Write from our Hearts

Write from our Hearts W R I T I N G F R O M T H E S T U DE N T S AT B R O O K LY N E AS T C O LLE GI AT E M I DD L E S C HO O L

EDITED

BY

S HA N T É C O Z IE R & C A RL A J E A NP I E R RE

NY Press

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Write

Our

from

Hearts

W RI T I N G F RO M T HE S T U D E N T S AT B RO O KL YN E AS T C O LLE G I AT E M I D D LE S C HO O L

NY Writers Coalition Press SPRING 2017

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Copyright © 2017 NY Writers Coalition, Inc.

ISBN: 978-0-9986029-5-0 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017943138

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Upon publication, copyright to individual works returns to the authors.

Editor: Shanté Cozier & Carla Jeanpierre Layout: Daisy Flores Cover Image: Daisy Flores & The “Writing Club” Students Write from Our Hearts contains writing by members of NY Writers Coalition’s workshop at Brooklyn East Collegiate Middle School NY Writers Coalition Press, Inc. 80 Hanson Place, Suite 604 Brooklyn, NY 11217 (718) 398-2883 info@nywriterscoalition.org www.nywriterscoalition.org

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Contri butors

Savannah Banks David Braithwaite Lyric Corbitt Amelia DeVerteuil Nevaeh Ebanks Rasheed Johnson Daniel Mitchell Gabrielle Polonio Cameron Polonio Amir Phillips Jared Spooner Rahmel Whitfield

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Contents

F O REW O RD

by Shanté Cozier & Carla Jeanpierre

Original Student Writing

Sections:

I A M .. .

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M Y P RESENT R EAL IT Y

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M Y F U T U RE F ANTASY

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A C K NOW L ED GEM ENT S

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A BO U T NY W RIT ERS C OAL IT IO N

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Foreword

Every Friday we received a large dose of uncontained energy from 12 amazing young people. Just as last year, they came into their writing club with all of their day’s worries, dripping with feelings and emotions, yet eager to devote themselves fully to their craft. It was our task to have them channel that energy onto the page. And the page is where the chemistry always happened! A kind of kinetic force fell upon us in the classroom and magic happened every time a prompt was given.

Being with these young writers for a second year has been a blessing. Since the publication of But Then I Grew Up, we have seen great progress in all of them as writers. They are more confident in their narrative voice. They are more serious about their content. And even within the vulnerability of their fears, they are fearless writers.

Fantasy seemed to excite them and the idea of the fantastical world helped to mold and shape their thoughts and words. They literally are bursting with imagination. Little wordsmiths, with big conceptual understandings, they surprised us with the intricate layers of their writing. Their use of puns and metaphors showed not only their literary intelligence, but also their intrinsic creativity and an amazing ability to balance topics that commonly impact adults with the stuff that appeals first to adolescents – rhymes and hiphop, adventures with BFFs, and superheroes. Even through this Afro-futurist lens of fantasy to counteract violence, their pride in self as children of color and as citizens in this global world remain evident.

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To our writers, we encourage you to continue to challenge the literary genius within you. Continue to push your writing past your own zone of comfort. Continue to grow into your greatness.

To our readers, we are certain that as you journey through these pages of magnificent poetry and prose, you too, will experience the same brilliant light and creativity that surrounded us each week. Like us, you will applaud them for writing from their hearts. The future looks bright indeed!

S HA NT É C O Z I E R & C A R LA J E ANP I E R RE Brooklyn East Collegiate Middle School, Workshop Leaders

Sp r i ng 20 17

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A me lia DeV ert e uil Age 11

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I Am...

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Savannah B anks Age 11

Fresh When I think of the word fresh I think of Will Smith Because fresh reminds me of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Why? You may be asking Why the word fresh? Fresh because The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was the funniest TV show ever.

So fresh is my word.

G u i lt y One day I woke up and I had to face that I killed my dad. You know the show How to Get Away with Murder. I followed the steps and I forgot it was TV Then I went to court and they told me that I’m sentenced with a $100,000 bail and when I saw my Mom’s face, it looked like the truth had set her free but It kept me behind bars.

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David Braithwaite Age 12

Work I work, I work in shame I talk to people from Spain I only know one word And one is ‘yo no hablo espanol’ And they joke about it.

I say shut up.

If you got something to say, say it to my face.

