Radiant Beings by 826nyc

826NYC Books 372 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 Radiant Beings: Poetry by 826NYC Students at the Academy for Young Writers © 2022 by 826NYC and the authors. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. First 826NYC edition June 2022 Manufactured in the United States of Brooklyn 979-8-88694-000-8 The writing in this book was produced in the 2021-2022 school year at 826NYC’s Young Writers Publish project at the Academy for Young Writers. The classes were run by Daniel Goulden and Daniel Jackson with the support of Alex Cuff, Kimberly Osborne, and Dave Weber, as well as 826NYC writing mentors Dov Alpert, Carol Goldberg, Karen Mok, and Maria Robins-Somerville, in the 11th grade classes. Designed by Ling Zhu Edited and proofread by Chelsea Bonollo, Chad Hewitt, Saifa Khan, Kara Pernicano, Allie Singer, Lauren Stefaniak, Sarah Stephen. Printed by Bookmobile This program is supported by 826 National, the Amazon Literary Partnership, The Jane Friedman Anspach Family Foundation, Con Edison, The Find Your Light Foundation, The Hawkins Project, International Paper, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, The Kettering Family Foundation, The Minerva Foundation, The Resnick Foundation, The Yelp Foundation, and Youth, Inc. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The program is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. 826NYC is grateful to the many individuals who support our work. To see our full list of supporters or make a donation, please visit https://826nyc.org/donate-us/.

826NYC is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage the exploration of endless possibilities through the power of writing. Undefined by circumstance, our students build the skills to boldly write their own paths forward. We support new and exciting approaches to writing and inspire student engagement. And we foster generations of creative writers and thinkers, who together will define a better future.

Content Warning This book is intended for mature audiences, with some topics, themes, and language, that may not be suitable for young readers, including references to substance usage and themes involving violence and sexuality.

Contents 11th Grade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 To Him, Kasandra Collazo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Future Is Bright, Andre Ford. . . . . . . . . . . 7 Being Different, Jasmin Gutierrez. . . . . . . . . . 9 Give Chances, Jasmin Gutierrez. . . . . . . . . . 13 My Letter to Your Flag, Jasmin Gutierrez. . . 15 Untitled, Emmanuel Harper . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Justice, Canora Hepburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Untitled, Aylin Hernandez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 What is the Meaning of Justice?, Yuneisy Mella Serra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 You, Emani Moore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 What If, Perla Morillo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Difference, Jennae Noel-Lewis. . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Justice, Anthony Ratner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Untitled, David Roseman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 The Great Assimilation, Kayla Wayne . . . . . 43 Untitled, Markeyz Weber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Untitled, Akielia Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

12th Grade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Malevolent, Ananyeli Avillan. . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Blackout Disguise, Ananyeli Avillan. . . . . . . 55 Two Wheel Adventure, Naisean Banks. . . . . 57 Cast and Bait, Naisean Banks. . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Werewolf, Zaniya Blackwell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 The Overwhelming Fish Smell, Jasir Blount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 My Bike Incident, Jasir Blount. . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Insecurities, Alyssa Brackin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Monsters, Alyssa Brackin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 My Bicycle Poem, Sahanna Brown. . . . . . . . 73 Blast Free, Brianna Carmona . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Collage Free Write Poem, Brianna Carmona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 My Beautiful Flaws, Sanai Charles . . . . . . . . 79 My Queen, Sanai Charles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Sad about Birds, Darren Coates. . . . . . . . . . . 83 Dragon Magic, Douglass Collum. . . . . . . . . . 85 Beautiful Scars, Dynasty Covington. . . . . . . 87

Black Out Poem, Guadalupe Fernandez. . . . 89 Just a Monster Who Wants to Be Loved, Frederick Gonell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 D.A.I., Daijon Gordon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Short Fish Story, Daijon Gordon. . . . . . . . . . 95 My Victory, Sean Harris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Pain Comes Pleasure, Chantal Harvey. . . . . 99 Devour, Chantal Harvey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Spit, Jaysean Isaac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Self Portrait, Enoh Isiorho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 The Lonely Fisherman, Jamel R. Jefferson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Sunny Funny Fish, Laniya Johnson . . . . . . 109 Crown Me, Ziara Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Nostalgic Ride, Ridhoy Khalil. . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Misunderstood, Tamara Lattimore. . . . . . . 117 For the Record, Tajuddin McLaughlin. . . . 119 Good Listener, Jonathan Moulanier. . . . . . 121 Blackout Scream, Damon Murray. . . . . . . . 123 (G)reater (T)oronto (A)rea, Terrence Obmuellar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 C(anarsie) P(ier), Terrence Obmuellar. . . . 127

Weary-Eyed Beast, Sianny Ortiz . . . . . . . . . 129 Monster, Rosa Palma Lofton. . . . . . . . . . . . 131 It Is What It Is, Vernon Perry. . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Elite Alone, Vernon Perry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Queen, Tanasia Profit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Wash Away His Sins at the Buzzer, Adonis Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Extinction, Nyala Schuler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 He’s Here!, Neptune Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Monster Poem, Abigail Williams. . . . . . . . . 149 Papa’s Fishing Pole, Vivian Williams . . . . . 151 Note on Community Poems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Foreword Dear Readers, We live in a profoundly imperfect world. Our society’s struggles with racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia have reached a boiling point in recent years. I was lucky to work with the 11th graders at Academy for Young Writers in confronting the ills of our society through reading, writing, and listening to slam poetry. Poetry in many ways is the fundamental art form. It is the purest expression of writing, a direct connection from the heart to the page. Together we read and listened to slam poetry that struggled with issues of social justice in our world and used that as a jumping off point to engage in our own struggles. The poems you find in this anthology are the result of many hours spent learning to express ourselves. Some deal with racism, others will ableism, others with good old fashioned heartbreak, but they are all the result of an extraordinary artistic process where we learned to build that connection between the heart and the page. It was an absolute joy teaching the 11th graders at Academy for Young Writers and I am absolutely floored by what they have produced. I hope you love their poems as much as I do! Daniel Goulden 826NYC Teaching Artist, working with AFYW 11th graders

