose,
In his might, people’s love grows.
Amaya Vega Cupeles | 8th Grade
The Fractured Arc of the World
A shadow falls where a dream once brightly burned, and MLK’s old words, in the new age, returned.
In 2025, the dream still rings, of justice, freedom, and the peace it brings. The Mountaintop is veiled in smoke and night, a fractured union, fearful of the light. “I Have a Dream,” the echo fades and thins, as 2025 counts its bruises and sins.
But shadows lengthen where out futures meet, and violence stalks the very same street. The streets are filled with noise and unrest, where trust is broken and violence is blessed. The rhetoric of hate, the ancient, weary plea, divides the “us” from “them”, in bitter disharmony. We judge by color, by boundary, by line, forgetting all the strength in the design.
The Mountain high, the valley low, we stand, a fractured nation, riven by the land. A nation shivers; the future is not clear; its heart held captive by the guard of fear. Where is the arc that bends toward better light? It stalls in darkness, clinging to the night. The sound of anger echoes loudly and deeply, while promises of harmony are put to sleep.
From pulpit steps, a call for peace resounds, but anger harvest taints the hallowed grounds. The arc of justice bends toward new despair, unless we build the bridge, and build it here and there. We hold the cup of bitterness and drink it dry and watch the hope in children's faces die.
The promised land seems just a distant gleam, a fading whisper of a forgotten dream.
We march no longer at a steady, certain pace, but trip on obstacles of anger and disgrace.
The ballot box, the power of the word, is drowned beneath the violence newly stirred.
From every city, town, the urgent voices cry, "How long, oh Lord, how long must we comply?"
Let silence not be our choosing sound, where understanding is no longer found.
With fear as currency, and rage as common ground, a just community is rarely, sadly found. Yet still the vision of a table round, where brotherhood and dignity abound.
Rise up, good people, let the old truths ring, a future clear is the song we must sing.
Where children, not by color judged, but heart, can play together and will never part.
Let understanding be the bridge we build today, and empathy with the force that lights the way.
For only love can conquer all this strife, and bring the promise of a fuller, peaceful life.
Moises Martinez | 10th Grade
Walk of Courage
I walk a road shaped by echoes of courage,
where footsteps before me refused to be silent.
Dr. King spoke of justice like a sunrise—
slow, steady, impossible to stop once it breaks the horizon.
He taught that strength is not the sound of anger,
but the calm refusal to surrender hope.
That unity is built in small, everyday choices—
the hand extended, the stranger welcomed,
the truth spoken even when the world trembles.
I carry his words like a lantern.
They light the corners where fear hides,
they push me to stand when silence feels easier,
they remind me that change begins
with one voice choosing to rise.
And so I rise—
not alone, but with the dream he planted,
a dream still growing in the hearts
of those who believe
that justice is possible,
courage is contagious,
and unity is stronger than every wall we build.
Savannah Rodriguez Vivar | 8th Grade
Justice is not a whisper
It is the thunder beneath
history, a force older than any law
men or women carved in stone.
It waits in the quiet places
where truth has been denied,
and rises like dawn that no
chain, no tyrant, no night
has ever stopped.
Dr. King walked with that dawn inside him
a fire lit by suffering, tempered by love,
sharpened by the sacred insistence
that dignity is the birthright
of every beating heart.
He taught that justice is not demanded
it is revealed in courage to confront cruelty,
in the mercy that refuses hate,
in the stubborn hope that stands
unwavering even when the road is
lined with grief and blood.
For justice is not just a dream, it is a calling.
A summons to the human spirit to rise beyond fears
and bend the world towards the goodness it was
meant for.
Elisha Smalls | 8th grade
MLK helps us all
January 15th, a king was born The king who helped end segregation The king whose legacy lives on as we all mourn The king who helped with civil rights creation The one whom we celebrate every third Monday Martin Luther King, the one who never ran away
Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta raised MLK They raised him to be religious and to speak his truth They did not know who their son would be one day And if you don't believe me, here is your proof Martin Luther King led strikes, marches, and boycotts around the world And speeches that made it feel like colors swirled
Martin Luther King's first boycott December 5th Upset king enough to take a stand with Other African Americans who marched on their feet While the king led them bravely, taking a stand This is not the only thing we see from this man Civil disobedience, Martin Luther King's motto
Was also a minister just like his father Martin Luther King saw injustices and couldn't go with the flow Martin Luther King wouldn't die a martyr This isn't even half of the things done But all of these things were never just for fun Martin Luther King arrested over thirty times Another march was his most famous one
His I Have a Dream speech took them all to Washington D.C That speech won all are hearts by the time he was done Martin Luther King made it look too easy Standing up on stage in front of all those people And he knew for sure none of them were evil and that none needed a sequel Of the past because, like he said, we are all sisters and brothers
And he is right, we don't need to care about anyone's color Martin Luther King died April 4th, only 39 way to young The king who helped with civil rights creation, the one who helped end segregation, the one whose legacy we all mourn, Dr. Martin Luther King your legacy lives on as bright as the sun
Alejandro Pena | 8th Grade
The Man That Wasn’t Afraid to Stand
Once a time when people were separated by race, Stood a man who sought justice, He marched peacefully not afraid to show his face, Even by simply marching he faced prejudice. He spoke his mind with great courage, Changing laws that seemed impossible to change, While never fighting with rage, Even with death in range, He changed the game teaching us unity, Which later paved the way for a better community.
