I love it when I see the sun

I love it when I see the sun

A poem by BFS 5th and 6th Graders, written in collaboration with Writopia

I hate it when the sun is red. I hate it when I have to wake up in the morning. I hate it when I wake up on a Monday. I hate it when I wake up on a school day and can’t go back to sleep just to realize it was a dream. I hate it when people stare. I hate it when they don’t care. I hate it when my dog wakes me up on the weekend. I hated it when they sent me away / and how I cried when they pulled me back in / I found scraps to eat in the back of the house / yet still was shamed by the elders for my basic needs. I hate it when people think they’re cool and call me a ‘child,’ even though they’re literally in 6th grade. I hate people. I hate my everything. I hate it when people assume who I am or what I’m feeling.

I hate it when people keep asking if I’m ok. I hate it when adults pat me on the head. I hate it when people ignore me. I cried when they purposely don’t listen. I cried when darkness overcame the light. I cried when day was vanquished by night. I cried when there was no food. I cried when I got glasses today. I cried when someone got mad at me for a simple mistake. I cried when I had to go back to Brooklyn, away from my family. I cried when I saw my family after a year in quarantine.

I slammed my door when people said, No one’s independent, we all must be led. I slam my door when they won’t care about something that doesn’t involve them. I slammed my door because they didn’t wave back. I slammed the door when Sophia was angry. I slam my door when I have a strong arm. I slammed my door when I didn’t wanna do homework. I slammed the door when I saw the sunset. I slammed my door because I was scared of life, because LIFE IS SCARY. But that’s ok. That’s life. I rolled my eyes when people thought everybody was the same; we’re not. I roll my eyes when they listen and understand but they don’t care. I rolled my eyes when I got a ton of new clothes and my friend told me what was wrong with every single piece. I rolled my eyes when I couldn’t get an RTX3090 intel i9 120498fps laptop. I rolled my eyes when the fly with the dry eye said “why?” I rolled my eyes when people thought that the Heat would win the NBA championship. I rolled my eyes when my mom said not to talk back to her even though that’s kind of how conversations work.

I love it when I can be with my cousin Ben. I love Elton John. I love it when we get a visit from the turkeys. I love it when the sun turns blue so I have to do the school day over again. I love it when people read. I love it when people read the poems I write, and know they must heed the warnings I say, but also know the joyful life they must lead. I love it when you listen and care and speak up. I love it when I see the sun.

Artwork by (clockwise from top left) Grady B, Veronica A, Alex S, and Jordana R Class of 2025