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Poems by Children fromCamelot and windcrestElementary schools

tHis is wHat tHE worLD is

san antonio, texas2016

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Gemini Ink’s work in the North East Independent School Districtand this publication were made possible by the Rackspace Foundation

Dr. Kamala Platt, Cris BazalduaWriters-in-Residence

Jen Knox Writers in Communities Program Director, Gemini Ink

Sheila BlackExecutive Director, Gemini Ink

Vectors courtesy of freepik.com

Student work has been edited as lightly as possiblein order to honor the original voices

© 2016 by Gemini Ink

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Poems by Children fromCamelot and windcrestElementary schools

in partnership with gemini ink

Helping people create and share the human story

tHis is wHat tHE worLD is

san antonio, texas2016

2

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aCKNowLEDgEmENts� is Is What the World Is marks the successful completion of a partnership between Rackspace and Gemini Ink to bring creative writing workshops to the students at Camelot Elementary and Windcrest Elementary. Gemini Ink hosted these workshops at the schools as part of our Writers in Communities program, which was founded with the mission to bring the joy of reading and writing to community settings across San Antonio by encouraging students to � nd their voices and gain the tools of written creative expression that ultimately lead to growth. � ese workshops were led by Dr. Kamala Platt and Cris Bazaldua, each of whom brought a new perspective on writing to their students. By providing strong literary models, in both poetry and � ction, these workshops shared not only a new perspective on the writing process but also a new insight into the value of literature and reading. Gemini Ink thanks Rackspace for its generous donation to make these workshops possible. We also thank the sta� of both Camelot and Windcrest, who are advocates of expanding their students’ access to the arts and literature. We believe these workshops are providing students necessary tools that they can carry with them as they move forward, and this book is a celebration of their journey as writers. � ank you, speci� cally, to Hope de Lemos, Karen Kohler and Wilma Payne, for their belief in the transformative nature of these writing workshops and support throughout the process. � ank you to our instructors who gave heart, mind and soul to their students and who honored their words. � ank you to Anisa Onofre for putting together this beautiful publication and to Sheila Black for spearheading Gemini Ink’s mission to reach the communities of San Antonio. And thank you to the writers. Your voices matter, your voices are powerful. Please, continue to write.

Jen Knoxwriters in Communities Program Director

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ForEworD � ere was something magical about teaching at Camelot and Windcrest, starting with names I’d heard, but had no local association for, even after nearly two decades in San Antonio. During my � rst visit to the area, I drove through Windcrest at 20 mph looking for the school. I saw nothing move, anywhere—no other cars on the road, no cat on any porch, no birds in the hovering trees, no butter� ies wafting over grass or native plantings, no breeze on clusters of summer-worn leaves—until I saw a garage door eerily rise with no one in sight, nothing to which to attach that singular movement. I felt apprehensive. But a few days later when I stepped into our NEISD classrooms, my impression of stasis changed— radical motion ensued in whirlwinds of personalities, experiences, expressive image, color & line. Students brought their stories: sometimes dashed onto paper at the drop of a prompt; sometimes whispered under breath; sometimes spoken loudly to no one in particular; often in conversation over our tables in the art room at Camelot, or at the trapezoidal blue desks at Windcrest; sometimes short bursts of poetic insight; sometimes narratives that brilliantly cut corners on convention to get to the pith of the stories. Camelot was a high intensity class where beads of magical wisdom sparkled when students caught the light of innovative expression. Narratives traversed more than one country, as have the children themselves; houses, families, animals & the creatures of popular culture from Mexico to Philippines to Camelot itself, created common themes. Camelot’s Whiteboard expression supplemented our paperwork from Day One. When I brought a donated bag of markers with a fresh array of colors, students went wild with this 21st century, public art medium that lends itself to picture–poems. At Windcrest, my students were older—mostly 4th & 5th graders. � e � rst day, students informed me of this immediately upon entering the classroom. � ey got down to the business of writing quickly and, initially, there were moments of silent, inspired scribbling. Some students wrote almost constantly. Others would spend the period catching inspiration, and then jot down enchanted gems in the last thirty seconds of the assigned writing time. Both strategies produced milagros on occasion. Windcrest students were frequently already aware of the books and historical � gures I evoked in class. � e predominantly Black /African American (students self-identi� ed both ways)