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Lyr ic Corb itt Age 10

Death!!!

There was a coaster, brown and dark but dusty. My iPod rang. I went to see who it was. It was a private number. I answered. Then, all I heard was breathing. Finally, they said I AM coming for you and laughed a wicked laugh. I wish that person had said nothing. I laid on my pillow, then I woke up. I heard footsteps. I was breathing hard. I went under my bed. The person asked, “Where are you? It’s time for your death wish.” I was not moving, not breathing, nothing. I ran when he found me. I got a knife, but he was right. It was my death wish. There was blood on my pillows and my iPod, and I did not forget my coasters. This guy is still alive! He never dies and he gives people wishes - death wishes! Run far, far away. He is coming for you next.

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Ame lia DeVerte uil Age 11

I ’ d Ra t h e r I’d rather be the sun than the cloud on someone’s day.

The spirit that wakes them up with my beautiful ray.

The flame that lights their fire, not the rain that takes it away.

The present that they open, not the trash they throw away.

A Sinner I once was a sinner a long time ago, when our schools were our playground and the streets were our home. When our crimes were not justified nor brought to court. I always kept my head held high and was a good sport. I once was a sinner in the alley of the hood where we would curse whenever we could. Until I was found locked away in a box where my feelings couldn’t be heard, not even with a shout.

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Meaning of Love I didn’t mean to do all the things I did. I’m here all because of you.

You’ve gotten me through all the obstacles in my life and have given me such gracious advice. Whenever I’ve been behind, you’ve waited for me. You picked me up and set me free and gave me the confidence to just be me. All I want you to know is love means never having to say you’re sorry. Great minds think alike, and I’m happy you’re in my life.

Determined Me I was born in Brownsville where there aren’t many nice souls, which I guess makes me bad to the bone. Yes! I have written many times.

I’ve sat down in the morning and wrote many rhymes. But that’s all behind because I’ve lost my soul. I’ve been hanging with folks I don’t even know. I’ve never known the circumstances of being a nice person, so I pushed that back behind me and found out I wasn’t worth it. Until I found my bright side, right where I am and stepped into the palms of my very own hands.

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Rahme l Whitfie ld Age 11

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N evae h E banks Age 11

I’m Not Sorry I’m not sorry. I’m not sorry that I made your blood gush. I am not sorry that I dragged you into the water. You know why I’m not sorry.

I know you cheated on me. I know you lied to me when you said, “I love you,” that day I went on a picnic with you. When you said, “you had me at hello,” I had to get the knife.

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Rashe ed Johnson Age 11

T hi s C ra z y Da y I wake up, my watch beeping Yo, you better get up and run down the driveway to hear these girls say, what are those?

I reply, my shoes cost more than your life I keep on running down the driveway, And my dad is waiting in his new Chevy, I say, why can’t we take the Lambo?

He says, I don't want it to get dirty.

I pull up to school waiting till these teachers open the door, these girls come out of nowhere saying Put your hands up. I yell at them saying, I have rights. They hand me an invitation saying, calm down.

Get ready for the time of your life!

Before I left home to go to that party, my dad gave me a glow stick. Then he says, better safe than sorry.

While I am at the party, I see my friends. Then everything shuts off I said, where have you been?

Then I remembered the glow sticks in my pocket I shook them up and heard a crack. I said, let’s get this party started.

Where the DJ at? We all partied till the day was done, then I forgot about my homework.

What have I done?

But I said eh, and kept going.

At least I can bribe the teachers with my new techniques.

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To o C o o l f o r Sc h o o l Life is short.

Just like when people get stunned.

Just like my day was won by my coolness at school.

OH! Don’t get me started with school, it is a scary place for newcomers.

Full of monsters that judge and big jocks that would push you against the wall for your lunch money. And bullies that would criticize you and push you around, waving their fist in your face. While in the background everyone is yelling, “Fight, Fight, Fight!”

And then the parents and teachers wonder why kids commit suicide.

That is not a funny thing. It is fun to people because they made a show about it. But I don’t get it. Why are kids trying to be cool? Is that cool for you?

Back at school, people are in the lunchroom saying, “I am black and I am proud!” to all the white kids. That’s why I stand in the back trying not to get noticed because I wouldn’t want my feelings to be broken.

