tHis is wHat tHE worLD is Poems by Children from Camelot and windcrest Elementary schools
san antonio, texas 2016 1
Gemini Ink’s work in the North East Independent School District and this publication were made possible by the Rackspace Foundation Dr. Kamala Platt, Cris Bazaldua Writers-in-Residence Jen Knox Writers in Communities Program Director, Gemini Ink Sheila Black Executive Director, Gemini Ink Vectors courtesy of freepik.com Student work has been edited as lightly as possible in order to honor the original voices Š 2016 by Gemini Ink
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tHis is wHat tHE worLD is Poems by Children from Camelot and windcrest Elementary schools in partnership with gemini ink Helping people create and share the human story
san antonio, texas 2016 1
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aCKNowLEDgEmENts This Is What the World Is marks the successful completion of a partnership between Rackspace and Gemini Ink to bring creative writing workshops to the students at Camelot Elementary and Windcrest Elementary. Gemini Ink hosted these workshops at the schools as part of our Writers in Communities program, which was founded with the mission to bring the joy of reading and writing to community settings across San Antonio by encouraging students to find their voices and gain the tools of written creative expression that ultimately lead to growth. These workshops were led by Dr. Kamala Platt and Cris Bazaldua, each of whom brought a new perspective on writing to their students. By providing strong literary models, in both poetry and fiction, these workshops shared not only a new perspective on the writing process but also a new insight into the value of literature and reading. Gemini Ink thanks Rackspace for its generous donation to make these workshops possible. We also thank the staff of both Camelot and Windcrest, who are advocates of expanding their students’ access to the arts and literature. We believe these workshops are providing students necessary tools that they can carry with them as they move forward, and this book is a celebration of their journey as writers. Thank you, specifically, to Hope de Lemos, Karen Kohler and Wilma Payne, for their belief in the transformative nature of these writing workshops and support throughout the process. Thank you to our instructors who gave heart, mind and soul to their students and who honored their words. Thank you to Anisa Onofre for putting together this beautiful publication and to Sheila Black for spearheading Gemini Ink’s mission to reach the communities of San Antonio. And thank you to the writers. Your voices matter, your voices are powerful. Please, continue to write.
Jen Knox writers in Communities Program Director 3
ForEworD There was something magical about teaching at Camelot and Windcrest, starting with names I’d heard, but had no local association for, even after nearly two decades in San Antonio. During my first visit to the area, I drove through Windcrest at 20 mph looking for the school. I saw nothing move, anywhere—no other cars on the road, no cat on any porch, no birds in the hovering trees, no butterflies wafting over grass or native plantings, no breeze on clusters of summerworn leaves—until I saw a garage door eerily rise with no one in sight, nothing to which to attach that singular movement. I felt apprehensive. But a few days later when I stepped into our NEISD classrooms, my impression of stasis changed— radical motion ensued in whirlwinds of personalities, experiences, expressive image, color & line. Students brought their stories: sometimes dashed onto paper at the drop of a prompt; sometimes whispered under breath; sometimes spoken loudly to no one in particular; often in conversation over our tables in the art room at Camelot, or at the trapezoidal blue desks at Windcrest; sometimes short bursts of poetic insight; sometimes narratives that brilliantly cut corners on convention to get to the pith of the stories. Camelot was a high intensity class where beads of magical wisdom sparkled when students caught the light of innovative expression. Narratives traversed more than one country, as have the children themselves; houses, families, animals & the creatures of popular culture from Mexico to Philippines to Camelot itself, created common themes. Camelot’s Whiteboard expression supplemented our paperwork from Day One. When I brought a donated bag of markers with a fresh array of colors, students went wild with this 21st century, public art medium that lends itself to picture–poems. At Windcrest, my students were older—mostly 4th & 5th graders. The first day, students informed me of this immediately upon entering the classroom. They got down to the business of writing quickly and, initially, there were moments of silent, inspired scribbling. Some students wrote almost constantly. Others would spend the period catching inspiration, and then jot down enchanted gems in the last thirty seconds of the assigned writing time. Both strategies produced milagros on occasion. Windcrest students were frequently already aware of the books and historical figures I evoked in class. The predominantly Black /African American (students self-identified both ways)
