WRITE YOUR BLOCK
Poetry selection from Philadelphia Poet Laureate Frank Sherlock
2015
A Citywide Poetry Project Write Your Block was a project developed by City of Philadelphia Poet Laureate Frank Sherlock to give Philadelphians the opportunity to explore their neighborhoods via poetry. With support from Creative Philadelphia - the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, people citywide were encouraged to use poetry to map the personal landmarks, histories, traditions and experiences with which they identified their communities. This was a unique chance for Philadelphians to preserve memories, connections, and to shape the city as their own poem. Write Your Block asked people of all ages to map out their immediate surroundings according to their own experiences. In neighborhoods all over Philadelphia, people had the opportunity to share the city as they saw it. Creative Philadelphia worked with community partners to facilitate and promote events during which neighbors could gather, wander, and reconvene to put their path and thoughts to paper. For those unable to make it to an event in their area or who wanted to participate on their own time with a group of friends, a toolkit was available online for selfguided activities. We asked everyone to share their poems with the rest of the Write Your Block community online at creativephl.org/writeyourblock. .
Photo by Tony Fischer, used under CC-BY-2.0
Project Inspiration The project was inspired by The City Real and Imagined (Heretical Texts/Factory School, 2010), a collaborative work from Sherlock and CAConrad. The two poets wandered the city, using poetry to map their path and articulate their interaction with urban space.
The book-length project is a testament to public space defined beyond official landmarks and conventional architecture. The idea of a city is activated by the imaginations of those who gather for mutual purpose. The purpose of Write Your Block was to give voice to the diverse and distinct Philadelphias we experience, not defined by architecture or physical landmarks alone, but activated and informed by our own lives & imaginations. Whether you are versed in verse, a street rhymer or have yet to write your first poemevery Philadelphian has stories & memories connected to a shared neighborhood experience just waiting to be documented.
13th Street. His focus charted the thoroughfare that cuts through the center of the city during a time of changing demographics and gentrification. The structured locality and site-specific writing of thirteen was one method of cartography. Searching for new ways of experiencing the space he lived in led to exploring new forms to document Philadelphia life. There are as many methods of poem-mapping as there are neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Frank Sherlock wants to guide you toward developing your own way to map your neighborhood - to Write Your Block.
About Frank Sherlock
Photo by Heather Raquel Phillips
Frank Sherlock is Philadelphia's second Poet Laureate (2014-2015). His work is concerned with new ways of seeing urban space. As a native of Southwest Philadelphia, Sherlock experienced city life as shifting scapes of deterioration, as well as pop-up constructions of new environments. When he Poem-mapping realized his calling as a poet, he Poem-mapping charts the impact searched for ways to articulate his individuals both past & present have Philadelphia experience. In order to find a form for this type of The collaboration was an act of on the streets where they live. psychogeography: exploring the Sherlock’s first method of mapping discovery, he came to embrace the notion of the poet as a city in ways that spark new through poetry was a long poem called thirteen. The piece was cartographer, or mapmaker awareness to our surroundings. written in thirteen sections. Each Sherlock is also a 2013 Pew was written on a different corner of Fellow in the Arts for literature.
Write Your Block
Page 2
Creative Philadelphia 2015
After-school Workshops Plants people rocks playgrounds wood Robert’s mobile car Swigs vans steps sun money trees clouds chips and bars Church leaves grass lights buildings benches lights poles Baby gates paper pants coats flowers stores rope from a roof - Gianna
Fire and cars
I see a head beard
Street people see
I see a horse
Tree ants and chairs
I see the park and
Trash cans swing
I see a tree that
The monkey bars
Is missing love
Slides grass on buildings
Kids are swinging
Mr. Chris has
I see a school
A football bouncing
Rocks
Bags of clouds
Grass
Taller Puertorriqueño
I hear airplanes I smell air
Stars
2557 North 5th Street March 23 & 30, April 16 & 13
And puppies
Students during workshop at Taller Puertorriqueño
Creative Philadelphia coordinated Write Your Block residencies for Sherlock through April 2015. Over the course of winter and spring, Sherlock helped students participating in after-school programs at Might Writers West and Taller Puertorriqueño to explore the neighborhood, learn how to develop poetry about what you see, remember, and experience and practice poetry performance.