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Danie l Mitchell Age 11

Me No, I don’t want you No, I do not hate you I don’t trust you Greed is my deadly sin You cannot have me You will not use me I have faith in me Because I am mine And not yours

A n c e s t o rs You say the blood of my black ancestors was bad. But we say it was beautiful for a brief moment. I believed we were. We were basic creatures. But as I lay here today on my blue bed, I realize I was wrong.

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Gabr ielle Polo nio Age 11

D i sa p pe a ri n g I remember being born. A breath of fresh air. Only I was hot. Really hot. I remember being yelled and screamed at. I saw bones too, so I guessed it was Halloween- not that I actually knew what that was.

My ears started ringing, so I lifted my hands to cover them. Then, more people screamed, “it’s getting bigger!” The ringing got louder and louder. Men in yellow jackets ran out of a bright red truck.

Suddenly, I couldn’t feel my legs. Then my stomach. Then my hands. I realized I was getting shorter, too. Then my arms. Then my neck. Then, I was gone.

M e m o ri e s I opened the door to the room where the screams had begun and my heart sank. I remembered this room so vividly that I stood frozen for what seemed like years. All the times I’ve been beaten and all the times I’ve bled came back to me. I remembered all the times he crammed me in the room to “discipline me.” I saw the marks of blood that was still on the floor. Even though he is long gone, I still feel the leather ripping through my back.

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Came ron Polonio Age 13

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A mir P hillip s Age 11

B la c k I wake up to the sound of The black birds chirping I awake out of my blue bed and cut myself on the edge.

So I run to the bathroom like I am Sonic the Hedge-hog.

My mother is beautiful, In the kitchen making scrambled eggs.

Did I mention my brother is bad?

But briefly he completes me with all of his heart.

I’m not basic, I’m the opposite Social not antiBut let me ask you why Just cause I’m black I have To be Crip or Blood and can’t give my mother a hug.

Gramma come in the bathroom with her cane.

But cause I’m black, I have to be able to jump A fence and lift 210lbs and it’s only Ok for white folks to have a pen?

It’s time to separate our fantasies from reality.

Turn that little beard and grow it into a mane, Now back to that gangsta thangthe only thing Crip is the fish my mama Brings from back home And the only thing Blood is that red/black/green in my veins.

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K a rm a She says, step in the hall She stares at me My back leaned against the wall She tells me stop laughing Turn your voice off I try to talk But she cuts me off And say, “I said Turn your voice off” I cough trying to suck up My tears as she is trying to call my mom She puts the phone to my ear but as she does, it drops and sticks She struggles to pick it up The screen goes black I laugh inside She says go inside That’s what she gets I walk inside the class smiling Then my teacher with tears in her eyes The girls ask what did I do I say she did it to herself Karma finally got to her.

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Jared Spoon er A ge 1 1

R h y me s B i g g e r T ha n L i f e Bape Nation - I rock that.

Pull up on me, I kill that.

Rolex on my arm I’m flexing.

Nicer than the homey that pulls up in his hummer Texting.

I work hard, but it pays off Got Yeezys I speed Off in a ‘Yari Pull up with Drake got lots of chains So much dough I swear I won’t change.

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Rahme l Whitfie ld Age 11

B la c k L i ve s Ma t te r Black lives matter Black lives can’t shatter It’s like dark matter We not any type of liar I’m not a crier Oh, my mom? You could try her But her soul is infinite So you can’t buy her I’m black and I’m proud I’m black, so I’m loud But as silent as a cloud Together we’re one big crowd We went to Mars There were no cars It’s like 1967 I see people hanging Being lynched And pinched I got that link I won’t judge you if you are pink And you’ll think That you’ll shrink I’m black In tact That’s a fact.

That—I don’t lack.

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S e lf Ca re I get mad at myself I hurt myself Wait, that’s not self care We have to have no fear Is all of that clear?

Staying around animals without any humans around If they catch me, I’m a be proud They gunna kill animals, that’s not what I need If I see that, I’m a get low self-esteem Soon I will be in touch with a beam That will give me the stream

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A me lia DeV ert e uil Age 11

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My Present Reality

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Savannah B anks Age 11

H i g h Sc ho o l They lie all the time They get scared when they hear Alice is coming, they get Drunk, date boys, also skip School. But what happens when They go missing one by One. Can all 4 figure it out?

High school is a bad place.

But they can figure out who it is.