Radiant Beings

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Dear Readers, Experimental writing inspired by visual art is not a new concept. In these workshops with 12th graders at Academy for Young Writers, we approached writing from this ekphrastic direction. Though the process of writing can be difficult, the student authors at AFYW did not write with rhetorical flaccidity; in fact, they were eager to experiment and wrote messy, unafraid to color outside of the lines. A wild immediacy specific to their generation. This immediacy allowed them to not only focus on Jean-Michel Basquiat’s artwork as a source of inspiration, but, rather, to think of the larger complex scene which adds voice to a specific social awareness parallel to their ethos. Daniel Jackson 826NYC Teaching Artist, working with AFYW 12th graders

Foreword

III

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11th Grade

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To Him Kasandra Collazo

Hey you Did you mean everything you said? How could you treat me that way I know I’m not innocent You ain’t innocent You fucked up, I fucked up You miss me, I miss you But I can’t forget the past Everything is stuck in my head I can’t never forget the things you told me You said you loved me You said you would treat me like the queen I was You lied I lied I promised you I would always stay by your side But I left you all alone I was selfish I was stupid I felt like you needed someone more up to your standards Not no little girl I was immature So was you To Him

We said some reckless things We both hurt each other We both cried We both felt alone I loved you I cared for you I talked about you I was happy with you But Things started to change You started to change Or maybe you just been this way And I was too blind to see it I was sad I was angry I messed up The betrayal, the sadness I’m a terrible person We ain’t perfect Would you ever wanna try us again? I miss that laugh of yours I miss the way you talk I miss the way you kissed me I miss the way you hugged me I miss how you always protected me Do you miss me? Do you still love me? I can’t go through this again You can’t go through this again You deserve better I deserve better

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To Him

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The Future Is Bright Andre Ford

Our head or a bullet in our back or tear Getting shot in the back is what I fear Then you’re ever willing to the clear blue sky Flying high is what I describe I see a little child that lost their father But when I was a little child I never knew my father Another child that grows up and suffers They’re thinking suicidal but needs love from others Allegiance, to your flag, of the United States of America I love my country that’s why I serve Lady America

The Future Is Bright

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Being Different Jasmin Gutierrez

Being different is What God didn’t give you he replaces with another Something the world should know about that People can come in all shapes and sizes Can have a Different view Different way Different style Different life And Simply BE DIFFERENT The question is What is Different to YOU Is it the way Your voice SINGS Or how your mind THINKS The way you EAT How you SLEEP How you WALK Being Different

TALK Would you rather Be the SAME Or DIFFERENT Would you rather LIVE Or EXIST

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Being Different

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Give Chances Jasmin Gutierrez

Give chances, trust few, love one Undefined The word love You give chances Broken Try to trust very few Pain Can love one Gone How does it go on Or change Then find one Push them away Alone Feel heard Lost Love one Stay

Give Chances

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My Letter to Your Flag Jasmin Gutierrez

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and Justice for who? For you? For some? Or for Me? What was the red, white, blue for? Was it to symbolize My freedom Our freedom Their freedom? Well they lied As they beat us down Wear us down In black and blue Did they cry? Did they weep for years? Did they stop? How do you promise and promise But Never change your ways? The lying USA way Make it better Actually better Not to give us maybes or a privilege Not to live My Letter to Your Flag

Not to speak Don’t pull it The trigger ‘Cause you of all people know I’m right Right in the way we think Right in the way to see the next day Being able to walk freely Being able to express my opinions freely Without a gun to my head Can and will never stop Don’t ask me ‘Cause we’re more than color

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My Letter to Your Flag

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Untitled Emmanuel Harper

It’s crazy how the minority is looked down upon as if the inferiority chained-down future, haunted like a Requiem Mass but not of the dead but of the teachings of the past. Isn’t it crazy they say I’m not racist I just don’t like the melanin on your canvas but trust I’m not like the people of the past my sister’s boyfriend is black, I gave this homeless guy a sandwich and he was black. Okay cool, so you acknowledge him as worthy to marry your kids because he loves her and he is not a man to rob the store in a ski mask. Do you support the Casta paintings or not? You see me but don’t know how I work, I’m like a new transparent frog to you. You see my melanin but don’t know how I work, how I move. Even if I was transparent and you saw my brain you would not even know how I think. You wouldn’t want to touch me Untitled

because you heard that forest frogs are poisonous. So you’re blinded by your ego, looking down on the beautiful forest we created but you can’t see us because of your angles, you’re looking at the trees. You can’t see our ecosystem from beyond the leaves. You see a dart frog, poisonous, but you don’t know why it’s poisoned. The reason we did it was to survive. You see, you tell all these pretty little lies “like we understand you” but no matter how you say it, lies are lies. Y’all trapped in an equinox but the answer is night and day. Call me a dragon, I feel like I’m in an infinite loop, like I’m the ouroboros where my skin is a sin. You say we’re equal but I see chains not wings. When I depart I don’t want to be forsaken when I go. I want to be remembered and engraved in history like a scar that will not fade. When I go I want to make my mark not as a Requiem remembered in mass and counted among the many of the fallen with their mark engraved only on stone and the ones that have not forsaken them. I want to 20

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be remembered with my story being like a legend that’s primal, second nature, known through time infinitely like a snake wrapped around and devouring its tail and my stone being the earth which I roamed. Not as a barbaric savage, not a vulgarian but a man who did great things.