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class was familiar with Ruby Bridges (� rough My Eyes) and President Obama’s Of � ee I Sing: Letters to My Daughters, greeting the books like old friends and subsequently writing their own lives in free-writing and letter poems. At both schools, students celebrated the earth. Ekphrastic poems based on postcards of animals and nature scenes were inspired and even haunting. Students happily celebrated earth and her peoples. When I brought in an issue of Orionwith images from Indigenous artists of climate change in their communities to prompt a meditation in word and paint, they balked at information most had not confronted in their young, but in many ways, eventful lives. Students responded with their own images of earth and her celestial neighbors and their families and their favorite past times. Sometimes their lives had been touched by loss already and that inspired their poetry. A few times, cell phones were drawn out, with permission, and screen shots of the newborn poems were sent o� to a sibling or parent, bringing texts in response of tearful, proud connection. A favorite class reading at both schools was Francisco X. Alarcón’s Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/ Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primavera. Sadly, I pulled my autographed copy of the book out of my WIC book bag the week after his crossing over. Still winter elsewhere, in San Antonio, “las colinas” were “starting to crack a green smile once again.” Bilingual students helped the Spanish poemas ring true, as all thrilled to the words in English. � at day, I � nally began to receive poems in Spanish, after encouraging Spanish speakers for weeks, without much result. Francisco, “¡Presente!” in my students’ words—� ank you! And students, bringing your world alive for the rest of us—gracias por todos. I will happily watch for each of you, in the next decades, as you bring the magic of language and writing, art, knowledge, wisdom and leadership to our world.

Kamala Plattwriter in residence

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i rEmEmBEr…I remember when I was little I would not cry as much.

Yo me requerdo

El tiempo tu y yo

Con mi Apá para comer

en El Parque de

Copiando y poder hogar

Ayer en El Parque.

Jesus

I remember when I painted my nails pink.

They looked so weird,

I barfed out ink…

I remember when I got a dictionary.

It was so useful,

I found the meaning of “weary.”

One thing I didn’t remember

Was to be weird every single day,

Again and again.

Jasibe

I remember when I

Made a layup on the

Buzzard beeder

miranda

I remember when I

Made a layup on the

Buzzard beeder

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9

I remember the day I spent

with my family, when

I was with my mom, when I

was 5 years old. We spent so

much time together when my

Grandma took me away from my mom.

My grandma and my mom was

in an argument

so my grandma took me.

So she called a few days

Later and said, do you want to

Switch over a boy. My grandma

Said it was too late and I never

Spoke to my mom again.

Jaenesha

I R

emem

ber

10

I remember my fi rst day of 2nd grade. Kids

fi lling up the hallway rushing to class like

they were in high school but just with a lot

of excitement. I remember being nervous ‘cause

it was my fi rst day of the “big girl”

grade, but I doubted if I was ready.

When I fi nally made it to class my teacher

greeted me like she was meeting a princess.

Now that’s when the excitement

came.

Kennidy

11

I remember when I had no thoughts.

My brain was empty and my thoughts wondered

to the clouds. Now I have nothing but this thought

I wrote down. Thoughts are things that our brain gives

us. Just because I’m not in school doesn’t mean my brain has

to have a vacation in the clouds. Everybody here has working

brains with thoughts every second but mine is every million seconds.

My brain left a note with only what I wrote down—now let’s see

What he left this time… a picture of him in the clouds…

Letizia

12

I remember when

My uncle died—it felt like some

body grabbed my heart and

crumbled it. I remember when

my mom cried like God

told her it was time to

come home with my dad because

she missed my brother ‘cause

he decided to make a bad mistake.

I remember when I passed the STARR

test—I felt like I won a million

dollars cause it was my fi rst time.

Kennidy

I remember when I was swinging

on a rope and I pretended to

be a monkey. I yelled

Ahhh!!! But sadly I got

stuck so I said, “timber!”

because I was wearing a

lumber jack knife.

super Fidel

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I remember when I broke

My leg. I was in so much pain.

olivet

I remember when

Pigs fl ew, unicorns

Klocs would fi ll my

Mind as rainbooms

Clammed up inside

Of my toad-kissed

Mind. Love is

In the air

As wedding

Bells ring

In my small

Two year old

Dreams.

addy a.