Protect One day I was trying to protect my family from a gang I was in. I was 16 years old. I wanted to protect my name. I ran to grab my sister, but boom! I got shot in my back and head and I said, never before have I felt so defeated, but maybe just maybe there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

But when I looked, it wasn’t.

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David Braithwaite Age 12

F i re It is like you keep my head under water Then your lies sicken me like a virus And your words hurt me like I am in a house That’s on fire.

G ra n d f a th e r When I was 10 my grandfather passed away. That’s when I felt I stopped living. I put on a dead man’s mask. It reminded me of him before he passed. I ask, “how he pass, grandma?” She said, “age”.

There was a pause. I said angry, “why he had to pass away?” As I look while he lay in his coffin, I ask god, “why did you take him away?” I loved him, he loved me, when I was 2, we watched Barney. While water came down my eyes, my grandma said, “are you okay?” I said, “why did he have to pass away?”

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Lyr ic Corb itt Age 10

O u r Da te s I am a man with two other people. We were dates. Well, we were supposed to be dates, but our dates never showed up. We all cried tears. We were all mad. Then we realized our dates were not coming.

We left all sad. It was raining. We got wet. We cried and cried all night. Our tears bonded us. We then became friends. We met up and had fun. But then we saw our “dates.” But they were with other men. We went over and said, “hi.” They said, “Hi. This is my brother.”

They were brother and sister. They said when they met, they noticed and forgot about us as their dates.

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Ame lia DeVerte uil Age 11

B a d A tt i t u de Johnny woke up at 5 a.m. to get his pencil and his pen.

His bag was not packed and his pants were not ironed, and his mom had just gotten fired.

His mom made him do the rest of his work, and after that read a book.

His hand was super-glued to his new pair of shoes.

It was the last day of summer and Johnny had a bad attitude.

Re g re t I looked at myself through the mirror of shame and thought to myself who else can I blame. Can I change the clocks and watch it all stop, or rejoin my old thoughts to the tick of the tock? I want to stand up tall and undo the wrongs, but how can I if I’m singing the tunes to the wrong song? But even in the madness, do I recreate me or be the person I was and wanted to be.

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M e t a ph o r s Chapter is to book like a page with words A song with a melody A foot that stepped on the earth A dictionary that holds meaning Medicine meant for healing and A rainbow to color Rooms to doors Windows to curtains family and friends that are really worth it Stars to galaxies Water to fire A room full of people with happiness in the air which means they really care

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U n ti t le d He was his own bed. His own pillow. His own bottle. Bottle after bottle a continuous loop, until he felt so intoxicated that he couldn’t feel the drink strolling through his veins. He had no one to talk to other than himself. He asked, “Why must I go through this?” he asked. “What is the meaning of life?”

The only wrong thing about that question was that there is no true meaning of life. God has intended for everyone to figure it out and gain strength along the way.

The knock on his door frightened him, causing the bottle to fall on the floor. He asked, “Who’s there?” It was his father. His father was worried. His straight face made his father begin to cry. Thinking about his kids, his wife who he had betrayed, his father pulled the bottle he was opening away and said, “It’ll be okay.”

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N evae h E banks Age 11

B u ll y i n g They judge you They mock you They make sure you have a bad day They say you’re weak and push you around They never get caught But that one day you stand up to them You show your strength But then something happens that you never wish did

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W a te r ve r su s F i re Once there were two girls, Wendy and Florence. They were two best friends who did everything together like average teenagers, but one thing wasn’t average about them. Wendy had water powers and Florence had fire powers. One time they fought. They had never fought ever in their lives until now.

“I can’t believe what you did!” Wendy cried, getting sad.

“Well you shouldn’t have done that!” Florence screamed, shooting a fireball.

“I didn’t mean to,” Wendy said, washing out the fire.

Florence stormed out the of the living room of the house and never saw Wendy ever again.

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Ra ci sm Narrator: Once there were two ladies. They loved to read, write, and exercise together. This is about the first time they met. Their names are Chaplin and Madame.

Madame: (On the phone) Mom! I’ll come home later!

Stranger: Hey you black girl, move out of my way!

Madame: I’m sorry. What did you call me?

Stranger: Do I need to say it louder BLACK GIRL? Narrator: Chaplin walks by.

Stranger: Move out my way you piece of junk Chaplin: It’s my bad to hear this conversation, but did you say “piece of junk.” This is a nice looking lady, and I hope you respect that.

