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Writers in the Schools, 1523 W Main, Houston, TX 77006. witshouston.org Since 1983, Writers in the Schools (WITS) has brought innovative arts education to school, hospital, and community classrooms throughout Houston. By fostering collaboration between teachers and talented professional writers, WITS cultivates critical thinking, problem solving, and literacy in 52,000 students each year. WITS believes in the power of young voices, creating opportunities such as interactive performance poetry slams, digital learning, and the first-ever Youth Poet Laureate program in Houston. As the largest literary arts organization in Texas, WITS leads an international network of 32 organizations, and is a founding member of the Brave New Voices network, fueling social change through arts education and youth development. 06My People by Yasmeen
07Dogs at Seven Years Old by Camren
01Be Brave by Pearl 08The Birth of Color by Kirby
02How to Paint a Moody Sea by Katie 09The Delight Song of Vincent Ramos by Vincent
03Days by Mohammed 10One by Paloma
04Carta a mi mama | A Letter to My Mom by Joselyn 11Palm-reading Geography (for Jack) by Katie
05Ode to a Lime by Hanno 12Future Me by Imani BE BRAVE HOW TO PAINT A MOODY SEA
Be brave. First paint wind, You will find your way using long strides. the kind that creates the shimmering waves. You will fill your cracks with gold. Add the glow of the sleeping sun. Swallow darkness like lemonade Next, place your canvas and savor its twisted flavor. in the sand Scramble into the unknown. in a tide pool You can’t help but smile. or where the clams build the shells. Your heart will beat Paint without thinking its fractured tune and one or moving and wait speck of dust will fall from for the sun’s expression to turn your tattered suitcase of regrets. soft and light. You are broken like the old Then draw the shadowy ships clock in the corner of the whispering their long-gone knowledge home you used to love. to the fish in the sea, But that’s okay. the sand, You will cartwheel down the sidewalk the men gathering crabs. leading away from the city. When the seagull caw-caws, And you will smile. take a squid and scare it. The ink will burst. by Pearl, 6th grade With this, sign your name in the ocean, hoping it won’t go down to the sunken ship taking souls.
by Katie, 5th grade
1 2 DAYS CARTA A MI MAMA
Each one a gift Te quiero mucho porque eres un ángel. no doubt about it. Tus ojos son estrellas del espacio. A wonderful, mythical Tu pelo es una pluma ligera. day without ice cream. Tus labios son como una rosa. Today, cold and bright Porque tu belleza ni en la noche se apaga. a cool breeze in the sky Porque eres como dia, without a fall of rain. y la noche se acaba… Through the calm eye of a window, charming look in the glowing mirror, you find yourself in trouble. A LETTER TO MY MOM A friend helps you out. You whisper about great days without mentioning the bad ones. I love you so much because you are an angel. by Mohammed, 5th grade Your eyes are stars from space. Your hair is a light feather. Your lips are like a rose. Because your beauty does not turn off, even at night. Because you are like day, and night ends...
by Joselyn, 2nd grade
3 4 ODE TO A LIME MY PEOPLE
Gleaming in the sunlight, I am from the Middle East where the Arabs roam. wicked green, I am from kebabs and hummus, rocks like a boat when sliced. spaghetti and shrimp. I am from Azhar and Abzar, Slice it! some good old friends. My brothers are from them, too. Now it looks like the Grinch, smells like a Warhead. I am from a whole family tree sprouted in the little country Iraq. Juicy. Eat it if you dare. I am from a father who works It will give you a sour face. with a brush and canvas. Delicious for me, but I am from a mother who studies how for you, maybe not. to make change and say,
Transparent like a window. “Thank you for your service.” If I hide behind it, you will still see me. I am from Anab and Zaid, two good siblings. Slices like pizza, I am from a family of oil-black hair. but not as rich and tasty. All my ancestors at my age had this crow oil hair.
You made a sour face. I am from Arabian eyes. Admit it. Call them brown, call them black, Use a wedge for a mustache- but they are truly Arabian, you’ll look like Abe Lincoln. one hundred percent. by Hanno, 3rd grade by Yasmeen, 4th grade
5 6 DOGS AT SEVEN YEARS OLD THE BIRTH OF COLOR
Dogs at seven learn to be calm. The beautiful sunset Their gray floppy ears like to hear making shades food being dropped in a metal bowl. of blue, green, Dogs at seven enjoy long calm walks red, only so when they come back, pink, they can sink into your bed and nap, yellow, smelling like warm glazed grass. and orange, eyes of the wandering beings Dogs at seven like hearing opening, the cheers of babies when they sniff them looking, and the joyful sounds of tiny children watching riding on their backs. from their windows, the golden yellow tree, Dogs at seven love to see a brand-new juicy bone the sunset lake, that they can chew on for hours and hours. children playing, Dogs at seven have deep and heavy barks bluebirds chirping, that they use to scare away cats and squirrels. the blue leaves, dark green haunting shadows, Dogs at seven like to feel the dark blue magenta air a red horse, flow by as the light in the sky goes dark. people hard at work, a bright sunny day, by Camren, 6th grade trees reaching up to grow, mothers making supper for their children, and a door opening, telling people to come, this is the birth of color.
by Kirby, 3rd grade
7 8 THE DELIGHT SONG OF ONE VINCENT RAMOS
I am the core of a red apple One I am the hawk with its eyes so bright lonely I am a sapling ready to grow daisy I am the darkest shadow drinking I am the scroll that will guide you from I am honey that flows on your pancakes its I am the drone whom you control straws, I am the sadness that brings you joy eating I am the medicine that clears your throat fresh I am the love that flows through your heart sunlight I am the person who will heal your sadness after I stand in your heart until the end the storm. I will guide you on your journey to Mount Everest by Paloma, 2nd grade by Vincent, 3rd grade
9 10 PALM-READING GEOGRAPHY FUTURE ME (FOR JACK)
As I look at the twists To the Future Me: and turns in your palm, I have important questions stored. I see something, Did you ever give up on proving your worth? something more than lines, like a virus worming its Are you still that joke to people way deeper, Or the wise one that’s finally happy? deeper into your veins, The curiosity is really killing me. riding them to your heart. Will we ever find happiness?