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to FrEDDiE graYWhat happened to

Happy days

& sun-fi lled

skies, wind

full of blue?

What happened

To America

When all was

Black & Never Blue?

adalyn a.

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Bat girLOh my batman! Woman Joker

Is getting away with my dad. Bat

Man, I am going to kick her

Clown face. BTW her make up is

Horrible. “In your dreams,” said Woman

Joker as she ran with my Father.

As I told her that when she

Captured my dad and I just

Woke up from my beauty nap

And boom she stole my father.

I’m gonna kill her. My dad

Is more important than my bat

Nails. I love my father and I

Am gonna get him back,

No one is gonna stop me, not

Even my boyfriend Who is Flash’s

Son even though I love him

Soooo much and just wonderful

But unfortunately I just have to.

Kennidy

Pro

fi le

Poe

ms

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KENNiDY’s sECrEtDoes writing make you feel freed from stress?

From sadness? From anger? It does for me. It feels like

I’m a sloth I’m so relaxed. Once I put my pencil on the paper

I can’t stop writing like I’m addicted. Sometimes

I even prefer writing with a

pencil and paper than looking on a

screen. Some people ask why I write

so much. I just tell them it’s my life.

Without writing I don’t think

I’ll be so relaxed as I am now!

If I can make a shirt it would say

“Keep Calm and Write On.” I think

if people who don’t like writing

had a good writing teacher,

they’ll love it.

Kennidy

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wHEN i HaD a DrEam aBoUt mY momI don’t know what to write but

I had this dream about my mom.

When I woke up this morning

My mom was talking to me, she said,

I will always be on your side.

If I have trouble she will always

Be on my side. That’s the only person

On my side.

Jaenesha thomas-reyes

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CHiLDHooDRoses are red violets are

blue: this is a poem that

reminded me of jingle-

like ideas and child-

like song of all things—like the dog

Bingo but will not all last

unless a spell was cast.

Time running out child-

hood is good like my

soft lil’hood all with my

spirit high like childhood—

Pie big and tasty but my

childhood, small and wastey

In 3 years is all I gotta

Say, but with tears.

Jesus

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moNEY, moNEYI like money because that’s my game,

Money can make you get

A lot of fame. I play basketball

And I’ma be tall when I go to

The mall and look on the shoe

Wall.

Deonte w.

tHE BLUE…The blue ocean, where sea creatures live,

The blue sky where birds fl y,

The blue coats that people wear,

The blue chairs that people sit in,

The blue bin that eats trash,

The blue waterfall that sprays water,

The blue earth that lets people live.

Letizia

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wHY i LiKE to writEBecause It

Feels like you are letting out all

Of your thought like you are keeping

A secret but when I start to write about all of my thoughts

I don’t feel like I am keeping

A secret.

Jaenesha

CoNCrEtE PoEtrYI think I can.

I think I can.

I think I can.

I think I can.

I think I can

Write.

addy a.

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mY DaD is taLLMy dad is tall,

My dad is smart,

My dad likes art,

My dad has brown eyes,

My dad tells me goodbyes.

My dad is…… my dad!

Jasibe

Let’s be fair!

Okay, I know we already

Have our “Fairness” in America

But I don’t think this is

fair. I’m saying this because

Police are abusing and killing

African American, Muslim,

Mexican people and not

getting charged for these

murders or assaults. I think

we should be fair. Because

if one of the races I just said

did something like that they

would probably be sentenced to

Life!

Kennidy ray

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tHis is wHat tHE worLD isThe world is weird

People putting bad stuff in your food

People being cruel

People being bad

People getting killed, accidents/

cancer. I’m not sure but

When will the world change?

The world is going OFF track

People getting “raced”

People dying because of sickness

Drugs, Smoking, Alcohol

I’m not sure but, when

will

the world change?

olivet

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Hearts breakEarth shakesRunning outOf timeTick tockFollow the Clock Ticko Tock

Always the sameRhyme Tick tockRace the Clock

Race the clockRhymeAlways the sameTock-tickFollow theClockTock-tick

Running outOf timeShakes earthBreaks hearts

addy acton

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iN HEaVEN“Do you wanna see your Dad?”

my mom asked. As I told her

to stop playing my dad walked in

looking like he seen God. I wiped

my eyes to see if this “Guy” was

my dad, and he was! Me and my

siblings ran to him as tears rushed

down our cheeks. As I sat on his

lap and my siblings gathered around

I asked him “Aren’t you supposed to be

In heaven?” He smiled and said “I’m

With my kids and my wife-- I must be

In Heaven!”