Jacqueline Oliva | Grade 12
Justice is the Light
Martin Luther King walked with hope through streets filled with anger and fear.
He spoke calmly, as if justice were a light he could offer everyone
a light he believed would never go out.
He dreamed of a world where skin did not decide worth,
where children could play together without fences in their hearts.
The dream was simple but carrying it took courage.
King stood strong even when threatened,
even when tired,
even when the world felt divided into pieces that couldn’t fit.
Still, he kept going, believing we could stand side by side as one person.
He taught us that courage isn’t the absence of fear
but the choice to keep walking.
He taught us that justice is built together
brick by brick, choice by choice.
And even after he was gone, his words remained like a steady drumbeat:
Be fair. Be brave. Be united.
Today, when we choose kindness over cruelty
and speak up for those who cannot stand alone,
we carry his dream forward
a dream that still shines because we keep it alive.
Aubrey Kyei | 7th Grade
MLK To Save The Day
Dr Martin, Dr Martin
Oh how determined he was within
He broke barriers,
Just as strong as a warrior,
To fight for our rights
Because in darkness, he always saw light
One of the best activists
Who fought and fought.
Segregation and Violence was no match for MLK
It never seemed to get in the way of being an activist
Dr. Martin was not thanked enough for the effort he gave
For he truly was a beautiful gift
No matter the color, no matter the race
Determination was always the case
No one could ever take his place,
Because he was more than just brave face
Dr. Martin, Dr. Martin
Oh how sad it was to see him go
But as everyone of us knows,
His reputation will always grow
April 4th, 1968 was a sad day for all,
But whatever chance he got he stood bold and tall
His legacy never failed,
Through perseverance, his work prevailed
Erich Mital | 11th Grade
The Shade We Share
A lone willow grew where the river bent,
a quiet dream stitched into every stem.
It didn’t reach for crowns or for praise
it only hoped to rise in honest ways.
Storm winds came, pulling hard at its grace,
but courage is a truth you cannot erase.
The willow bent low, but it did not break
its roots held firm for the future’s sake.
Justice arrived like morning light
soft, equal, steady, refusing the night.
Its glow fell open on every leaf,
a promise whispered against old grief
Then people gathered beneath its shade,
different stories, the same hope made.
Side by side in the open air,
unity grew because each was welcome there.
And the willow learned its truest role,
strength is the hand that lifts another soul
Zakariya Sultan | 6th Grade
I See You
I see you, sticking to your goal like glue.
Nothing can defeat you.
Protecting your goal with every ounce of your sweat.
I see you, leading nonviolent protests.
Nothing can shut you up.
Even your silence is louder than many who speak.
I see you, enduring numerous threats and still...
You continue to complete your mission.
Your skin color is your armor, and you, my brother, are a warrior.
I see you, always choosing courage over fear.
Nothing will shake you.
But your heart is soft from the tears of our ancestors.
I see you, fighting for rights.
Rights of your neighbors and strangers,
Rights of your brothers
Rights that are now mine.
By Zoe Merritt
6th grade
One Man's Voice
My voice was my boldness.
I went through nonviolent resistance,
Organizing protests everywhere.
I saw an opportunity Open its door.
My voice was my bravery.
I organized my protests
Knowing the risks I was taking
But I didn't give up – couldn't – My courage was needed.
My voice was my truth.
I wrote powerful speeches,
Advocating for equality, brotherhood and cooperation For -justice and unity.
One man's voice changed the world.
Adonis Crosby | 6th Grade
The Battle
White was the upper class
While below them were blacks.
Before the mid-1960s,
That statement was a fact.
The white man had wealth,
housing, and respect.
But the black man’s home was poor.
And hatred was direct.
Little Martin saw this
He had to make this right
He chose to use his words
And didn’t cause a fist fight.
He spread the word to others.
So that they would join forces
They weren't going to attack the whites.
Like a wild ranch of horses.
Some protests grew bigger
While some ended in disaster
But if they protested more
Segregation would end faster.