Untitled

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Justice Canora Hepburn

Justice It’s just that this idea is in fact hiding prejudice Fighting wars and breaking their backs For a country that’ll leave them in cracks Siphoning the little faith that they have left Hoping and praying that they won’t fall behind the tracks To a place in which they creep Sadly they weep The blood stains their sheets While they lie down in deceit

Justice

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Untitled Aylin Hernandez

When someone tells you they’ll stop You get happy, hopeful Maybe this time they’ll really stop You feel like a kid in a candy store You’re holding a big lollipop. You’re full of joy. Change Good change Then one day you wake up and that lollipop is gone. It’s in pieces crumbled in your bed and you feel sticky And feel the sharp edges of the lollipop poking you. One pokes you hard enough it leaves a scar A little scab. It’s little. You see them. They notice you’re not holding the lollipop. They know your lollipop is gone. Broken. In pieces But they don’t see the scab. And you don’t show it to them. Instead you try to heal to the scab yourself Bandage, ointment, Nothing, it’s still there And it still hurts. It hurts when you touch it But not when it’s touched by anything else Untitled

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What is the Meaning of Justice? Yuneisy Mella Serra

What does justice mean to you? Is justice even real? Why does it exist if it is hardly used? Why is there more injustice than justice in this world? These are very difficult questions to answer. As much as we want justice Justice never comes for some people because in the world There are many ideas of what justice is. What does justice mean to you?

What is the Meaning of Justice?

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You Emani Moore

The first time I saw you I was clueless I caught your eyes and you caught mine I told them you were just a friend The first time I met you I was patient The first time I met you I was shy The first time I met you I knew You would always be by my side After all the long nights The first time I kissed you I knew something was right It took my breath away But the days got longer

You

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What If Perla Morillo

What if I were different? What if I were the perfect little girl The golden child The star The saint What if I were the little girl you always wanted? Will things be different? Will things work out between us? Tell me why did things turn out like this When people tell me I look “just like you” My heart is a drained lake, It’s like everything you promised just drowned. But I’m not you I’m special I’m different And I love just the way I am I’m the little girl I feel comfortable to be I wanted to be accepted for who I am becoming I will be the girl who is perfect in her own way And no one can change that. The future pediatrician The butterfly What If

The light What if I was the perfect little girl? The little girl you never hoped I’d be.

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What If

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Difference Jennae Noel-Lewis

Being different in a world full of people Different skin color, races, and abilities What we see on the news and on social media We seen people like Kyle Rittenhouse Get a slap on the wrist “Acquitted on All Counts” and got to go home to his family meanwhile 12-year-old Tamir Rice “My son was laying on the ground . . . But they told me to calm down” never got to kiss his mom goodbye A young 14-year-old boy from Chicago trying to visit his family Next thing you know He was met with a tragedy Beat up bloody until he was unrecognizable But the people that did it were unindictable Being different in a world full of people Different skin color, races, and abilities

Difference

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Justice Anthony Ratner

Freedom, rights Fighting, speaking, empowering Not giving up Sanction The people to hear are voices that have wanted JUSTICE but if the people refuse to hear us and don’t accept our choices we keep shouting till we get JUSTICE no matter what comes our way.

Justice

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Untitled David Roseman

Smashed down in a skull-hard grave Smashed down in a gridlocked metropolis Inside this lot, a breadwinner laid claim. “Here, outta of these shawshank ghettos My temple will rise Stand tall in eternity.” 60 miles north, miners busting rocks open Carving walls into granite, coal, lungs . . . With each breath, the world darkens . . . With each step, their veins thicken . . . By month’s end, trucks left a tomb full of clogged flesh. 40 miles west Within the heart of an inferno Smith’s bending iron mountains into steel seas. No matter where you stood. No matter how numerous or few your sins are The inferno will break free, reducing everything to smolder. Untitled

9 months in, 40 stories high. Temple’s shadows dominate, conquer, everything below bows to its frame. Even as the masses pay such homage. The Breadwinner wasn’t satisfied. He wasn’t right inside. As his eyes glazed upon the half finished structure, Something deep within his being twisted and groaned. In an inhuman fury, he bellowed a dark scream. “Enough of this nonsense. I gave you countless moons to obey my will. To take part in my greatest achievement. Yet here it lies, choking under this ghetto’s venomous clouds. Still lingering in your vile filth. I call now, for my temple to RISE!” Summoning every inch of his will Arms outstretched horizon to horizon Pulled in countless people, funneled them down two of fates. One path, knighthood, cutting down any peasant or lord who dares to stand against the Breadwinner’s temple. One path, death. Always just out of view, only now, as its terrors become inevitable do the masses finally see its metal shynce.

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100 stories high, 12 months. The temple glowed. It’s a steel skeleton, cloaked in a bloodsoaked facade. Staring up at his makeshift monument, The Man, The King, The Winner, looks on pleased. “This is my greatest achievement. The world will gaze upon my tower, recognize the hardships I endured. They will know my bloodshed, my power, and they shall carry my memory.”

Untitled

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The Great Assimilation Kayla Wayne

Talk Properly she says I was about 4 And fresh out of GT I didn’t understand why the White lady with The funny voice Was talking about my speech Speak Properly she says But I wanted to fit in with everyone And speak English I wanted so badly to go home To the palm trees To the sun To run barefoot I didn’t want to be the person they turned to in class When Caribbean people were briefly mentioned But I always Remembered to talk Properly Even when the lady at the supermarket Tried to accuse me of stealing The Great Assimilation

How badly I wanted to stop Talking in this stupid white gibberish proper shit How badly I wanted cuss her out And tell her about herself But I didn’t I always remembered to speak Properly

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The Great Assimilation

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Untitled Markeyz Weber

We live in a world where justice is based on colors We pray to our mothers that we make it home One-sided justice because of skin color We were guaranteed freedom but I see horror Now look, we’re forced to protest to see a change like we are restorers We get looked at queerly in our own country like we foreigners We think of the system that’s SUPPOSED to protect us as murderers