Kennidy ray

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Cat

Hat

Rat

It

Sit

Time

One

Push

Hush

Elephant

Rat

Sack

Ok

Sack

Ask

Christopher, 9

Juice

Everywhere

Splashing

Silly

Its

Crazy

All the time

Jessica, 8

Cat

Hat

Rat

Sit

Juice

Everywhere

Splashing

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CLassroom CoNVErsatioN“Listen to what people are saying.”

“People fall in love in mysterious ways!”

“Quick, somebody hide her lunch box!”

“Where?”

“Can I have your lunchbox?”

“Sure!”

“Do you have a madpoint?”

“Girl, why did you write that!”

“Okay, so ready?”

“Egg.”

“Like coming out of an egg.”

“Ms. Platt, how do you spell cocoon?”

“C-O-C-O-O-N”

“There!”

“Is that all you wrote?”

“Write it down.”

“Okay.”

“Ooh, I got me one!”

“She get on my nerves!”

“Are you hot?”

“What?”

“Are you hot?”

“Shhhhhh!”

“I never went to your house!”

“I’ve drink sink water, I’ve drink

toilet water.” LOL

Jasibe

Do you know how it feels to be free

like you are coming out of a cocoon.

Like a butterfl y.

Jaenesha

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woLVEsWolves eat sheep but don’t eat wool.

They sleep in caves but don’t eat coal.

They eat meat but don’t eat carrots.

They make their dolls with the wool

And also some arms.

They would use the carrot for the nose

And then they made a wool man.

Pedro, 9

FaLLiNg watErOne day I woke up and noticed I was in a car. I looked out

the window and saw rocks and water. I rubbed my eyes and

looked up and WOW! A WATERFALL! I saw a waterfall and

a lot of trees. I got off the car and ran to my mom. I was so

happy, I fi nally got to see a waterfall!

Eimy, 10

“Are you hot?”

“Shhhhhh!”

“I never went to your house!”

“I’ve drink sink water, I’ve drink

toilet water.” LOL

Jasibe

28

I like to run track.

I like to paint and draw.

I love chips.

I like to dance.

Jazzy

@

Dance

Endlessly

Jade, 9

Lost aND FoUNDI once found a penny I didn’t like.

I don’t like pennies so I threw it away.

Pedro, 9

October 32nd

For free.

Phantom costume.

99 cents.

Bailey, 11

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10 tHiNgs oN How to BE a gooD FriEND1. Help people in need

2. Be polite

3. Help them with their homework

4. Laugh at their jokes.

5. Share a talent.

6. Be trustworthy

7. Borrow stuff, but don’t break it

8. Don’t be annoying

9. Be caring

10. And be respectful

sergio, 10

CoLor: oraNgEOrange is the frame of the

Quote that will always stay

the same.

Kearah Jones

30

-Jokes and trick and tricks and jokes

-What did the ocean say to the bird?

Nothing, it just waved.

-There are 10 fi sh in a bowl. 2 swim away. How many are left?

10, because fi sh can’t swim away from a bowl.

Bailey, 10

i’m tHE toastEr!I’m the toaster and I’m REALLY busy. People give me bread and I

heat it up. People call it toast. Can’t they just call it, “Heated and

darkened bread.” I like calling it that. And know this. I am every-

where. I am in every kitchen. I’m probably looking at you right now

while eat your cornfl akes and drink your juice. TOAST.

Lucas, 8

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mY LiFEMy life is to be happy. My life is to be strong. I love my life

whenever I want. I was at a temple and I saw my friend, it

was so fun because we went to the game. We played a game

called, “Throw the Ball.” Then we played a game called, “Get

the Ball.” It was fun to play because you could win prizes.

Later on I had to go home and I said bye to my friend and

bye to my aunt.