I see growing -Humberto I see Ms. Adela I see Mr. Frank I see Mr. Chris Poles Wires Gardens - Joshua
Write Your Block
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Page 3
After-school Workshops Mighty Writers West 3861 Lancaster Ave. March 12 – April 9, 2015 (Thursdays)
7-11 Drop in Why so small paper so black Milk so fresh People drop in Why so small People so blue no one ever says I love you People drop in You never learn You never see People drop in . -Naomi
What I Saw 3/16/15 Ring-billed gulls feeding House sparrows What I Saw on 3/17/15 Fourteen flocks of ringbilled Gulls Nine cormorants Twenty eight geese Two ducks mating What I Saw on 3/18/15 A hawk Ring-billed gulls - Ellis
Why Leave? What? Why? I can’t. In a cage. I hide behind a dark shadow. Why leave? I can’t leave my family & friends. My heart sinks to the bottom & you will never understand. Why leave? - Naomi
Morning in the morning the only noises are trees whispering in the ear stages of new sunlight colors waking up Afternoon people chatter non-stop dogs barking madly trees now rest cars at full speed light sleeping
Afternoon people chatter non-stop dogs barking madly trees now rest cars at full speed light sleeping -Elias Nightfall trees calm down people fade away lights are waking up and cars are slowly falling asleep - Elias
- Elias
As You Look Around West Philly This place is the coldest dampest place I’ve ever been. As you look around all you see is abandoned buildings some old and dying and some that are new, but look very old. A you look around you see lots of reds, but further down the line all you see is colors- lots of colors. As you look around, what You see is bars and lots of Graffiti. What you hear is doors opening and closing, trolleys running, picking up and dropping off, car doors opening and closing. As you look around that’s what you see. As you close your eyes that’s what you hear. - Simone
Love Park Pink Blue Love Fountain People Close Dirty Clear Red Delectable Flavor Fresh Aroma - Ellis
Page 4
Write Your Block
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Community Poems To kick off the project, Sherlock led a workshop hosted by the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation to introduce Write Your Block to teaching artists and arts educators in the region. Attendees walked around the area of North Broad and Cherry Streets, then regrouped to participate in various poemmapping activities developed by Sherlock. Each participant also received a copy of the Write Your Block toolkit.
Sherlock at the Bartol Write Your Block Workshop
Write Your Block Toolkit Sherlock developed a toolkit that was available for download at creativephl.org/writeyourblock to allow as many people as possible to participate in this citywide poetry project. The toolkit was for individuals, groups and organizations interested in organizing a Write Your Block activity on their own terms. The activities could be used to incorporate Write Your Block into existing programming or curricula; some organized events to specifically gather, wander, and write poems, and others set up Write Your Block stations at community events. Toolkit users were encouraged to submit their poems via the submit form online. Over 120 poems were submitted during the project, and can be found at creativephl.org/writeyourblock, tagged with the Council District where they were written.