Untitled

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Untitled Akielia Williams

There can be no justice There can be no hope or change if we black people do not try Justice is a blind goddess is a thing which we are black are wise It’s not a task for one group It affects both black and white in the same policy on the left and on the right We must grow labels we all must stand as one This is the time of challenge and work must be done The reason that when we go to shop, we’re watching your stores that racism is the reason that us and your pledge of allegiance feels a lot like a root canal, there can be no hope or change if we black people do not try, it affects both black and white in the same policy on the left and on the right, we must grow labels we all must stand as one This is the time of challenge and work must be done

Untitled

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12th Grade

Foreword Painting is poetry. Poetry is painting. Our Young Writers took a unique approach to the process of crafting their pieces for this book. We dove deep into the painted pool of work by the incomparable Brooklyn artist, JeanMichel Basquiat. The students studied his life and work but rather than respond with an art criticism essay or research paper, they responded in kind with their own creative outlet, poetry. Basquiat’s Bicycle Rider, Untitled (Fisherman), Self Portrait as a Heel, and A Gorilla lent the poets thematic inspiration, usable poetic techniques, and a tangible artistic attitude about their work. I’m sure I am biased but I think their hard work paid off with some brilliant poems. They are both deeply thoughtful and incredibly entertaining. Brooklyn is a city with great art plastered all over the walls. Blasting from every street corner. May these poems add to that beautiful landscape. Dave Weber 12th Grade Teacher, Academy for Young Writers

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Malevolent Ananyeli Avillan

Tall, black, long, wrinkly limbs Ghostly almost, staying in the shadows of my room The wind howls against my window I blink, it comes closer, I shut my eyes hearing its hissing Frozen in the place of my bed under my covers Gone to wait for another day to torture my mind

Malevolent

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Blackout Disguise Ananyeli Avillan

Shadows of big ghosts in the dark, in the walls Noises of bad dogs barking loud, down the halls Hiding beneath the bed, changing what was said Life is nothing but a disguise for the dead I won’t cry I’d rather smile to hide the fright that peaks great heights With a boo, to make them shoo I’m afraid to let it loose Since life is nothing but a disguise or so I bet it is

Blackout Disguise

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Two Wheel Adventure Naisean Banks

Speed, I am speed The hot/cold breeze of the air as I ride down the street Every bump I hit, the bike creaks Speed, I am speed Moving my feet as fast as I can Put the pedal to the metal Bike whistle sound like a kettle Speed, I am speed Bob, weave, jump, New tricks Showing them I ain’t a b*tch Surf, ghost All it takes is one post Land the trick And don’t fall in the ditch

Two Wheel Adventure

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Cast and Bait Naisean Banks

Bait, cast, reel in Bait, cast, reel in The breeze of the wind on my skin Helps forget about the prick of the pin The pin that went through the bait pierced my soft smooth skin The process of healing takes time but may not come back the same Not soft Not smooth But rough like the armor the fish has The scales that tell tales The story of the life from young to old Particles of previous fish in the water Lifeless and cold But yet this may be the greatest story ever told

Cast and Bait

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Werewolf Zaniya Blackwell

Bright colours everywhere Each character in their own world experiencing their own lives Each expressing their own thoughts Fighting their own battles Some internal Some external Two of them fighting each other So much anger between two monsters Memories We all have memories Those memories are attached to people People who need to be released But sometimes we can’t let them go Sometimes those people are so meaningful that we cling onto the memories for dear life even though we know we should let them go The past is the past, we cannot change that Of course We can choose to stay in the past But just know the world will move on without you Whilst you’re stuck in the past, everyone else will Werewolf

be living and thriving in the present without you Women have always been the face of Injustice But not anymore, not today We will no longer allow her not to be free anymore We will fight for her Free her As a grown woman She should be allowed to have control over her life It’s been over a decade We have finally freed her My doctor tries to tell me That I’m going through a phase No it’s not a fucking phase I just wanna feel okay Okay?! Lyrics that ring quite relatable To me and to others I feel this with my entire soul I understand these feelings I feel these feelings We are so mad at the world No one understands that we are not okay No matter how hard we try to tell everyone They don’t listen We are not okay He turns into a werewolf to show that his mental health is Bad It’s gotten worse He’s at his breaking point, he exploded

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And quite literally turned into a monster His daughter, Willow Is his only anchor to reality To remind him that everything will be okay

Werewolf

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The Overwhelming Fish Smell Jasir Blount

I can confidently say that I like fish. The slight aroma of the ocean cooked with the right seasonings. It also goes quite well with something like rice. Then there I was on my way to my aunt’s house to spend time with my cousin. The thought of fish wasn’t on my mind at the time. We arrived at the house and once we entered, it hit me . . . The extreme smell of fish being made by my uncle. It caught me off guard, and the slight smell of the ocean I loved was tarnished. I still eat fish to this day, but my interest in it has decreased.

The Overwhelming Fish Smell

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My Bike Incident Jasir Blount

I was a nine-year-old, relatively happy kid running around the park with my siblings. Nice sunny day with a beautiful, blue sky. I went down the (at the time) huge slide and then started running around with the excitement of someone with a huge sugar rush. Sadly, I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings. I was run over by a bicycle. I got up like nothing had happened, as if the person that had hit me never even existed. The guy started to apologize profusely, and I went back to my family.

My Bike Incident

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Insecurities Alyssa Brackin

Looking at myself, thinking of how beautiful I am All my insecurities were just something in my mind Designed to make me feel bad about my flaws It was really a big mistake empowering these insecurities Instead of letting it take over me, I shut it down Because I’m beautiful My flaws and imperfections are what makes me different I’m beautiful, and I know that for a fact No more insecurities to make me feel bad There’s no need to be insecure We’re all beautiful

Insecurities

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Monsters Alyssa Brackin

Monsters under the bed Head sticks out at night Fright builds up inside Hide under the covers afraid Finally grown up Yup now you notice They aint all the same Some bad And some good You’ll never know which one they are You gotta be the one to control THAT MONSTER . . .