Laura, 9

mY FaVoritE FooDMy favorite food is chicken tortilla soup. It is the best

when my mom makes it. She always makes it so delicious. She

always lets me help. I like helping my mom.

akane, 8

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Lost aND FoUNDOne sunny hot summer I was running all over with blades.

I fell and cut off my favorite foot that was very special to

me, so I put it in my room on a shelf. Every morning I would

take it down so I could wash it. It was very smooth. I liked

touching it. I decided to put it in my toy box so I would

remember where it was. One day I forgot and I couldn’t

remember where I had put it. I looked and looked but I

couldn’t fi nd it. I looked in my bedroom but it wasn’t there.

I fi nally looked in my toy box and found it. Then I glued it

back on.

Emily, 8

mY FaVoritE tHiNgMy favorite thing is my piano because it makes sweet music.

Also we can make good music. It is my favorite because it

helps me play my piano. If there were no keys it would be

bad because I can’t practice my songs. Piano songs are made

by composers.

Dalena, 8

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tHE CoastA jellyfi sh stung my cousin and my aunt at South Padre. My

cousin got stung by a jellyfi sh on his arm and it hurted him a

lot and he didn’t cry or scream and ever since my aunt got

stung a lot. So I peed on her and my cousin.

Peyton, 7

CHristmas DaYTWEET! TWEET! TWEET! It was a beautiful day and I was

woken up by the beautiful birds. I was very happy to be up

because today is Christmas! And everybody loves Christmas!

I sprang out of bed and shouted “It’s Christmas!” Then

everybody said “Okay. Go back to sleep.” I got mad and went

outside. Outside there was a pretty dog that I played with.

When it got dark I went inside and my Mom said, “Briea,

it’s time to open your presents.” I jumped up and down and

said “Yayyy!” I opened my presents and there was a bracelet

set, clothes, headbands and Shopkins. I was very happy on

Christmas!!

Briea, 8

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PENgUiN maNPenguin Man lives in Antarctica. He has explosive penguins. They

blow up when Batman chooses to fi ght those penguins. Wonder

Woman brings her jet to fi ght those penguins. Penguin Man wins the

fi ght because he puts those penguins in the water and they explode.

mason, 7

mY FaVoritE tHiNg is mY writiNg CLUBThe reason why my writing club is my favorite thing is because I

meet friends, we get to do writing, we get to draw, we get snacks,

our teacher is the best and we have Fun. My friends are Emily,

Genavieve, Laura, Akane, Luke, Tyler, Peyton, Lucas, Mason,

Dalena, Ethan, Carmelo and Briea. My teacher is Cris and he is the

best. He gives us writing prompts, which I am comfortable with. Cris

gives us snacks, that is why he is the best.

Diana, 8 1/2

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I have a hamster that eats mice.

It is creepy.

That is not normal.

Ethan, 8

i roBBED a BaNKOne day I robbed a bank because I was low on the money

fl ow. I busted into the safe but the alarm went off. I

quickly stuffed the golden bars into my bag. The police

showed up and said, “You are under arrest!” I told them

somebody else did it so I didn’t go to jail.

Luke, 8

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i’m iN troUBLEOne day I got so upset that I destroyed my room and then

my house and then my neighborhood and then the whole

Earth. I blamed it on my cat. Then my villain said it was me

and not the cat.

Jalyn, 8

stEPH CUrrYSteph Curry is the best player ever. He holds the record for

the most 3-pointers in a game. He is the best player in the

league. I have Steph Curry shoes that are signed by Steph

Curry. Steph Curry is my favorite player because he is the best.

Carmelo, 8

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Lost aND FoUNDI lost my tooth.

I found my shoes.

I lost my punkins.

I found my teddy bear.

I lost my dog.

I found my lunch.

I lost my phone.

I found my snack.

I lost my cat.

I found my cat.

tyler, 7

I am going to be a ghost.

I go to trick or treat.

The ghost is scary.

aaliyah H

38

Dogs Vs. CatsOne day in Dog York City there was a cat named Nicky.