Martin went to Lyndon B Johnson
He told him about their cries.
Martin was well praised
He even won the Nobel Peace Prize!
When Martin was killed in ‘68
It really sent a rattle.
But his legacy shows the limits it takes
To completely end a battle.
Preston Taylor | 11th Grade
A Dream Still Walking
He stood where voices had been silenced before
On steps worn down by history and pain,
And spoke not with anger, but with hope,
With words that reached farther than fear ever could
Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamed of more than sleep
More than wishes whispered in the dark
He dreamed of justice standing tall
Of hands once divided learning to meet
A dream is believing tomorrow can be fair
Even when today says it cannot
It is marching forward when the road resists
And speaking truth when silence feels safer
King's dream was a promise to the broken
That color would not measure a person's worth
That children would grow without inherited hate
And freedom would ring in every voice
To have a dream is to carry responsibility,
To turn hope into action, step by step
And as long as we listen, and dare to dream
His words will never fade into the past
Charis Agbenyo | 9th Grade
A Hero’s Legacy
In a world where they were despised, he chose to fight with empty hands. A single man seeking justice, enchanting hate with gentleness.
J – Justifying nonviolent actions after criticism,
U - Unwavering strength and confidence even after rejection,
S - Supporting freedom and right no matter the wait,
T - Teaching about Christianity, nonviolence, and faith,
I - Insuring every child a future worth hoping for,
C - Caring, when others turned their backs on the sick, old, and weak,
E - Encouraging kindness and the will to fight back without knowing the outcome.
C - Consoling those who want to give up, lifting them up and pushing forward,
O - Overcoming fears which left them terrified and cowering,
U - Understanding the consequences and disadvantages if things don't work out,
R – Remembering the scared voices of children and families being denied their rights,
A - Acting as an advocate to lead them to victory,
G – Guiding their steps, like a mother leading her children,
E - Engaging with them, helping them understand why they're doing this.
U – Uniting together for the March on Washington,
N - Never acknowledging the stares pointed at him,
I - Individually, he might not be enough, but together they stand strong,
T - Trust isn't gained in a day, the same way triumph isn't earned through a single battle,
Y - Yearning for validation they deserve.
Cassandra Morgan | 6th Grade
Your Dream As Our Reality
There I stand at
That memorial where
Many years ago, you
Gave a speech that
Changed the way
That things should go.
You fought for your
Dreams to become true.
You fought for more
Than dreams.
You fought for the
Same treatment other races had -
Equal treatment for you and me,
even when the odds were against you.
Even when drenched in water
You marched on.
Because of your courage
We continue your work up to this day,
Guaranteeing -
Your dream as our reality.
Justina Tuffour | Grade 12
A Vision
Born in segregated Atlanta Georgia,
Where lines were drawn by fear, not common grace.
He brought a vision to human race,
To heal the line and purify the space.
A voice that time itself could not erase,
He dreamt of unity for all to share.
Dispelling hatred, lifting with care,
For all are bound in one great destiny
A single human family.
He held that truth for all to see
That freedom rings for you and for me.
A legacy of courage, bright, and bold,
A story of unity forever told.
We seek the justice that he held so dear
And banish hatred, doubt, and every fear.
Jayla Wilcox | 12 Grade
A Dream That Still Walks With Us
Listen
There's a heartbeat in the pavement,
A rhythm in the footsteps
Of the ones who came before us.
Justice doesn’t whisper
It knocks.
It marches.
Dr. King said Dream,
And that word moved like thunder
Rolling through cities,
Through fields,
Through hands locked tight
Like we have one future
And we held it together.
Courage
It wasn’t loud at first.
Sometimes it shakes.
Sometimes it stands even when knees feel
weak.
But courage shows up.
It speaks truth in rooms made of silence.
It lifts the sign.
It takes a step.
It faces hate with steady eyes
And says, “Love will win anyway.”
Unity
That’s the bridge.
Different voices, different shades,
But one song.
Not perfect, but powerful.
A quilt stitched from pain, hope, history
Carried like fire from one generation to the
next.
We stand shoulder to shoulder
Because alone we are sparks,
But together,
We are at sunrise.
Justice is the river
Courage, the current
Unity, the wave that keeps moving forward.
No turning back.
No giving in.
We pushed.
We rise.
We keep the dream breathing.
So, hear me now
We are the children of that promise,
The echo of that call,
The dream is to still walk the streets with us.
If we stand for what’s right.
If we dare to love boldly,
If we lock hands when the world tries to
divide us
Dr. King’s dream lives.
Not just in history books
But in us.
In every voice raised,
Every heart brave,
Every step taken side by side.
The future is waiting
And we’re not walking quietly.
We’re marching.