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class was familiar with Ruby Bridges (Through My Eyes) and President Obama’s Of Thee I Sing: Letters to My Daughters, greeting the books like old friends and subsequently writing their own lives in free-writing and letter poems. At both schools, students celebrated the earth. Ekphrastic poems based on postcards of animals and nature scenes were inspired and even haunting. Students happily celebrated earth and her peoples. When I brought in an issue of Orion with images from Indigenous artists of climate change in their communities to prompt a meditation in word and paint, they balked at information most had not confronted in their young, but in many ways, eventful lives. Students responded with their own images of earth and her celestial neighbors and their families and their favorite past times. Sometimes their lives had been touched by loss already and that inspired their poetry. A few times, cell phones were drawn out, with permission, and screen shots of the newborn poems were sent off to a sibling or parent, bringing texts in response of tearful, proud connection. A favorite class reading at both schools was Francisco X. Alarcón’s Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/ Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primavera. Sadly, I pulled my autographed copy of the book out of my WIC book bag the week after his crossing over. Still winter elsewhere, in San Antonio, “las colinas” were “starting to crack a green smile once again.” Bilingual students helped the Spanish poemas ring true, as all thrilled to the words in English. That day, I finally began to receive poems in Spanish, after encouraging Spanish speakers for weeks, without much result. Francisco, “¡Presente!” in my students’ words—Thank you! And students, bringing your world alive for the rest of us—gracias por todos. I will happily watch for each of you, in the next decades, as you bring the magic of language and writing, art, knowledge, wisdom and leadership to our world.
Kamala Platt writer in residence 5
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i rEmEmBEr… I remember when I was little I would not cry as much.
Yo me requerdo El tiempo tu y yo Con mi Apá para comer en El Parque de Copiando y poder hogar Ayer en El Parque.
Jesus
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I remember when I painted my nails pink. They looked so weird, I barfed out ink… I remember when I got a dictionary. It was so useful, I found the meaning of “weary.” One thing I didn’t remember Was to be weird every single day, Again and again.
Jasibe I remember when I Made a layup on the Buzzard beeder
miranda
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I remember the day I spent with my family, when
was 5 years old. We spent so much time together when my Grandma took me away from my mom. My grandma and my mom was in an argument so my grandma took me. So she called a few days Later and said, do you want to Switch over a boy. My grandma Said it was too late and I never Spoke to my mom again.
Jaenesha
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I Remember
I was with my mom, when I
I remember my first day of 2nd grade. Kids filling up the hallway rushing to class like they were in high school but just with a lot of excitement. I remember being nervous ‘cause it was my first day of the “big girl” grade, but I doubted if I was ready. When I finally made it to class my teacher greeted me like she was meeting a princess. Now that’s when the excitement came.
Kennidy
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I remember when I had no thoughts. My brain was empty and my thoughts wondered to the clouds. Now I have nothing but this thought I wrote down. Thoughts are things that our brain gives us. Just because I’m not in school doesn’t mean my brain has to have a vacation in the clouds. Everybody here has working brains with thoughts every second but mine is every million seconds. My brain left a note with only what I wrote down—now let’s see What he left this time… a picture of him in the clouds…
Letizia
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I remember when My uncle died—it felt like some body grabbed my heart and crumbled it. I remember when my mom cried like God told her it was time to come home with my dad because she missed my brother ‘cause he decided to make a bad mistake. I remember when I passed the STARR test—I felt like I won a million dollars cause it was my first time.
Kennidy I remember when I was swinging on a rope and I pretended to be a monkey. I yelled Ahhh!!! But sadly I got stuck so I said, “timber!” because I was wearing a lumber jack knife.
super Fidel 12
I remember when I broke My leg. I was in so much pain.
olivet I remember when Pigs ew, unicorns Klocs would fill my Mind as rainbooms Clammed up inside Of my toad-kissed Mind. Love is In the air As wedding Bells ring In my small Two year old Dreams.
addy a.
