Day 7
December 1 – 7th of the 16 Dys of Actvism
“Window Panes”
By Jacqueline Velez
Kids runnin’ round this damn house screamin’
Dog’s right behind ‘em
Their screams’ don’t drown out the barkin’
I’m starin’ out the window daydreamin’
School assignments are pilin’
Work is stackin’
Child’s father’s slackin’
Sink full of dishes
Still to do: cook, laundry, mop, and sweepin’
Unanswered wishes
Bathroom door locked — Don’t want the kids to hear my sobs or see me weepin’
No winin’ and dinin’
No one’s comin’ up the wretched tower
No prince charmin’
World has become too heavy to be carried
Runnin’ in place. Where are you going mommy?
I’m lookin’ out this window for the dreams I’ve lost
But this is where I’m tarried
Unhappy, unfulfilled, unmarried
You can be anyone you wanna be
You can do anything you can imagine
You can too,
So, why you cry Mommy?
Baby, I’m tryin’
Momma’s dreams and soul are slowly dyin’,
But even within this gloom I see the birds are flyin’
Flocking together comin’ into formation
Such a freedom and liberation
An affirmation,
Sort of everything will be alright confirmation
Their wings suddenly filling me with inspiration
Hope is the thing made of a feather
Tomorrow’s weather will be better
Even if it rains
I won’t linger by the windows
Guess that’s why they call ‘em window panes.
Jacqueline Velez-2024
Community Activist, Organizer, Advocate and Writer
Jacqueline has over fifteen years of advocacy and organizing experience beginning her tenure as the Project Assistant for the Women in Prison Project of the Correctional Association of New York. She held that position for five years and later became their first-ever Communications and Social Media Associate. During some of that time, she was the Production Assistant and Co-Host for the late Eddie Ellis at WBAI Pacifica Radio on “The Criminal Justice and Prison Report” show as well as helped grow the non-profit organization, Women on the Rise Telling Her Story (WORTH) through providing recruitment, outreach and administrative support. Jacqueline relocated to Massachusetts in 2015 and became Holyoke’s Lead Organizer for Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts for three years, and over the next few years served as a Regional Organizing Director for Senator Markey’s Re-election Campaign, Racial Justice Organizer for Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, and BIPOC Organizer for the Fair Share Amendment Ballot Campaign among several other roles and has also worked on environmental issue campaigns in her spare time. She currently works for the Public Health Institute of Western MA. She obtained an Arts Associate Degree from Bard Holyoke Micro-college in May 2020 and now lives with her two children. Jacqueline was featured in the documentary “Finding the Words”, directed by Alexandra Wagman released in early 2023 and published an essay in Oprah magazine in 2020.