She had always wanted to see Dog York City. Then one day

the Cat Dude who was the Law decided to let one cat go

to Dog York City. No cats ever wanted to go because they

were afraid the dogs would hurt them. The Law was about

to close the offer when Nicky volunteered to go. Nicky

was different from all the other cats in her country. She

wanted to see the true world. She could not wait to see

Dog York City.

genavieve, 9

i atE mY DogI ate my dog but I didn’t want to tell my mom so I blamed

it on Penguin Man so I said “Penguin Man did it!” I fi nally

told the truth and my mom screamed so I ran away and hid

in the park.

mason, 7

39

i’m iN troUBLEOne time I ripped a book and I didn’t take care of my

puppies. I had a pigeon but it died and I blamed it on my

sister. Also I was driving and I ran over a hen and I blamed

it on the chics.

Ethan, 8

i’m iN troUBLEI stole from the store but when the cops saw me they asked

me “What do you know about the store robbery?” I said, “All

I know is that you’re ugly.” They chased me all the way to my

jet but I got away and fl ed to New York.

akane, 8

39

One time I ripped a book and I didn’t take care of my

puppies. I had a pigeon but it died and I blamed it on my

sister. Also I was driving and I ran over a hen and I blamed

i’m iN troUBLEI stole from the store but when the cops saw me they asked

me “What do you know about the store robbery?” I said, “All

I know is that you’re ugly.” They chased me all the way to my

jet but I got away and fl ed to New York.

40

Once upon a time there

Was a good wolf but

Everyone called him the big

Bad wolf even though he is

Good they just call him

That because of the story

Of the big bad wolf.

Candelaria

This Polar Bear is sleeping on ice that looks like

Blue. It is 100 years old. The polar bear likes

Only cold not hot because when the ice is gone

The Polar bear starves. They also hibernate in the

Ice. That’s the information of Polar Bears.

Darshon

41

A wolf is a very good animal. It can

hunt for food and runs fast. They have

night vision and they have good sense

of smell. And in this picture I think

they see food and they’re getting ready to

hunt bird, prairie dog, or a fish or any sort

of animals.

Nathan

Once upon a time there was a

Polar bear and her family. They went out

To go get food and the littlest one

wanted to stay and the mother said,

“No.” Lets go to get food tomorrow morning

it’s already dark. The next day the smallest

polar bear was asleep and the others

went fishing.

Jade Earl

FrEE

wri

tiNg

(Fro

m Po

stCa

rDs)

42

Once there was a

Big yellow bird eating

With his big black beak

Eating juicy little worms

And he went to sit on a

Thin brown branch and I

Was on a little purple

Chair eating a lollipop.

Jessica

42

43

mY BaBYsistErWhen I was fi rst told I had

A baby sister I was so excited. I

Have always wanted a baby sister.

When my sister was born I was

Very happy, I wanted to hold her

So bad. I found out her name

Was Nevaeh, heaven backwards. When

I fi rst held her I was scared but

Then I wasn’t. After that she started crying.

I said, dad I don’t know what to do.

My dad said to Neveah, it’s alright, that’s

Our big sister, and I felt so happy

To be a big sister, and I like

Having someone that looks up to you.

Jade

traCK mEEt iN FLoriDaI went to Florida for a big track

Meet, it was such a big deal.

We drove there and it took so

Long, its like we’ve been in this

Car for so long, “Why don’t we like

It?” Then we arrived. There I was

So happy I couldn’t stand being

In the car anymore. We got our

Stuff out of the trunk of the

Car and we went to our hotel

Room. I layed down, watched TV, the

Next day it was time for my

Track meet. I ate, showered, and my

Mom did my hair and then I got

Dressed. We went to the fi eld, I

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Practiced and then I went to where my

Team was. Then it

Was my turn to run. I was

Scared—I did my 400m dash, my 200m dash, and long jump. I got

3rd, 5th, 3rd. I was exhausted. I went

Afterwards and my track team had

A party. I had fun in Florida and

I hope I could have fun in

California.

Jade

46

NEw mEXiCoI used to live in New Mexico before

I moved here I didn’t want to

move here I wanted to stay.

My friends were there and I lived

2 of the best years of my

life there. I had a friend named

Summer she was so fun. I never

wanted to leave. The only reason

I live here is because my mom

wanted to move here because

My aunt moved here and my

Mom didn’t want to be

away from her sister.