Another hill is like a Ever feel that feeling— weakness, trying to hide the unspeakable feeling until it is strong, of love? hiding in those little by Imani, 8th grade creases, just waiting for the right time to show itself.
But you will love—I see it deep in your heart, waiting for your future. by Katie, 4th grade
11 12 ALMEDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER PEDIATRICS AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL MEADOW WOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BARTON HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MECA HOUSTON BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE ACADEMY AT RYAN MIDDLE SCHOOL MEMORIAL DRIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BEEVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT THE MENIL COLLECTION BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL MOODY CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT RICE BRUCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NAVARRO MIDDLE SCHOOL C.E. KING HIGH SCHOOL O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAVEZ HIGH SCHOOL OAK FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COLLEGE-COMMUNITY-CAREER PATTERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CONDIT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PEARLAND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT CRISTO REY JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY OF HOUSTON PERIWINKLE FOUNDATION DEANDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL POE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISCOVERY GREEN CONSERVANCY PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL DUCHESNE ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART PUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DUKE TIP SCHOLARS THE REGIS SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART EASTWOOD ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL RIVER OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDISON MIDDLE SCHOOL THE RIVER PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS CENTER FIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ROBERTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIFTH WARD ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SAINT ANNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL HAMILTON MIDDLE SCHOOL SAINT LAURENCE CATHOLIC SCHOOL HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT SAINT MARK’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL HARVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SAINT MICHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL HELMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SAINT ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL HINES-CALDWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SALVATION ARMY HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON SHARYLAND HIGH SCHOOL HOUSTON ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SHERWOOD FOREST MONTESSORI SCHOOL HOUSTON GRAND OPERA SOUTHWEST SCHOOLS HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SPRING FOREST MIDDLE SCHOOL HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SUPASTAR SPIN ACADEMY HUNTERS CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUTTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INSIDEOUT DETROIT TEACH FOR AMERICA JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ARTS IN MEDICINE PROGRAM JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL RENAL DIALYSIS UNIT KASHMERE HIGH SCHOOL TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL WEST CAMPUS KETELSEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL T.H. ROGERS SCHOOL KEY MIDDLE SCHOOL TIGERTAIL PRODUCTIONS, INC. THE KINKAID SCHOOL TIRR MEMORIAL HERMANN KIPP ACADEMY WEST TRAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIPP LIBERATION UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON - DOWNTOWN LANIER MIDDLE SCHOOL THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER LEVY PARK CONSERVANCY WESTBURY HIGH SCHOOL LOBIT EDUCATION VILLAGE WHARTON DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY LOCKHART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THE WOMAN’S HOSPITAL OF TEXAS LYONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WOODSON K-8 SCHOOL MADING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL MAIN STREET THEATER YMCA MANDARIN IMMERSION MAGNET SCHOOL YMCA-KIPP LIBERATION MCREYNOLDS MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUNG AUDIENCES OF HOUSTON MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER AYA YOUNG AUDIENCES OF NORTHEAST TEXAS HOUSTON ENDOWMENT, INC. THE BROWN FOUNDATION, INC. THE MENIL COLLECTION YOUTH SPEAKS CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH THE HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON COPY.COM THE WILLIAM STAMPS FARISH FUND THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS THE SIMMONS FOUNDATION LAURA AND JOHN ARNOLD GEORGE AND MARY JOSEPHINE HAMMAN FOUNDATION THE CLAYTON FUND, INC. THE POWELL FOUNDATION THE PERIWINKLE FOUNDATION THE JOE BARNHART FOUNDATION GENEROUS ANONYMOUS DONOR H-E-B HARRY S. AND ISABEL C. CAMERON FOUNDATION THE TRAVELERS FOUNDATION THE WOMAN’S HOSPITAL OF TEXAS WELLS FARGO DRS. MELANIE J. MALINOWSKI AND ANDY D. CUNNINGHAM BETH AND JASON BERNAL KINDER MORGAN FOUNDATION MARYSCOTT HAGLE AND DANIEL KORNBERG | HARRISON KORNBERG MITRA AND JOSHUA WOODY THE EDWARD AND HELEN OPPENHEIMER FOUNDATION THE JACOB AND TERESE HERSHEY FOUNDATION RF HUMPHREYS FAMILY FOUNDATION SHELL ALBERT AND ETHEL HERZSTEIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DISCOVERY GREEN WITH SUPPORT FROM THE SALNERS FOUNDATION URBAN WORD ARTS ACCESS INITIATIVE LEVY PARK MECA HOUSTON HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY POETS.ORG YOUNG AUDIENCES OF HOUSTON