Write Your Block Session Yellow Rage Family Style Open Mic 6800 Forrest Ave. My community is very quiet. My neighbors respect each other, because when someone is sick, or pass or in trouble, they come to see about you. I Love my block! 4200 I just wanna give you this feelin. I just wanna give you this feelin. On the corner ‘igga’s robbin, killin, - Asia, Autumn, Bren dying just to make a living HUH" Common Two Daughters, My Daughters: 7500 Gifts Tulpehocken - Two Hearts … U.O.E.N.O. beating as one 1800 Mounment - Two Angels … Gentrification’s delivered from above Favorite Hang-Out - Two gifts … 5300 IRVING ST given in unusual godly ignorant people wrapping fighting, Loud Music - Two daughters … ALL hrs of the that lift me at my lowest Night and have loved me 5000 11th St unconditionally My block is home when i didn’t understand to a “Philly Jawn” how 2200 MIFFLIN they could. My Block is a trigger (homophone) - Two EXAMplES … 5900 Bustleton ave that required me to become a Northeast Philly role model and a man … FKD when 1300 I wasn’t sure I had it in me I am in the Temple - Two vessels of human diginity Honors Living Learning Community. that look to me as The community is made up of an example of how a students from so many different man, husband should treat his backgrounds, of different ethnicities, woman, wife and have many different interests. - Two HEARTS, I was so surprised to find a group My daughters, of people I fit so well with. My Hearts and I don’t regret choosing where I love them with I lived!!! All my HEART More than a man, more than a superhero, more than a husband, more than a crusader, more than a fighter, more than a dreamer, more than a activist, more than inspiration, He is so muchmore. because he is my Dad. My rock, my strengh, my guide a piece of my heart and so much of my Love
2100 S 8th St. My block is diverse in the midst of different cultural communities: Khmer, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Burmese and American (all in a single block!) 40th Collom St Germantown “Brickyard” L. 60th Good St Small, Big City Where We Love living For today & tomorrow 1900 Green Pear tree that I shake in August. 1600 We have lots of cats. 5200 DIAMOND Needs the second generation to step up, man up and be up with their future 7th and Morris Haiku Trash floats through child games the smell of pork on a trompo sun reflects from a can
My Block is not safe, but being with Mr. Samad at the crisis center dancing & having fun I know for a fact I’m safe! - Shaakeer 16th and Oakdale
Write Your Block
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Page 5
Community Poems Write Your Block @ Asian Arts Initiative Family Style Showcase and Open Mic One Book One Philadelphia 7200 Greenway Ave. @ the end of Philly Beginning of Delco the neighbors stay to themselves AND RaRely say Hello !!:) 5700 Oxford We are not a “hood” We are a NEIGHBOR -“hood” 100 Washington Lane Some say Mt. Airy, Some say Germantown … Perhaps a mix of Both. Even though I’m a Jersey Girl, Philly, Philly is the city I adore! :) ♥ Michelle 700 S. 6th St. I came from Iowa originally. 30 years 2 countries 4 states and I am HOME. 2400 W. Clifford St. ALWAYS FAMILY! ALWAYS HOME! 9 ARCH 9 1900 Sansom St. PIZZA, SHAKE SHACK AND A 24 - HOUR CVS 200 Washington Ln. Yes, people do live here, and we have LOTS of Halloween Candy. 28 Lehigh A very small community that is across a street from a school
Ringing in my head, the lyrics I can’t breathe, sitting here thinking this wasn’t a part of the dream. Malcolm, Martin, Marcus, The Civil Rights Act of 1964. If all men were created equal then what’s all this for. Inequality, lack of justice, police brutality in the streets. Mothers and Fathers looking forward to the day them and their children will again meet. If you stand for nothing you fall for anything, that’s what I was taught. If we don’t march for a change today, I shutter to think how the future will look. White, Black, whatever rare, all lives matter. Screaming for whoever will here. the dream is still alive. Human lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. - Alfred Watts, Jr. Nicetown 11th Street Health Center 11th Street and Parrish People need someone to care It’s why we are here We provide holistice health care Meet your community At cooking class you can share Provide your children immunity Get your children vaccinated there Along with primary care Tuesday is podiatry care Come join us for total mind & body care 215.769.1100 - Nurse Mary Green
