by Otter Jung-Allen
We are a chorus of our own making.
Bodies and voices with bliss in the background.
Don’t they know that they cannot kill a people who have built
themselves?
We do not burn like bones do.
We are rebirth remixed.
Our ashes glitter!
The smoke is singing!
Even in death or dysphoria,
We pick fights with our ghosts!
Otter Jung-Allen is a seventeen year old poet and performer from West Philly. Currently, they are in twelfth grade, coach of Science Leadership Academy’s Slam League team, the 2015 Brave New Voices International Champion, the 2015 Liberty Unplugged Champion, and the 2016-17 Youth Poet Laureate of the City of Philadelphia.