Stranger: Why do you support this black lady?

Chaplin: Because it isn’t at all nice not to. Who cares if a person is darker than somebody else? We are all equal.

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Rashe ed Johnson Age 11

S to l e n Yo dude, come over here and pick up this stick I am so old If I bend, my back will snap like a twig As he walks away I whisper thanks for the wallet Have a good day.

The next day I came as a young man This man comes up and says, I am so glad.

The man has this face that I saw before, he takes the wallet back when I bend down to tie my lace He says “never steal from a con-artist, You and your stupid race.�

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C o me B a c k to M e I walked out of school to see my friend Mama cried out come home again We play football while I run Trip over the can, wow that was really fun!

Look at my watch, wow, it is late I ran like the flash and yell have a nice day I came home 2 minutes late I walk into the room to see grandma asleep I see my new teach saying nice to meet Then I say what is going on?

Did I do something wrong?

Mom says sorry Ron, I look to my left to see my bro and sis crying I said, what happened, when he said good bye.

And my grandma wakes up here Have a nice pie.

Then I see mom crying What happen, I yell As they sit me down Mom says good bye see you in town, I keep on slapping my face wake up from this dream What a terrible place

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T he C ru e l bu t N ot C ru e l We get to school first before Misses Cruel gets here The lookout boy yells scatter and we all disappeared we sit very quietly in our seats She walks in and says nice to meet, Now she might seem nice But that is till she closes the door and yells something is not right in here With a vote of confidence I yell out to Miss Cruel I don’t know what you are talking about You really look like a fool She says go in the room My classmates yell good luck Hope to see you soon Now that I am sitting in this room To Miss Cruel I say to her sorry I want to do it again She gives me another chance I would love to see you again even though she was right when we were fooling around the desk was slanted There is something not as it should be I know when I am 10 inches behind Miss Cruel I remember that we wrote miss cruel is fat And a big fool She yells and turns into a beast As soon as I walked in everyone pointed at me She turns around and say, “oh Jimmy!”

I say no, I’m not taking the fall for this one, This I blame it on the new kid Hope he’ll be okay

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Last Day It was the last day of summer and Johnny had a bad attitude. If only he would have listened to his mom’s instructions and did all his homework before the first day of school. His attitude was from the stress of all the homework he had to do. He was scared of what his #1 teacher would say, so he hid from her before school started.

His dad went looking for him and yelled too. Then he found Johnny.

It was too late to go to school, so his Dad slapped him across the face. Then he started to cry while he raced. Then he got home with another attitude and a smirk on his face. Johnny was smart enough to sit down and finish his work. When his mom came home she laughed about his day.

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Danie l Mitchell Age 11

T he A c ci de n t As I ran, I looked back. “Watch out!” Crash.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

As I saw the fury in his eyes, I also saw sadness. And a sense of sorrow.

“You’re going to pay for that,” he said.

Seven feet away I saw a small thin pair of glass. Shattered glass.

I gave him $160 dollars.

“Here, I’m sorry. Well, bye.” I stated, as I sprinted away.

M om My mom brings me luck My mom with her red lipstick My mother with her lovely face My mother with no flaws My mother will not break the law My mother I love and she loves me to With my sister, it’s just her and me

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Gabr ielle Polo nio Age 11

O u t o f P la ce It was a dark and stormy night when he woke up with his stomach growling. He crept out of his bed on his tippy toes, trying not to make any noise. His door creaked as he opened it. He went into the kitchen and thought, “Oreos!” He pounced at the Oreo bag, and it crackled so loud. He was certain he had woken up everybody, so he hid behind a curtain. He waited five minutes because he thought his mom would come. Then, he tried again. He carefully grabbed hold of the flap. He pulled lightly, but there was still noise. He gave up and roughly opened it, grabbed about 5 Oreos, and ran back into his room. When his mom went into the pantry the next day, she mumbled to herself, “Something is not as it should be.”