The Center For Returning Citizens Mayoral Candidates Forum Pride brings us together!! I HOPE THINGS GET BETTER IN THE CITY I understand Re-Entry Is iN Everything that we Do! Thanks If we can Recycle trash - We can Recycle People! God Bless you! for caring LGC To Get resources, and net working. We need to do it Everyone deserves a second chance. Zariea - I Hope to Learn a lot more about the Returning Citizens and the process. We need to Build lobby Organize Campaign This project will imbue the city with positive efforts. L J.H. TCRC PARALEGAL “WORK TOGETHER” WAGE PEACE Shawn CHANGE WE MUST!! New IDeas! New Challenges! The Voices of Returning Citizens must be heard! Hakim Ali Change is on the horizon. We need to be pro-active and ahead of the curve and this event went a long way towards empowering us to reach that goal. Rueben J MASS INCARERATION, WHAT DO WE DO? Police UNACCOUNTABILITY, What Do We Do Kay Love Change 4 A Better Living! Glad I was Invited - and will look forward to Supporting All Efforts To Helping Move This Organization Forward
Write Your Block
Page 6
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Community Poems #MyPhillyPdBlackLivesMatter 12 21 14 Philly Blackout My son was in intensive care Police beat the life out we are shouting out i can hear my neighbor saying i can’t breathe i say i’m with NAN your smile goes 360 now we don’t agree because of political parties we are in the struggle and we can’t leave yet we march through city hall together, protesting racist police i Would Love too see Us Come together Make Our World Better Learn To Weather The Storm Bury The Hatchet If We Want TO We can mend what’s torn Productive relations are Waiting to be born Can We Respect Each Other and Create Our Social Norms - Alicia Dorsey
15th and Arch Serenity sits at the door Cast Iron Steadfast Immersed in the concrete jungle Oblivious to it’s noise Poets in search of a poem Perambulate toward the Artistic debris of a fallen plane Such wonders do we encounter As we trek through the city streets yes, here in this city we are privy to the ornate designs of the glory of days long gone the past conjoined with the present as they dare to tell the story of who we are. - J.L. Ramos
Write Your Block State Rep Curtis Thomas Teen Summit 2015 Blocks don’t make people. people makes Block keep your street clean and safe ! S.C. 3300 Block of Bouvier St. Block Captain 2100 Block of William St. Block Captain 1000 Block of Lawrence Street (together we can and will move forward w/family, friends & the community) Help Us Help Us express urself urban Crisis Response Center 1554 W Oakdale St. Phila. Pa. 19132 850 N. 11th Street Help us Create a culture of Health! 3500 Houses makes blocks, people make neighborhoods To all of my beautiful brothers and sisters! Remember! you can be anything you put your mind to! I’m the #1 advocate of this significant and inspiring quote because I’ve already accomplished some of my most challenging Goals! - DJ Dennis 2015 Fairmount Park Hanami (Flower-Viewing) Cherry blossoms flower like a miracle o’er night the wonders of spring. - Michelle
64th and Woodcrest You look up at blind walls staring back and you know that there was nothing you did in your life to deserve it. State Rep. Curtis Thomas Meet the Community Reaching out to our community Building resource Unity My needs and concerns is about our youths in this area someone who is showing concerns about our needs and our children having a nice place for children to play Susan Ally-Stanton Julius Johnson - Today was a good event and it opend my eyes on what This community need to improve and keep Peace on the streets and Im willing to do what I can do to help. I AM K. Smith Today I spoke About Choices, Decisions and Consequences this was a good event and my job is to help others that struggles in this Society. Dr. Daimon - Principal of Dobbins! It’s important that we continue to come together in this community to bring people together to help & lift one another up!
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Write Your Block
Page 7
Community Poems Teen Summit Valentine’s Day Event Thanks CTC for Helping Graff-X to Bring the youth out Helping in any P. Boyd way we can to Dr3@m BeTTer the ciTy T3@m SAiNT Today Event CLAiR! was fun. 100% We had BABY so much MIB fun Neef Bucks Celebrity Awesome Gold * Bomb SquaD :) It was J A. W W IV my Pleasure C.E.A Darryl Henry Harcum College @mirrDoee Deliverance Church Honored to Be apart ge of History Today’s Event S Zierr N was Epic ! 100% We Go Nowhere ! Dr3@m without community T3@m … that Care! Thanks - Cornelius Thank Prez - CTC You!! It was nice to be here AW - Jasmine G LiL Choc ( I had fun) ♥ YL Bombsquad It was good D. d You KiDS ARE OUR FUTURE. ASK US OLD HEADS TO HELP YOU MAKE THE PHILADELPHIA WE ALL WANT AND NEED - HANGER BENDER MAN Thank you CTC!!:) This was so great and I enjoyed working with everyone today!!:) Keep Pushing!!:) With Love, Sheila KuR black Im Around
