this is what the world is
DESCRIPTION
Poems by Children from Camelot and Windcrest Elementary Schools in San Antonio, Texas. This Is What the World Is marks the successful completion of a partnership between Gemini Ink, NEISD, and Rackspace 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. Gemini Ink thanks Dr. Kamala Platt and Cris Bazaldua, who led the workshops and brought new insight into the value of literature and reading. We also thank the staff of both Camelot and Windcrest, who are advocates of expanding their students’ access to the arts and literature. Thank you, specifically, to Hope de Lemos, Karen Kohler and Wilma Payne, for their belief in the transformative nature of these writing workshops. Thank you to Rackspace, who funded this project.TRANSCRIPT
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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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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
13
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.
15
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
20
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
22
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
25
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
31
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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45
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
54
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