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to FrEDDiE graY What happened to Happy days & sun-filled skies, wind full of blue? What happened To America When all was Black & Never Blue?
adalyn a.
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Is getting away with my dad. Bat Man, I am going to kick her Clown face. BTW her make up is Horrible. “In your dreams,” said Woman Joker as she ran with my Father. As I told her that when she Captured my dad and I just Woke up from my beauty nap And boom she stole my father. I’m gonna kill her. My dad Is more important than my bat Nails. I love my father and I Am gonna get him back, No one is gonna stop me, not Even my boyfriend Who is Flash’s Son even though I love him Soooo much and just wonderful But unfortunately I just have to.
Kennidy 15
ems
Oh my batman! Woman Joker
Profile Po
Bat girL
KENNiDY’s sECrEt Does writing make you feel freed from stress? From sadness? From anger? It does for me. It feels like I’m a sloth I’m so relaxed. Once I put my pencil on the paper I can’t stop writing like I’m addicted. Sometimes I even prefer writing with a pencil and paper than looking on a screen. Some people ask why I write so much. I just tell them it’s my life. Without writing I don’t think I’ll be so relaxed as I am now! If I can make a shirt it would say “Keep Calm and Write On.” I think if people who don’t like writing had a good writing teacher, they’ll love it.
Kennidy
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wHEN i HaD a DrEam aBoUt mY mom I don’t know what to write but I had this dream about my mom. When I woke up this morning My mom was talking to me, she said, I will always be on your side. If I have trouble she will always Be on my side. That’s the only person On my side.
Jaenesha thomas-reyes
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CHiLDHooD Roses are red violets are blue: this is a poem that reminded me of jinglelike ideas and childlike song of all things—like the dog Bingo but will not all last unless a spell was cast. Time running out childhood is good like my soft lil’hood all with my spirit high like childhood— Pie big and tasty but my childhood, small and wastey In 3 years is all I gotta Say, but with tears.
Jesus
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moNEY, moNEY I like money because that’s my game, Money can make you get A lot of fame. I play basketball And I’ma be tall when I go to The mall and look on the shoe Wall.
Deonte w.
tHE BLUE… The blue ocean, where sea creatures live, The blue sky where birds fly, The blue coats that people wear, The blue chairs that people sit in, The blue bin that eats trash, The blue waterfall that sprays water, The blue earth that lets people live.
Letizia 19
wHY i LiKE to writE Because It Feels like you are letting out all Of your thought like you are keeping A secret but when I start to write about all of my thoughts I don’t feel like I am keeping A secret.
Jaenesha
CoNCrEtE PoEtrY I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can Write.
addy a.
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mY DaD is taLL My dad is tall, My dad is smart, My dad likes art, My dad has brown eyes, My dad tells me goodbyes. My dad is…… my dad!
Jasibe Let’s be fair! Okay, I know we already Have our “Fairness” in America But I don’t think this is fair. I’m saying this because Police are abusing and killing African American, Muslim, Mexican people and not getting charged for these murders or assaults. I think we should be fair. Because if one of the races I just said did something like that they would probably be sentenced to Life!
Kennidy ray
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tHis is wHat tHE worLD is The world is weird People putting bad stuff in your food People being cruel People being bad People getting killed, accidents/ cancer. I’m not sure but When will the world change? The world is going OFF track People getting “raced” People dying because of sickness Drugs, Smoking, Alcohol I’m not sure but, when will the world change?
olivet
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Hearts break Earth shakes Running out Of time Tick tock Follow the Clock Ticko Tock Always the same Rhyme Tick tock Race the Clock Race the clock Rhyme Always the same Tock-tick Follow the Clock Tock-tick Running out Of time Shakes earth Breaks hearts
addy acton 23
iN HEaVEN “Do you wanna see your Dad?” my mom asked. As I told her to stop playing my dad walked in looking like he seen God. I wiped my eyes to see if this “Guy” was my dad, and he was! Me and my siblings ran to him as tears rushed down our cheeks. As I sat on his lap and my siblings gathered around I asked him “Aren’t you supposed to be In heaven?” He smiled and said “I’m With my kids and my wife-- I must be In Heaven!”