Monsters

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My Bicycle Poem Sahanna Brown

Life is like a bike ride Dodging all the little bumps Going down the sidewalk so fast Almost busted my ass . . . crash. 50 million impacts, Bumpy roads, scared of the railroads Take a trip down the path Don’t look back at the aftermath It’s now our only path. You know all the jagged cracks There’s no bumps you can’t get past.

My Bicycle Poem

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Blast Free Brianna Carmona

Magic is a real blast All these spells I’m finna cast Undertaker in ‘96 make em all tap Rap on a poem I’m killing it Spit locked-up on phone calls home Alone filled with thoughts in my dome Roam wild attention span Soon the mysteries of life Strife and trials make it all worthwhile Style the lone angel in the sky Buy a trampoline Clean mean green I fly Try to blast free

Blast Free

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Collage Free Write Poem Brianna Carmona

Sadness, Crying, sitting there depressed. Crying is okay. Smiling is a great thing. But either way life is depressing. People fighting for their life, but also fighting for money. Just sad sad sad. Dancing but still depressed inside.

Collage Free Write Poem

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My Beautiful Flaws Sanai Charles

I have a slit in my left eyebrow. I wish it wasn’t there. But I’m not insecure about it. I have big, chubby cheeks that rise up to my eyes highly when I smile. But I’m not insecure about it. I have a brown birthmark on my left cheek. Looks like I got blotted with ink. But I’m not insecure about it. I look at it as beauty. It makes me, me.

My Beautiful Flaws

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My Queen Sanai Charles

My grandma is my queen. She does a lot for me. She goes out of her way for me no matter what. Always makes sure the world is safe for me. She feeds me, runs me a hot bath in her jacuzzi, has food waiting on the table when I’m done. She gets me out of trouble or helps me when I’m in too deep, and it’s a trouble I can’t get out of. She goes hard for me. My grandma will always be my queen.

My Queen

Radiant Beings

Sad about Birds Darren Coates Inspired by Travis Scott’s “Goosebumps”

Skeleton weeper body like an X cross it all out cry it all out legs crossed body on the floor after slow death love must clean house I get those goosebumps everytime I need the heimlich cause birds get blasted into the sky & electrocuted on power lines

Sad about Birds

Radiant Beings

Dragon Magic (a community poem) Douglass Collum

You mustn’t mumble under your breath, believe that somebody cares, say it! Don’t spray it, don’t give me a reason to waste it. Taste it in the air like I just don’t care. Bear with me we will soon get there. Fair things come to those who wait. Wait too long to meet your fate. Rate like this, it won’t stop too late. Heart rate, life moves fast, call it a heart race. Face yesterday, it’s just a date. Kate smoked a vape. That cape on my back. I love my dragon. A wagon of thoughts, fire breathed out like a dragon. Dragging them through the night. Fright keeps me pale, white. Magic in the air. Things appear. Fear your friends, but love your foes. Throw some real magic spells into the light. Aight? Say it!

Dragon Magic

Radiant Beings

Beautiful Scars Dynasty Covington

Intricate drawings cut into her skin They tell tales of the little blues kitten Her skin so raw from the scars trying to heal She can’t get away from the hurt she feels She feels the need to cause herself pain But every night she cries again Beautiful lines to tell the tale Of when Daddy used to love her Before he left her scarred

Beautiful Scars

Radiant Beings

Black Out Poem Guadalupe Fernandez

Shadow down life Loud ghost Frighten Dragons Frighten Boo, Shoo, I run Won’t they just go—All Fight alone Frighten Panthers Stranger Frighten New hair, little curls Don’t show scream I dream magic sleeve I breathe Life

Black Out Poem

Radiant Beings

Just a Monster Who Wants to Be Loved Frederick Gonell

Sad mouse has been betrayed. He feels his life has been delayed. Can you love a monster with a frightening display? Angry, but only love is to blame. Nightmare in the air. Terrifying death everywhere. Venom saved Ms. Chun. Does that still mean he is a monster to everyone?

Just a Monster Who Wants to Be Loved

Radiant Beings

D.A.I. Daijon Gordon

D is for Daring Your hips, your dips Your mysterious moves are bold A is for Artistic Your pen flows, and you are unstoppable Sharp tongue Brilliant mind keeps me wondering I is for Imperfect And you are okay with that Cause you are divided from the rest Perfectly imperfect

D.A.I.

Radiant Beings

Short Fish Story Daijon Gordon

One man’s trash can be another’s treasure Daddy understood that well Little by little, our fish tank was filled with treasures Beautiful pink, blue, and purple pebbles filled the bottom With colored LED bulbs to light it up Old jewelry and fish castles Then finally the fish It’s ironic because fish are indispensable for food But that’s what took them out

Short Fish Story

Radiant Beings

My Victory

(a community poem) Sean Harris

You mustn’t mumble under your breath, believe that somebody cares, say it. Gets hard to keep score when I keep scoring. Snoring because there is no challenge. Balance out my name in your mouth. South seems so dark and quiet. Let them riot, enraged by my victory. Strictly ‘bout my business, y’all in misery. It loves company, they try to take the rug right from under me. Plea but they are carefree, no emotions, no devotion, just left to overdose and I can’t accept this fate. State your thoughts so we can get words across. Boss, I am going to be my own. Own my own victory.