Ham and eggs. Ham and eggs. I thank you being at the library. Today I pass the time reading a favorite haiku saying the words over and over. Participation Ordinary objects Eloquent thoughts Time to recite Magnolia trees bloom beautifully in April. They are lovely, too. - Mae L. This is Wynnefield Walk along the tree-lined streets of Wynnefield and see the sycamores, the dogwoods, the magnolias, and the locust trees, all majestically reigning over the neighborhood. See the lawns and the yards filled with hyacinths, lilies, tulips, roses and other beautiful flowers and plants blooming from April through the first snow of winter. You’ll see people tending their gardens, both floral and vegetable, in the order of the seasons. You will probably see and hear children playing in the front or back yards. Walk further and join the children and adults entering the Wynnefield Library to find books, use the computers and enjoy programs sponsored by Friends of the Wynnefield Library. Around the corner, participate in classes at the John C. Anderson Cultural Center to enrich your mind and improve your body. Enjoy the special events sponsored and presented by the Wynnefield Cultural Center Advisory Council, such as concerts, the annual Halloween party and open house. You can join the Wynnefield Residents Association and serve on committees, such as Town Watch, Zoning and Summer Camp. You or your children might attend Saint Joseph’s University and run around their outdoor track, when it’s not in use by the college’s athletic teams. Your children might attend Gomers Elementary School, Mann Mastery Charter School, Beeber Middle School, Settlement Music School Wynnefield Branch or a religious school. Stop and shop at the stores owned by members of the Wynnefield Business Association along the 54nd St. commercial corridor or at the businesses situated around Wynnefield and Bryn Mawr Avenues and along City Avenue. You might attend services at Pin Memorial Church (formerly Har Zion Temple), Wynnefield United Presbyterian Church, St. Barbara’s Catholic Church or another house of worship. Walk by Wynnestay (Wynne Field), which was built in 1689 for Thomas Wynne, the physician for William Penn. It is the oldest, continuously lived-in house in Pennsylvania. This is my neighborhood. - N. Levitt
Write Your Block
Page 8
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Community Poems Vision Quest at Rhoads Elementary Mill creek, quick stream, flows beneath us under concrete, under dark streets.
A Haiku will the government keep its PROMISE to our ZONE? sincerely hope so
We might conjure all her secrets
Our Public Schools Philadelphia
in our paintings and our poems. Now, rare things grow in this place of dust and cars — few gardens.
School Reform Commission let’s pay
Only in collective memory can we dream back to lush meadows.
ATTENTION 2 the Greed
Mill Creek nourishes old roots that underlie these grid-like streets.
that feeds corporate america
Can our children feel her rhythms, subterranean, muffled, hidden? How they dance and drum intently,
social reform seeds that
listening to their own wisdom.
bleed as mentioned by
Fierce, these young ones,
Eric Pooley
who so quickly transform into cougars, eagles, foxes
the curtain
filling hallways, filling classrooms.
thee
When you listen to their voices
fools
vulnerable Philadelphians
hear the power of their vision.
plea
- Cathy Cohen
4 equality in education funding + quality - Alicia Dorsey
Girls Justice League World Cafe Justice Involved I Luv GJL CB Extremely Enligthening - Lady DI Women listening to Women = Power “I’ll Do Anything To Help A Female Prevent Violence, Particulary Domestic and Economic - Lady Di I WILL empower, motivate, and strengthen girls to become all that they can be! BH Girls in the Center of everything! I aspire to inspire a community to live and think outside the box! A. Walker A Beautiful Struggle great process for supporting young women thant in turn connected women! That alot of people will and are pushing for a better world, for Girl & Woman. We aren’t going to Stop! exposing the molds Female Status Project on the way!! 5000 Cedar Barbeque Kids noisy trees, music at night when its hot! 6000 Market abandoned land alone No support Needs Positive Energy 5700 DREXEL ROAD BEAUTIFUL Wonderful Neighbors 100 Elder Ave- Family oriented - Quiet 2600 Hancock - Family oriented 5300 Stockton - family oriented and caring near delicious food! 4400 Larchwood people looking out for one another - counting on others 600 West 26th - everybody knows your name 1500 S. 18th St. quiet long term residents 4500 Larchwood block parties. students. beautiful trees.