Kennidy ray
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Cat Hat Rat It Sit Time One Push Hush Elephant
Juice
Rat
Everywhere Splashing
Sack
Silly
Ok
Its
Sack
Crazy
Ask
All the time
Christopher, 9
Jessica, 8
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CLassroom CoNVErsatioN “Listen to what people are saying.”
“Are you hot?”
“People fall in love in mysterious ways!”
“Shhhhhh!”
“Quick, somebody hide her lunch box!”
“I never went to your house!”
“Where?”
“I’ve drink sink water, I’ve drink
“Can I have your lunchbox?”
toilet water.” LOL
“Sure!”
Jasibe
“Do you have a madpoint?” “Girl, why did you write that!” “Okay, so ready?” “Egg.” “Like coming out of an egg.”
Do you know how it feels to be free
“Ms. Platt, how do you spell cocoon?”
like you are coming out of a cocoon.
“C-O-C-O-O-N”
Like a butterfly.
“There!”
Jaenesha
“Is that all you wrote?” “Write it down.” “Okay.” “Ooh, I got me one!” “She get on my nerves!” “Are you hot?” “What?”
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woLVEs Wolves eat sheep but don’t eat wool. They sleep in caves but don’t eat coal. They eat meat but don’t eat carrots. They make their dolls with the wool And also some arms. They would use the carrot for the nose And then they made a wool man.
Pedro, 9
FaLLiNg watEr One day I woke up and noticed I was in a car. I looked out the window and saw rocks and water. I rubbed my eyes and looked up and WOW! A WATERFALL! I saw a waterfall and a lot of trees. I got off the car and ran to my mom. I was so happy, I finally got to see a waterfall!
Eimy, 10
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I like to run track. I like to paint and draw. I love chips. I like to dance. Jazzy @ Dance Endlessly
Jade, 9
Lost aND FoUND I once found a penny I didn’t like. I don’t like pennies so I threw it away.
Pedro, 9 October 32nd For free. Phantom costume. 99 cents.
Bailey, 11 28
10 tHiNgs oN How to BE a gooD FriEND 1. Help people in need 2. Be polite 3. Help them with their homework 4. Laugh at their jokes. 5. Share a talent. 6. Be trustworthy 7. Borrow stuff, but don’t break it 8. Don’t be annoying 9. Be caring 10. And be respectful
sergio, 10
CoLor: oraNgE Orange is the frame of the Quote that will always stay the same.
Kearah Jones 29
-Jokes and trick and tricks and jokes -What did the ocean say to the bird? Nothing, it just waved. -There are 10 fish in a bowl. 2 swim away. How many are left? 10, because fish can’t swim away from a bowl.
Bailey, 10
i’m tHE toastEr! I’m the toaster and I’m REALLY busy. People give me bread and I heat it up. People call it toast. Can’t they just call it, “Heated and darkened bread.” I like calling it that. And know this. I am everywhere. I am in every kitchen. I’m probably looking at you right now while eat your cornflakes and drink your juice. TOAST.
Lucas, 8
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mY LiFE My life is to be happy. My life is to be strong. I love my life whenever I want. I was at a temple and I saw my friend, it was so fun because we went to the game. We played a game called, “Throw the Ball.” Then we played a game called, “Get the Ball.” It was fun to play because you could win prizes. Later on I had to go home and I said bye to my friend and bye to my aunt.
