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Copyright © 2018 Writers in the Schools (WITS). All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. 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 57,000 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 38 organizations, and is a founding member of the Brave New Voices network, fueling social change through arts education and youth development. I Wish They Would Teach Me by Helen ................................ 6 All About Wendy and Wind by Lizbeth ............................... 7 The Delight Song of Frida by Frida ............................................... 1 In Rothko Chapel by Sophia ............................................................. 8 The Moon by Jasmine ............................................................................. 2 Last Night by Samuel ................................................................. 9 The Blessing of the Cloud by J’myrien ..................................... 3 Te veo papa | I See You Dad by Caleb ............................. 10 Book of Questions by Aleeyah ................................................... 4 Dear 14-Year-Old Valeria by Valeria ....................................... 11 Ode to Apples by Paris ................................................................. 5 A Poem Is by Adriana ................................................................ 12 THE DELIGHT SONG OF FRIDA THE MOON I am a turtle playing the tune of a clarinet The moon, I am a rhino trapped in a cage of rain shining brightly in the dark night sky, I am a chicken chirping a melody lighting up the world I am a lion, king of a leopard and jungle with its pale light, I am a slug sticky as slime helping guide the nocturnal I am a cat loud as a lion creatures. I am a deer jumping in the wind Now look down, I am a wolf looking for prey you’re flying in the sky, I am a dog as wild as a bear above the river. I am a jalapeño burning you in your mouth Do you see it? The moon’s reflection You see, I am alive, I am alive shining on the surface, I am standing, and I won’t fall down because I have my family its beams to love and cherish in my heart. of bright pale light. By Frida, 4th grade If you look closely, you might see the hands of the moon catch a glimpse of its palms. The moon, a thief stealing the sun’s light, and making it his own. By Jasmine, 7th grade 1 2 THE BLESSING OF THE CLOUD BOOK OF QUESTIONS May the blessing of the cloud If juice is sweet, block away your anger. where does it get its sugar? May it shield you How does winter know from the scorching hot sun. where the seasons go? May it give you comfort How many seasons does a week have? when you sob. Why do I stay still? Why don’t May it not rain I move? on your great day. How do bees know May it give you something where their honey goes? soft to hang on to How do sunflowers know in times of need. where the seeds go? May it open up How does the boy know so you can see where his badness goes? the light of the sun. How does the girl know where her ice cream goes? By J’myrien, 4th grade How does the girl know where the sun goes? How does the girl know she won the battle? By Aleeyah, 4th grade 3 4 ODE TO APPLES I WISH THEY WOULD TEACH ME Here, how to ride a unicorn-pegasus through space Among the various fruits of the world, and not fall off, this life-saving hydrant, because I’ve always wanted to know this crunchy deliciousness, the feeling of flying. breaking off the trees for all to eat. How to learn magic from a wizard, You, a well-worshipped goddess because I’ve always wanted to meet a wizard of the people of Greece, and learn his secrets. You, the brightest parts of the rainbow, How to grow wings, because I want to fly with my wings. Sweet, Sour, and Tangy, How to climb a 100-yard tall slippery tree with no branches sometimes all at once. and not fall off, because if a bad guy chases me, When you are plucked, and I run into that kind of tree, you may grow again I can escape. from your pit sprouts a new tree, How to do ballet in space You quench my thirst, because I can teach the aliens. and you rid the world of How to open a door or closet without touching it, Starvation. because I want to teach my little brother, because when he opens and then closes the door, By Paris, 8th grade he might smash his fingers. By Helen, 3rd grade 5 6 ALL ABOUT WENDY AND WIND IN ROTHKO CHAPEL If Harvey was a girl, I would be so happy. Harvey would be nice A sky, blank but beautiful, and cute and maybe she’d have a different name. Her name would be no stars, but rain rushing down, Wendy, like the wind. Her colors are pink and purple. very quiet. Wendy is going to play with me. I like Wendy. And she is going to Now the darkness fades. have a pet that is a chick. Her chick is named Wind. The chick is blue like As the light is rising, the water, but Wind does not like water. She loves cupcakes and land. I have hope. Wind is a girl, too. I say good-bye to the night Wendy and Wind like to play together and be nice to all the and encourage the day. people. Wendy makes hurricanes because she wants water for Wind to take a bath. She surrounds everything so Wind will get wet. Wind is sad By Sophia, 3rd grade when Wendy make hurricanes, and feels sorry for all the people that have to leave, all for taking a bath. Wind also feels embarrassed. But Wendy is sometimes sad, because Wind doesn’t want to take a bath. By Lizbeth, 2nd Grade 7 8 TE VEO PAPA Veo tus ojos e las joyas LAST NIGHT Tu risa en el mar de fuego En el secreto de la plata Last night as I was sleeping, Veo las líneas que se van al espacio I dreamed there was a moon in my heart. Solo en mis ojos eres mi favorito It will take the bad memories to outer space, La distancia nos da la fuerza and they will be gone. De poder extrañarte con diamantes I won’t have them again in my dreams. Con el poder de la esperanza Last night as I was sleeping, De volver para atrás I dreamed there was a giant wolf in my heart. Es una suerte que estás conmigo He ate all the bad deeds in my heart Si estuvieras aquí and left me with hiccups. Nunca te olvidaría No te vería en el trabajo. By Samuel, 4th grade I SEE YOU DAD I see your eyes in jewels Your laughter in the sea of fire In the secret of silver I see lines that go to space You’re my favorite only in my eyes Distance gives us the strength to miss you with diamonds With the power of hope to return here It is luck that you are with me If you were here I would never forget you I wouldn’t see you at work 9 By Caleb, 3rd grade 10 DEAR 14-YEAR-OLD VALERIA A POEM IS A poem for you: A poem is a heart Singing is your favorite melody. that opens the hearts of others. You found out what friendship means and where it lights up. A poem is a chicken Everyone and everything inspires you to keep moving on. flying in silence. So keep moving on. A poem is a bow The day and night are your best companions. dancing on your shoes. You see the world as not dangerous but as freedom A poem is a shark and if you ever speak up, know that it’s going to change playing and eating ice cream all day with friends. how you live and who you are. A poem is a mouth You want to be free and escape to a place of delight. eating chocolate. As day and night combine, you will light up the sky. A poem is a pencil dancing on the moon of cheese. By Valeria, 5th grade A poem is a blank paper that dances every day and does gymnastics. A poem is a lunchbox eating the food that’s inside it. A poem is a book reading by itself so quietly. A poem is a person dancing on the beach. A poem is love in the sky. By Adriana, 3rd grade 11 12 DRS. MELANIE J. MALINOWSKI AND ANDY D. CUNNINGHAM THE MENIL COLLECTION NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS MARCIA AND MICHAEL NICHOLS THE PERIWINKLE FOUNDATION THE POWELL FOUNDATION THE SIMMONS FOUNDATION TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS THE TRAVELERS FOUNDATION ROBIN ANGLY AND MILES SMITH UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON THE JOE BARNHART FOUNDATION MITRA AND JOSHUA WOODY BETH AND JASON BERNAL 97.9 THE BOX THE BROWN FOUNDATION, INC.

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