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Write Your Block
Page 9
Community Poems In Gratitude On this sunny March day An old sycamore towers over me Casting its shadows as birds sing “ away winter, away” Walking down our block where almost everyone has dogs or cats -(but not me ) where Sheila plants plastic flowers on her lawn where one of us is fighting cancer and another learning to read where Dashell leaves a note on Anka’s crocus “Welcome bees” -one house with a sign COME VISIT another VICTOR for security not victoryWhere cars tightly packed line both sides of the street in front of houses with peeling paint and patchwork colors each front porch held up by pillars each home a temple How did we all land here some who say good morning and some who never speak lighthearted, depressed indifferent, compassionate democrats, greens, independents and one lone republican What brought us to this spot this one way little street to live alone and with each other hungry and overfed working and looking for work idealist, realist, cynic atheist, secular, devout mindless and mindful? We are single, with children, without children married, not married, old, young, middle aged, healthy, not so healthy, trying to be healthy We are walking, biking, rushing to the bus, to the train, to our jobs, to the store We are busy taking care of children and grandchildren visiting relatives in prison, in hospitals, in schools Surrounded by a world of war and crushing poverty, We form a human corps of mind and spirit Encompassing all aspects of race, of class, of gender identity Somehow, given so many differences and quirks,
We create a world of peaceful co-existence Picking up trash even though it’s not our own Forgiving music coming through the walls As darkness falls each night Lights on outside our doors, Hoping against all hope We are keeping danger away. - Paula Paul
Global Women’s Strike/All Women Count International Women's Day 2015 Enlightening BE THE WOMAN WHO IS AM Wonderful event, where women were honored for the work nobody else wants to Do of Willing to Do!! My name is Jazmin & I’m here to support other Parent Advocates! Shandre Delaney Here because Women are powerful: My name is Nefessa Wiggns (Descendent of Senator Roxanne Jones)! We Can make a difference! I’m Ramona Africa & IWD IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WOMEN ARE IMPORTANT Louise Hanible Thank you for demonstrating “I Am Worthy” Kind Essence Honor the cargivers - Eric Thanks for honoring my grandmother Roxanne Jones!! So glad for the opportunity to honor mother ….. WOMEN ARE The Glue to FAMilies. Stay Strong. Mike Africa Zeola Brown here to support the caregivers We are important. Nancy Carroll It was nice Many thoughtful people doing good work! Today was very insprising, a learning experience Hakeem Terrell We should support women, woman rock, that’s all there is to it! David G. Here for a friend & fighter - Caregiver Great Work & Job Women are ever enduring and under respected. Empowerment Celebration is needed. Ben F Quinn - keep building the energy! Be proud of your history women unite Thank you parent advocates, for fighting for women and our children! Sherrie Cohen Thanks caregivers! Phoebie Dean Kendall Carolyn Powerful women speaking truth to power weaving and reweaving the WEB of LIFE! Power TO THE PEOPLE …….Peace Symbol Tommie Harlem NYC
Write Your Block
Page 10
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Community Poems My Rap I rap like a monster I get phone numbers like a Pitbull I play football like Odell Beckham Jr. My shoes is on the boom My teacher is as nice to me as a sweet bear - Jaivon W.
As I Walk With My Brother The sounds that I hear are the sights that I see. Cars, buses, people passing me. The sun and the clouds as I am walking home shine down on me and my brother. Blue, yellow, and green– the colors in my neighborhood. As I get in the door, I know my mom loves me and my brothers. - Aneeya L.
Flowers Every day flowers bloom on my block I pick them for people to show respect I do it all the time and I love it Everybody loves flowers, so I say Here are flowers.
John B. Kelly School WYB Workshop with Nzadi Keita Classes of Ms. Crawford and Mrs. Williams
Neighborhood Collage Ice cream truck, houses and beautiful yards. Mr. Andrew, birds chirping, blue. Why do we litter? - Cameron C.
The Animal World around My Block When I’m walking down the street, I can see stray kittens running along the street. I see kittens with mittens. The kittens say ‘meow.’ I see birds singing and dogs barking. Some people come and walk their dogs around the corner. Some older people let their cats out because they don’t want them no more. Some cats around my block are always in front of my porch. - Saniyah c.
My Everyday Life My block is on Torresdale Avenue We make people feel brand new Across the street is McDonald’s. They have a lot of food models. I love to see children. I love to see them in the kitchen. My friends are Asia, Alkeieona, Javion, Tymeer, Ian, Malik, Kaniya. My favorite colors? Black Blue, Red, Yellow Why is school so important?