Laura, 9
mY FaVoritE FooD My favorite food is chicken tortilla soup. It is the best when my mom makes it. She always makes it so delicious. She always lets me help. I like helping my mom.
akane, 8
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Lost aND FoUND One sunny hot summer I was running all over with blades. I fell and cut off my favorite foot that was very special to me, so I put it in my room on a shelf. Every morning I would take it down so I could wash it. It was very smooth. I liked touching it. I decided to put it in my toy box so I would remember where it was. One day I forgot and I couldn’t remember where I had put it. I looked and looked but I couldn’t find it. I looked in my bedroom but it wasn’t there. I finally looked in my toy box and found it. Then I glued it back on.
Emily, 8
mY FaVoritE tHiNg My favorite thing is my piano because it makes sweet music. Also we can make good music. It is my favorite because it helps me play my piano. If there were no keys it would be bad because I can’t practice my songs. Piano songs are made by composers.
Dalena, 8
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tHE Coast A jellyfish stung my cousin and my aunt at South Padre. My cousin got stung by a jellyfish on his arm and it hurted him a lot and he didn’t cry or scream and ever since my aunt got stung a lot. So I peed on her and my cousin.
Peyton, 7
CHristmas DaY TWEET! TWEET! TWEET! It was a beautiful day and I was woken up by the beautiful birds. I was very happy to be up because today is Christmas! And everybody loves Christmas! I sprang out of bed and shouted “It’s Christmas!” Then everybody said “Okay. Go back to sleep.” I got mad and went outside. Outside there was a pretty dog that I played with. When it got dark I went inside and my Mom said, “Briea, it’s time to open your presents.” I jumped up and down and said “Yayyy!” I opened my presents and there was a bracelet set, clothes, headbands and Shopkins. I was very happy on Christmas!!
Briea, 8 33
PENgUiN maN Penguin Man lives in Antarctica. He has explosive penguins. They blow up when Batman chooses to fight those penguins. Wonder Woman brings her jet to fight those penguins. Penguin Man wins the fight because he puts those penguins in the water and they explode.
mason, 7
mY FaVoritE tHiNg is mY writiNg CLUB The reason why my writing club is my favorite thing is because I meet friends, we get to do writing, we get to draw, we get snacks, our teacher is the best and we have Fun. My friends are Emily, Genavieve, Laura, Akane, Luke, Tyler, Peyton, Lucas, Mason, Dalena, Ethan, Carmelo and Briea. My teacher is Cris and he is the best. He gives us writing prompts, which I am comfortable with. Cris gives us snacks, that is why he is the best.
Diana, 8 1/2
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I have a hamster that eats mice. It is creepy. That is not normal.
Ethan, 8
i roBBED a BaNK One day I robbed a bank because I was low on the money flow. I busted into the safe but the alarm went off. I quickly stuffed the golden bars into my bag. The police showed up and said, “You are under arrest!” I told them somebody else did it so I didn’t go to jail.
Luke, 8
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i’m iN troUBLE One day I got so upset that I destroyed my room and then my house and then my neighborhood and then the whole Earth. I blamed it on my cat. Then my villain said it was me and not the cat.
Jalyn, 8
stEPH CUrrY Steph Curry is the best player ever. He holds the record for the most 3-pointers in a game. He is the best player in the league. I have Steph Curry shoes that are signed by Steph Curry. Steph Curry is my favorite player because he is the best.
Carmelo, 8
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Lost aND FoUND I lost my tooth. I found my shoes. I lost my punkins. I found my teddy bear. I lost my dog. I found my lunch. I lost my phone. I found my snack. I lost my cat. I found my cat.
tyler, 7
I am going to be a ghost. I go to trick or treat. The ghost is scary.
aaliyah H
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Dogs Vs. Cats One day in Dog York City there was a cat named Nicky. She had always wanted to see Dog York City. Then one day the Cat Dude who was the Law decided to let one cat go to Dog York City. No cats ever wanted to go because they were afraid the dogs would hurt them. The Law was about to close the offer when Nicky volunteered to go. Nicky was different from all the other cats in her country. She wanted to see the true world. She could not wait to see Dog York City.
genavieve, 9
i atE mY Dog I ate my dog but I didn’t want to tell my mom so I blamed it on Penguin Man so I said “Penguin Man did it!” I finally told the truth and my mom screamed so I ran away and hid in the park.
mason, 7
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i’m iN troUBLE One time I ripped a book and I didn’t take care of my puppies. I had a pigeon but it died and I blamed it on my sister. Also I was driving and I ran over a hen and I blamed it on the chics.