My Victory

Radiant Beings

Pain Comes Pleasure Chantal Harvey

Fists being thrown Kill him and let his soul run wild Tell Kim stop playing wit me Stop pissing me off, I could play God and cut off ya oxygen Flashing lights everywhere, vision getting blurry So much anger in me, I need to let it out somehow Blood and cuts on my knuckles Wit pain comes pleasure

Pain Comes Pleasure

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Radiant Beings

Devour Chantal Harvey

Green snakes hissing in defense She’s getting too close for my liking My hand makes contact with her face The snakes reaching to hurt her Pouring rain and darkness surround us I jump on her, finally The snakes bite and devour Human flesh and blood cover my body Finally

Devour

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Spit

(a community poem) Jaysean Isaac

You mustn’t mumble under your breath, believe that somebody cares, say it, Spit it out, say it with your chest Best believe someone will make it count, the number of sounds drowning out the feeling, Sealing away the pain, Stain on my life, losing all meaning, Seeming to lose reality its construct, Tucked away ways of winning in life Fight until I can’t anymore . . .

Spit

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Self Portrait Enoh Isiorho

One time kids laughed at my forehead. So I came to school the next day with new beautiful braids. Braids like magic flowers pretend like I don’t know they were laughing. I stood up for myself that day.

Self Portrait

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The Lonely Fisherman Jamel R. Jefferson

In solitude like in water hook grabbing cheek reeled in pull pull pull it got away got away with it all even my hook lost more than he gained in solitude there are more fish in the sea there have to be the way in which you wear your soul the hair that baits me into a lull moments like these I reflect; like a clear pond or your hands on my neck, I miss you

The Lonely Fisherman

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Sunny Funny Fish Laniya Johnson

The sunny funny fish In the sunny skied dish Swimming in circles to miss The sunlight keeping it lit Gloob gloob gloob Glowing like a bulb Sunny funny fish I wish I could give you a hug

Sunny Funny Fish

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Crown Me Ziara Jones

old souls with the baggy clothes and throwback music beautiful curly long hair hectic and chaotic brook calm and spaced out vapid virginia brave outgoing female trying new things self loving my crown is not light it only shines bright

Crown Me

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Nostalgic Ride Ridhoy Khalil

That summer of 2012 my child like hands were lost Wandering for something to hold, But all I had that summer was my bike This summer I found someone to ride with I remember riding as fast as I could just to keep up I would ride hill after hill just like a bird of the eventide With every ascent I would inch closer to the radiant sun Nostalgic Ride

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I wanted a long ride but they gave me a test drive I still look at my hands and remember all the late rides The dry summer wind blowing through my hair, But the ride is over now

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Nostalgic Ride

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Radiant Beings

Misunderstood Tamara Lattimore

He cries and cries and they see him as a joke But they didn’t really realize that his heart was broke He cried for his mother whenever she spoke Driving him insane they didn’t believe his dream Until he turned into a monster that made people scream Scariest thing alive I lie on my bed And hope the joker doesn’t come put a knife to my head Feeling bad for the joker he was just like me A misunderstood person that couldn’t get any sympathy

Misunderstood

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For the Record Tajuddin McLaughlin

Underrated never made it always suffering loss Cost often these days always feel like my Past me past you while you playing the fool You’ll never get under my skin I define me and my kin Begin that new chapter and show them the way Stay the hell away from me before I throw the bouquet Decay everything suddenly goes to shit Fit the pain but don’t bury it Admit it and wear it with pride

For the Record

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Radiant Beings

Good Listener (a community poem) Jonathan Moulanier

You musn’t mumble under your breath, believe somebody cares, say it Bit by a spider, hurts like someone stabbed you in the back. Clap for the fact that she asked On my way to the bank to get this cash. Abstract yourself from the situation. Situation getting so much money it started precipitating Constipating thoughts fill me up like shit Pit I’m in mad tired and yawning Drawing out your prey, then stab in pain. Lain down with a knife in your spine Fine, I’ll listen to what you have to say now.

Good Listener

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Blackout Scream Damon Murray

Shadow in me pulls hair doesn’t scream big bad dreams in me on panthers night don’t snake run me breathe me down life them tough and such

Blackout Scream

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G(reater) T(oronto) A(rea) Terrence Obmuellar

AJAX SUN ON MY SKIN MY BIKE IS WHITE AND PURPLE LIKE FRIEZA HOUSE ON AN INCLINE, I CAN SEE THE WORLD FROM HERE I LOSE MYSELF AND AND AND START GAINING SPEED MY FEET FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH THE REST OF MY BODY AND I STARTED PEDALING THE FARTHER I GOT THE MORE WEIGHTLESS I FELT I FELT ONCE I GOT TO THE STREET I FELT LIKE A GOD (G)reater T(oronto) A(rea)

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C(anarsie) P(ier) Terrence Obmuellar

KITES FLYING KIDS TRYING TO RACE ME ON SCOOTERS BUCKETS EVERYWHERE ONE FALLS OVER A FISH FLOPS OUT COMMOTION ENSUES THE FISH IS PUT BACK PROBLEM RESOLVED I DIDN’T GET ICE CREAM I HATE CANARSIE

C(anarsie) P(ier)

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Weary-Eyed Beast (a community poem) Sianny Ortiz

You musn’t mumble under your breath, believe that somebody cares, say it Sit in silence and think Think till I pass out without a doubt Shout and scream, share your feelings Scroll through the designated path Math doesn’t add up when things aren’t right Night cold and scary, made a young n— feel teary Weary eyed beast in the night of the organic light Fight in my dreams as my demons came out to play Pray to the lord that life gets better Weather I storm through that shit and wrote a letter Better late than never.

Weary-Eyed Beast

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Monster Rosa Palma Lofton

The shadows I Roam. Your fear I crave. Don’t hide because I’m always near. My skin pale as a white powder. Mouth oozing black blood. Hooded cape all black with a hint of white. But why do I appear? What sin of yours do I punish? I’m here to punish all the men that made horrible sins. A fate worse than death. Demon Valak takes OVER!!!