Jade

47

When I got my bike on Christmas day

I was so excited. I never knew I would

get a bike for Christmas. A bike is what I’ve

been asking my parents for, for almost a whole

year, and they kept saying no. Finally, they

wouldn’t have to hear me ask them for

almost the whole year. For my sister she

got a Barbie doll that had a

purple dress. The only problem is she

doesn’t play with it. That’s all

I know.

Nathalia m.

48

The woman had spit on her mouth, which looked like

teeth. The man likes the meat. A woman looked in the

mirror to look for a good dress. My dad gets me dressed up

everyday unless we’re not going anywhere so then I know

where we are going.

Darshon

When my brother was little he had something wrong with his

brain and the doctor had to do something with his brain.

When they were done he was all better; also he was better

in school. While that was happening I was kind of worried

and scared.

Eimy

One day I was with my cousins and I was on the trampoline

and me and my cousin were jumping and my foot got stuck

in a hole and my cousin tried to take it out and they took it

out and then my aunt put a frozen bag of peas and we went

home. A few day ago we went to the hospital and my foot

hurt when I got out of the hospital.

Jessica

49

DrEam or rEaL

It was a dark and stormy night. At this point I can’t remem-

ber if this was dream or real, but Eimy was a zombie and

I was in the kitchen. She was looking for snacks without

permission. The snacks were on the top shelf and Eimy and I

were struggling for control. I grabbed a pan and chased her

and she ran away.

Kevin E., 8

HaUNtED HoUsE

I once went to a haunted house when I was a little kid.

There was a man there dressed like a vampire and he guided

us to the haunted house. There was a creepy clown who

would chase and try and scares us. I wasn’t really scared

because I was having so much fun. It was awesome!

Kevin E., 8

50

ComPariNg CaUCasiaN to somEoNE From DiFFErENt statE CoUNtrY or a DiFFErENt CoLorI know that we are not all treated the

Same and to some it hurts now. I’m not calling

All Caucasians bad people it’s just I think that

All Caucasian, Black American, Hispanic, Muslim and

Anyone from a different state or country should be

Treated equally fair. Now you might ask what I mean

about my title… say there was a Caucasian who was to

shoot someone, do you really think they are going to get life

in prison? Now I watch a lot of news and all of that so yeah.

Now if a Black person were to shoot someone or a Muslim,

Hispanic or, like I said, anyone from different state or country…

This is basically what concerns me almost the

Most and this is my concern.

Kearah Jones

515151

aBoUt tHE writErs iN rEsiDENCEKamala Platt, Ph.D., M.F.A. is an adjunct professor, artist, independent scholar and author in South Texas and at � e Meadowlark Center in Kansas. Her collections of poems include: Weedslovers: Ten Years in the Shadow of September (Finishing Line Press, 2014); On the Line (Wings Press, 2010); and (as compiler and contributor) Kinientos (Wordsworth, 1992). � rough “green rascuache” lifeways, she champions environmental and social justice and well-being amidst the crises of a feverish planet.

Cris Bazaldua graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) with a Bachelor’s degree in English in 2011 and a Master’s degree in Administration in 2013. While working as a graduate assistant at UIW, Cris worked in academic and professional development as well as the editing, reviewing and researching of writing assignments and projects of the graduate and doctoral student body. He is currently working on a series of iBook-based children stories with Raining Popcorn Media.

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FidelIsDashingExciting & aLearner.

RichOCrazyHippoAwesome

LuckyOZebraAmazing

LazyExcitedTalentedImaginationZebraIntelligentAwesome

CarefulAlligatorBeautifulRespectfulEnergeticRemarkableAcrobatic

Amazing“Dude”“Duh”Younik

May TalikAwesomeRighteousIntelligent

JusticeAwesomeSmartIncredibleBeautifulExcellent

SmartAwesomeNiceTallOctopusSantos

Deodorant putter onnerExtremeOn FleetNuggetsTrail BlazerExciting

KindExcellentAwesomeRespectfulAcrobaticHappyJoyfulOctopusNiceEnergetic

SuperJoyfulAwesomeExcitedNiceEnergeticSmartHamAcrobatic

Awesome at BasketballNiceGoodExcellentLucky

RuckieUnpredictableImpossible to not beat me at a raceZachary is my middle name

KindElephantNon NegativeNearly a hippieIntelligentDynamiteYoung

aCrostiC PoEms

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