Ethan, 8
i’m iN troUBLE I stole from the store but when the cops saw me they asked me “What do you know about the store robbery?” I said, “All I know is that you’re ugly.” They chased me all the way to my jet but I got away and fled to New York.
akane, 8
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Once upon a time there Was a good wolf but Everyone called him the big Bad wolf even though he is Good they just call him That because of the story Of the big bad wolf.
Candelaria
This Polar Bear is sleeping on ice that looks like Blue. It is 100 years old. The polar bear likes Only cold not hot because when the ice is gone The Polar bear starves. They also hibernate in the Ice. That’s the information of Polar Bears.
Darshon
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A wolf is a very good animal. It can
night vision and they have good sense of smell. And in this picture I think they see food and they’re getting ready to hunt bird, prairie dog, or a fish or any sort of animals.
Nathan
Once upon a time there was a Polar bear and her family. They went out To go get food and the littlest one wanted to stay and the mother said, “No.” Lets go to get food tomorrow morning it’s already dark. The next day the smallest polar bear was asleep and the others went fishing.
Jade Earl 41
Freewriting (from Postcards)
hunt for food and runs fast. They have
Once there was a Big yellow bird eating With his big black beak Eating juicy little worms And he went to sit on a Thin brown branch and I Was on a little purple Chair eating a lollipop.
Jessica
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mY BaBYsistEr When I was first told I had A baby sister I was so excited. I Have always wanted a baby sister. When my sister was born I was Very happy, I wanted to hold her So bad. I found out her name Was Nevaeh, heaven backwards. When I first held her I was scared but Then I wasn’t. After that she started crying. I said, dad I don’t know what to do. My dad said to Neveah, it’s alright, that’s Our big sister, and I felt so happy To be a big sister, and I like Having someone that looks up to you.
Jade
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traCK mEEt iN FLoriDa I went to Florida for a big track Meet, it was such a big deal. We drove there and it took so Long, its like we’ve been in this Car for so long, “Why don’t we like It?” Then we arrived. There I was So happy I couldn’t stand being In the car anymore. We got our Stuff out of the trunk of the Car and we went to our hotel Room. I layed down, watched TV, the Next day it was time for my Track meet. I ate, showered, and my Mom did my hair and then I got Dressed. We went to the field, I
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Practiced and then I went to where my Team was. Then it Was my turn to run. I was Scared—I did my 400m dash, my 200m dash, and long jump. I got 3rd, 5th, 3rd. I was exhausted. I went Afterwards and my track team had A party. I had fun in Florida and I hope I could have fun in California.
Jade
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NEw mEXiCo I used to live in New Mexico before I moved here I didn’t want to move here I wanted to stay. My friends were there and I lived 2 of the best years of my life there. I had a friend named Summer she was so fun. I never wanted to leave. The only reason I live here is because my mom wanted to move here because My aunt moved here and my Mom didn’t want to be away from her sister.
Jade
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When I got my bike on Christmas day I was so excited. I never knew I would get a bike for Christmas. A bike is what I’ve been asking my parents for, for almost a whole year, and they kept saying no. Finally, they wouldn’t have to hear me ask them for almost the whole year. For my sister she got a Barbie doll that had a purple dress. The only problem is she doesn’t play with it. That’s all I know.
Nathalia m.
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The woman had spit on her mouth, which looked like teeth. The man likes the meat. A woman looked in the mirror to look for a good dress. My dad gets me dressed up everyday unless we’re not going anywhere so then I know where we are going.
Darshon When my brother was little he had something wrong with his brain and the doctor had to do something with his brain. When they were done he was all better; also he was better in school. While that was happening I was kind of worried and scared.