Monster

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Radiant Beings

It Is What It Is Vernon Perry

KknfgnlnblglITffffffffffffffffffmkk kkkkkISnnnnfnfnfnfnfnffnnffnfnfnffnfn kkkkkkkkkbkgkgkgWHATfnoofnfonfoffofofn ogogogogogogoogoggoogogogogITdddd kkdkkkkxkxkxISdnndnddndnds

It Is What It Is

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Elite Alone Vernon Perry

I resemble everyone But myself, and sometimes see around Despite all the elites The portrait of a stranger Date unknown Often talked about in a corner By myself all alone

Elite Alone

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Radiant Beings

Queen Tanasia Profit

Sit poise, no noise Be dominant be soft Don’t cry don’t sigh Be a queen, don’t scream, Sit with your legs closed Strike a pose! Smile a little don’t giggle Don’t tremble Stay away from boys and stay out of trouble Don’t you dare make a noise Remember to be poise Greet your elders Don’t you dare raise your voice You’re supposed to be a queen so don’t scream AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! Take his hand, he’s a man Do a dance, stand straight, sit straighter Don’t you dare touch that paper? Do you know how to cook? Do you know how to clean? Man it’s hard being Queen Bear him, children One boy Two boys Queen

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Then a girl It’ll make his world—it’ll make your world If you have a job—quit You got kids and a husband—they have needs you have to meet —what about my needs? You’re a queen, what needs? A happy Family means a happy life What queen does not take care of her subjects? Be happy You’re a QuEeN

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Queen

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Wash Away His Sins at the Buzzer Adonis Robinson

To wash away his sins he hit the shot at the buzzer Love her like she loves you Two strangers meeting for the first time Mine, I got her heart Push all others to the side Ride the wild river of love Dove I wash away the sins Things I have to do You always have to be strong Wrong doing messed up my chance Dance the night away wash his sins.

Wash Away His Sins at the Buzzer

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Extinction Nyala Schuler

Every time I look around All I see are shadows I always wonder If people can hear noises Just like me Is this life all a lie Life doesn’t frighten me at all When I scare people I go boo But they always tell me to shoo So all I do is just have fun When all they do is run I love to always cry Sometimes I wish I can just fly I always ask people Do you like to smile? They don’t answer So I just go wild

Life at night doesn’t frighten me at all I don’t like to scream But only in my dreams Sometimes I never have to breathe Life at night doesn’t frighten me Extinction

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He’s Here! Neptune Smith Inspired by the film “Encanto”

The act of the future, An act you can’t ignore, The love of la familia, Is all he needs and more, Superstition is a given In this house filled with poisonous affection, Despite being older He still cannot escape the tension. Distance is the solution, Or the consequence of his false transgressions, But despite it all, He knows his Mariposa will save them. He is loving, He is kind, If you need the answers, He’s your guy. He is blunt, He is soft, He is athletic, He is gold. The whispers of the walls, So soft yet so loud, They reach out to him, He’s Here!

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Protect him from the crowds. The squeaks of love fill in the void of loneliness, But are they enough to stop the inevitable? He is smart, He is clever, He is falling apart, He is tender. But we don’t talk about Bruno!

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He’s Here!

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Monster Poem Abigail Williams

Fuck Freddy Krueger He’s been scary since I watched his movie Real fictional so why am I dreaming about him killing me slowly? The real dream killer he’s the top at his game One eye opened when I sleep so he won’t catch me lying in vain I knew they should’ve never showed a movie like that to a kid Now I dream about him every night is that how fucked up I is? His metal hands and disoriented face I know if he killed me he wouldn’t leave a trace

Monster Poem

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Papa’s Fishing Pole Vivian Williams

A family joined together With a fishing pole in hand Lessons on how to fish From a wise old man His favorite thing to do In rain or sunshine Although he’d say To fish in the rain, is just fine Ponds and rivers filled with sadness Heavy rain, this is such madness No fishing today, as we can see Just heavy raindrops, falling free Oh, what a sad day Although I can’t understand I picture you in Heaven With a fishing pole in hand

Papa’s Fishing Pole

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Note on Community Poems

Community poems are poems written collaboratively by a group, often to capture shared context, hopes, emotions, or experiences. The process of writing community poetry may culminate in one piece written collectively, or a series of pieces by individual group members utilizing lines developed by the group. The 12th grade students engaged in the practice of community poetry, and readers will see some lines and phrases created in this process woven into poems throughout this book.

Acknowledgements of key source material for 12th grade writing: 1. Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, poems by Maya Angelou, paintings by Jean-Michel Basquait, edited by Sara Jane Boyers, ABRAMS books, 2017. 2. Radiant Child the Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Javaka Steptoe, Hachette Book Group Inc., 2016.

Note on Community Poems

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Acknowledgments In our Young Writers Publish program, 826NYC develops creative writing projects with classes of students and teachers in schools throughout New York City. 11th and 12th grade students from the Academy for Young Writers explored poetry this spring, with the 11th grade classes following social justice themes and how the performative elements of slam poetry translate to the page, and the 12th grade classes digging deep into Brooklyn artist JeanMichel Basquiat’s body of work for brilliantly bright and expansive poetry. Radiant Beings is a compilation of the original work of these classes. A huge thank you to the 826NYC teaching artists, Daniel Goulden and Daniel Jackson, for creating classrooms where students were able to explore poetry in so many forms. Your support, encouragement, and consistency helped our young writers tap into their imaginations and memories to produce such moving work, and your care in helping them brainstorm, write, and revise throughout this project was invaluable. We are particularly grateful to Alex Cuff, Kimberly Osborne, and Dave Weber for their support of this project. Thank you for inviting us into your classrooms and facilitating such a smooth collaboration. Your hard work and steadfast dedication to your students allows them to flourish as young writers and thinkers. Thank you to our writing mentors for the 11th grade classes, Dov Alpert, Carol Goldberg, Karen Mok, and Maria Robins-Somerville for keeping up with these young writers and nurturing their growing texts. At 826NYC we depend on the dedicated volunteer editing and design cohort that make our publications a reality. Thank you to Vanessa Friedman for overseeing