Why… Why is it so cold? For the days have grown short and cold. For the kids have gone away– they can’t stay. The rain has come and it goes; Ask Ms. Teresa, she knows. Gray, white, black, although it is sad, I will ask why… Why, I have said. - Jewel G.
Summer on My Block You don’t have to get up in the morning You don’t have to look at cars and stores Summer makes me so happy I feel like I am Sleeping Beauty - Alyeia M.
- Malachi S. - Camiya W.
Senses Collage pizza birds, cars, and hills so far prison bars just like the monkey bars the bears at the zoo - D’Wayne A.
On the Way to School I see birds and trucks Cats and people Shoes and clocks
Kittens I see kittens under the truck. One is covered with muck. - Aidell C. One looks like his eye is gone. Poor little guy. The mother leads her kittens to possible safety. One seems a bit lazy. They keep meowing under the truck. They don’t smell great. But one will just lay in grass. Now it has that fresh grass smell. The kittens are tasting rats and mice. It would be great if someone would help them. - Shaelin Isabella B
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Write Your Block
Page 11
Community Poems I Remember at Talking Stick Learning Center, at Awbury Arboretum, Chew Ave and Washington Lane I remember trying out Talking Stick for the first time. It was fun except that my 3-D glasses without lenses got broken. I remember the first time we were at Talking Stick, and we missed the train and we had to wait an hour, and it was my birthday. I remember my first time at Talking Stick when we were skipping in a field and I was in awe that this is school. I remember the first day I came here, and I fed a stray cat my entire lunch. It loved the pasta. I remember running down a hill hoisting a mermaid kite above me, running like the wind because there was no wind. I remember the first time I came to Talking Stick, and we went out to a field, and I had to put my jacket on the ground even though I hate bugs getting on me. I remember a picnic bench surrounded by dandelions. A large tree grew next to it. We would lay down under the picnic bench when it was hot. I remember when it was snowing out and there was a hill, and we made a fort out of it, and we made balance beams and slides on it. We called it L and M’s castle. I remember hiding in the bottlebrush buckeye. I remember playing blob tag in the circle behind Cope House.
Activity Postcards In addition to the toolkit, Creative Philadelphia printed postcards with prompts to facilitate Write Your Block activities for those short on time. These postcards were printed in English and Spanish and dropped off at schools, community centers and other places around the city.
*
Picture the neighborhood you are currently in, or the one in which you live: What do you see on your walk? What would you like to see? If you could, what would you do to make the neighborhood better?
*
Map your neighborhood not by landmarks but by the people who've given you memories in your surroundings: Who and what stands out? How does this embody your neighborhood?
*
On your walk home, to the subway, or to wherever you're headed next, observe the city passing around you: What phrases come to mind? What do you see and hear? Are there personal landmarks on your path? hat memories are attached to these sights and sounds?
Write Your Block
Page 12
Creative Philadelphia 2015
Where We Wrote 137 POEMS
7 COUNCIL DISTRICTS
22 ZIP CODES Interested in adding your poem? creativephl.org/writeyourblock is still live!
About the Philadelphia Poet Laureate Program Philadelphia's Poet Laureate program was established in 2012 with initial funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to elevate the role of poetry, language and creativity in Philadelphia. The position is a marriage of civic and creative engagement. In addition to a substantial body of work and connection to Philadelphia, the Poet Laureate also uses their poetry to implement a community engagement activity during their two-year term. To learn more, visit: creativephl.org/poetlaureate
The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy City Hall Room 116 Philadelphia, PA 19107
arts@phila.gov
creativephl.org
@CreativePHL
/CreativePHL
About Creative Philadelphia Creative Philadelphia - The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy supports and promotes arts, culture and the creative industries, and develops partnerships and coordinates efforts that weave arts, culture and creativity into the economic and social fabric of the city. As Philadelphia's local arts agency, Creative Philadelphia engages artists and arts organizations through our Public Art, Creative Development, Creative Economy and Exhibition & Performances program areas and serves as the municipal contact for artists, cultural organizations and creative businesses and entrepreneurs.