Eimy One day I was with my cousins and I was on the trampoline and me and my cousin were jumping and my foot got stuck in a hole and my cousin tried to take it out and they took it out and then my aunt put a frozen bag of peas and we went home. A few day ago we went to the hospital and my foot hurt when I got out of the hospital.
Jessica 48
DrEam or rEaL It was a dark and stormy night. At this point I can’t remember if this was dream or real, but Eimy was a zombie and I was in the kitchen. She was looking for snacks without permission. The snacks were on the top shelf and Eimy and I were struggling for control. I grabbed a pan and chased her and she ran away.
Kevin E., 8
HaUNtED HoUsE I once went to a haunted house when I was a little kid. There was a man there dressed like a vampire and he guided us to the haunted house. There was a creepy clown who would chase and try and scares us. I wasn’t really scared because I was having so much fun. It was awesome!
Kevin E., 8
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ComPariNg CaUCasiaN to somEoNE From DiFFErENt statE CoUNtrY or a DiFFErENt CoLor I know that we are not all treated the Same and to some it hurts now. I’m not calling All Caucasians bad people it’s just I think that All Caucasian, Black American, Hispanic, Muslim and Anyone from a different state or country should be Treated equally fair. Now you might ask what I mean about my title… say there was a Caucasian who was to shoot someone, do you really think they are going to get life in prison? Now I watch a lot of news and all of that so yeah. Now if a Black person were to shoot someone or a Muslim, Hispanic or, like I said, anyone from different state or country… This is basically what concerns me almost the Most and this is my concern.
Kearah Jones
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aBoUt tHE writErs iN rEsiDENCE Kamala Platt, Ph.D., M.F.A. is an adjunct professor, artist, independent scholar and author in South Texas and at The Meadowlark Center in Kansas. Her collections of poems include: Weedslovers: Ten Years in the Shadow of September (Finishing Line Press, 2014); On the Line (Wings Press, 2010); and (as compiler and contributor) Kinientos (Wordsworth, 1992). Through “green rascuache” lifeways, she champions environmental and social justice and well-being amidst the crises of a feverish planet. Cris Bazaldua graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) with a Bachelor’s degree in English in 2011 and a Master’s degree in Administration in 2013. While working as a graduate assistant at UIW, Cris worked in academic and professional development as well as the editing, reviewing and researching of writing assignments and projects of the graduate and doctoral student body. He is currently working on a series of iBook-based children stories with Raining Popcorn Media.
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aCrostiC PoEms Fidel Is Dashing Exciting & a Learner. Rich O Crazy Hippo Awesome Lucky O Zebra Amazing Lazy Excited Talented Imagination Zebra Intelligent Awesome Careful Alligator Beautiful Respectful Energetic Remarkable Acrobatic Amazing “Dude” “Duh” Younik
May Talik Awesome Righteous Intelligent
Super Joyful Awesome Excited Nice Energetic Smart Ham Acrobatic
Justice Awesome Smart Incredible Beautiful Excellent
Awesome at Basketball Nice Good Excellent Lucky
Smart Awesome Nice Tall Octopus Santos Deodorant putter onner Extreme On Fleet Nuggets Trail Blazer Exciting Kind Excellent Awesome Respectful Acrobatic Happy Joyful Octopus Nice Energetic
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Ruckie Unpredictable Impossible to not beat me at a race Zachary is my middle name Kind Elephant Non Negative Nearly a hippie Intelligent Dynamite Young
gemini ink helps people create and share the human story writers in Communities (wiC) sends professional writers into diverse community settings to work alongside students of all ages, needs, interests, and abilities in free workshops based in oral traditions, reading, and creative writing. autograph series presents writers of national and international stature� many of them recipients of major prizes such as the Pulitzer or National Book award�in free public performances. we offer three semesters of fee-based Creative writing Classes and reading groups, and also many free literary events, all led by professional writers, scholars, and interdisciplinary artists. Contributions and donations of time and resources are gratefully accepted.
gemini ink 1111 Navarro st san antonio, texas 78205 210.734.9673
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