the editing, proofreading, and design of this book. Thank you to Ling Zhu for designing such a beautiful book for our students. To copy editors and proofreaders Chelsea Bonollo, Chad Hewitt, Saifa Khan, Kara Pernicano, Allie Singer, Lauren Stefaniak, Sarah Stephen, for their careful attention to each of the student’s pieces, thank you. For their ongoing support of 826NYC’s schoolbased programs, huge thanks to 826 National, the Amazon Literary Partnership, The Jane Friedman Anspach Family Foundation, Con Edison, The Find Your Light Foundation, The Hawkins Project, International Paper, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, The Kettering Family Foundation, The Minerva Foundation, The Resnick Foundation, The Yelp Foundation, and Youth, Inc. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The program is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. 826NYC is grateful to the many individuals who support our work. To see our full list of supporters or make a donation, please visit https://826nyc.org/donateus/. Thank you especially to the 826NYC staff for their behind-the-scenes support of this project, from curriculum development and the book-making process to volunteer recruitment. Finally, thank you to the students at the Academy for Young Writers for taking risks with your writing and sharing your words with us. Your sense of self, dedication to your craft, and your creative vision all shine through in these pieces. We are all excited to see what you’ll write in the future!

826NYC Location and Leadership

826NYC and The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. 372 Fifth Ave Brooklyn, NY 11215 718.499.9884 www.826nyc.org Staff Joshua Mandelbaum, Executive Director Jesusdaniel Barba, Programs Coordinator Janna Cisterino, Development & Communications Manager Rico Denard, Store Associate Chris Eckert, Store & Operations Manager Vanessa Friedman, Publications Associate Julianna Lee Merino, Programs Coordinator Summer Medina, Volunteer & Programs Coordinator Stella Raffle-Wax, Store Associate Mandy Seiner, Volunteer & Programs Manager Naomi Solomon, Director of Education

Board of Directors Michelle McGovern, President Ted Wolff, Vice President Ray Carpenter, Treasurer Kathryn Yontef, Secretary Michael Colagiovanni Jen D’Ambroise Liza Demby Jamal Edwards Amir Mokari Sheila Peluso Katie Schwab Danielle Sinay Andrew Sparkler Alyson Stone Maura Tierney Thom Unterburger Sam Valenti

Teaching Artists J’miah Baird David Ewalt Willie Filkowski Daniel Goulden Varud Gupta Daniel Jackson Jaydra Johnson

826NYC Programs Write After School Reading and writing go together like peanut butter and jelly. Write After School students work alongside 826NYC staff and volunteers to build their reading, writing, socialemotional skills and unleash their imagination as they play and learn about the power of language. Three times a year, students revise their creative writing for publications that are printed in English and Spanish and shared with families, volunteers, and community members at celebratory readings.

Write Away Workshops Young writers come together in Write Away Workshops to explore a multitude of genres and subjects and to develop their voices. Groups write freely and participate in imaginative writing activities and lessons. Whether it’s a song, a piece of climate justice sci-fi, or a nature guide, young writers leave the workshop with a piece to be proud of, as well as a newfound understanding of the topic, and new friends.

Write All About It In Write All About It, reporters from grades 5-8 learn how to conduct a great interview, how to write a classic news story, and more importantly, how to sniff out where the great untold stories of Brooklyn are hiding. We focus on hyper-local news to see how it connects to what’s going on across the country and around the world. Student work is published regularly in The 826NYC Post on 826NYC’s Medium page.

Young Writers Publish Turn your classroom into a creative writing lab. During Young Writers Publish residencies, 826NYC teaching artists collaborate with educators on creative, impactful, curriculum-aligned projects that transform students into published authors. Residencies run from six weeks to a full year, depending on the project. Each Young Writers Publish culminates in a book, newspaper, zine, podcast, film, or performance featuring your students.

Write Together 826NYC hosts classes across New York City for Write Together: an interactive writing experience that encourages creative expression, explores the elements of storytelling, and strengthens writing skills. Elementary-aged classes collaborate on illustrated children’s books, middle schoolers choose their own adventure, and high schoolers learn the art of memoir writing during a fast- paced and whimsical 90 minute narrative program.

Teen Writers Collective Teens are the next generation of literary leaders. That’s why we launched the Teen Writers’ Collective. The collective brings together young writers from around the city to explore the art of writing and literary citizenship. They are a community of passionate and creative peers, serve as 826NYC youth leaders, and inspire younger students and peers across the network.

Dungeons & Dragons & Writers Dungeons & Dragons, the epic fantasy role-playing game where players craft characters to take on magical quests that can change with the roll of the dice, has a home at

826NYC. A band of adventurous authors in grades 5-8 play out an entirely original tale and chronicle their fantastical deeds in character point-of-view journals, histories, and scene writing. Sometimes the greatest gift is the friends we make — and make up — along the way.

Student Publications Through our programs, our volunteers work with students to help them create stories, poems, and ’zines. Because we believe that the quality of students’ work is greatly enhanced when they are given the chance to share it with an authentic audience, we are committed to publishing student works. By encouraging their work and by guiding them through the process of publication, we make abundantly clear that their ideas are valued.

None of us are perfect, but we are radiant beings nevertheless. Inside this book you will find poetry about love, self, and justice. You will find several erasure-style poems including black-out, community-written, and concrete poetry with the powerful nationally recognized “I come from” refrain. You will find echoes of the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat and slam poets from across the five boroughs of New York City. And most importantly, you will find young writers expressing their inner radiance. We hope this helps you find yours as well. Proceeds from the sale of this book benefit 826NYC, a nonprofit organization encouraging the exploration of endless possibilities through the power of writing.

I SBN 979-8-88694-000-8

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