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O n To p of t h e W o r l d “It’s freezing up here!” I screamed. The wind was howling and it felt like it was burning my face. So it wasn’t my idea, but it kind of was. A family friend just came back from India, but that’s not where she actually went. She climbed the tallest mountain in the entire world, Mount Everest. She came back with a bunch of scars on her face and hands. She said she went into the middle of a snowstorm. I told her that that was stupid. She got mad at me and said, “Well, why don’t you try it?” I was up for the challenge, but I wanted someone to go with me. Rudely, she added, “by yourself.” That’s when it hit me. I can’t do this. The problem was, I already told her I’d do it. She said I could use her equipment and she will train me so I don’t die up there. Sadly, that didn’t make it any better. After two months of training, the day came. I gathered my clothes and equipment in my bags and set off for India. More specifically, the Himalayas. I went up to the mountain about five days after I got there. No one was with me, which made it more intimidating. But, I knew I had to prove myself. I brought my phone with me in case I fell off the mountain. It felt like hours before I even climbed 10 feet. The sun went down, and I wasn’t 21 feet high. I was planning on saying to my mom, “I made it Ma. On top of the world!” But it took me a lot longer than I had planned.

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A mir P hillip s Age 11

T he T ru t h It was hard stuff to swallow.

Hard to believe what she was telling me.

All the lies that she told me All the lies I believed in vain I would be lying if I said I wasn’t in pain It was hard stuff to swallow The truth that she was telling me But she says it’s ok now How can she be so optimistic About the pessimistic It’s hard to believe her I don’t know what to do After she is the one telling the truth I notice a tear coming out her eye Which makes a tear come out of mine It’s hard stuff to swallow But it was stuck in our minds

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Jared Spooner Age 11

F lexing Flex on bullies with your brain. Do not fight when you have a poem.

Be smart. Be stunning. Don’t run from haters. They’ll make you poor. Think big and drastic, which will make you awesome. Be there for your loved ones, which will make you beyond one’s. Ask out the girl you like. Don’t be afraid before it’s too late. Stand out at all times. This story will help you have courage. Live life at the fullest. Don’t stop.

L i f e i n t he Ho o d Once upon a time there used to a boy. He struggled in the hood, and he asked everybody, was his way out going to sleep while hearing bloodfire in the streets?

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Rahme l Whitf ie ld Age 11

T he M a n a n d t h e Wi f e A man with his sweaty self just came from a fight. His wife asked him if he needed help. His wife asked, “why is your hair so curly?” He said, “how am I supposed to know? I am clueless. But wait. Is this the Civil Rights Movement? Honey, are you okay?” Bang, bang, bang.

There is so much blood on the floor, but the man and the wife, there was no more.

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A Wi l d Pa r ty “Yo, bro D.J. Joseph, I’ll hook you up with 500K.” “$500,000? You sure?”

“Bro, money rains on me.”

“Alright. I’m okay with it.”

“Okay. Now this party is for teens only, so make this one a fun one.”

At the party, teens were turning up until this crazy fight broke out. The D.J. was being hooked up with some teen, but her boyfriend saw they were talking and threw a button at him and started running. Then, he punched him. Everybody saw it. Then, he pulled out a knife, and D.J. Joseph called security. He got stabbed. The girl slapped her boyfriend. Security came and put the boyfriend in jail.

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L e s so n L e a rn e d It was the last day of summer and Chris had a bad attitude. He was spoiled all the way. When he didn’t get his way, he was sarcastic and pouty. It was his birthday, the last day of summer, September 22nd.

He wanted to get an iPhone 10, a Playstation 7, and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 15. He didn’t get it, and he started to pout and be sarcastic. His parents couldn’t deal with it, so for the first time he got slapped. He was never ungrateful again.

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Friends If we must be friends, we must argue. It could be about parking, for best friends fly in the sky seeing rainbows, playing with bows and arrows. I don’t want to argue, but one of us has to be gone. If not, one of us is wrong. This is an exile world. Friends have to fight for friends. People get jealous when we are the real us. We laugh when we say koshafu. What is koshafu? We don’t have the same answer.

That’s what makes us friends, too.

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Came ro n Po lo nio Age 13

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My Future Fantasy

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David B rait hwaite Age 12

H o pe Hope is what kids in the hood have Hope is what parents have So they won’t think about the police hurting their kids Hope is what Martin Luther King Jr. had Hope is what slaves had Without hope all of us will be lost

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Lyric Corb itt Age 10

A n i m a l s i n a F o re s t There was this girl named Anna. She lived in a forest. She loved animals so much. She loved having her friends come, but they make the animals mad. They make noise all day and make a mess. The dragons one day tried to make Anna’s friends leave and they never came back until one day they came to kill the dragons, but they failed and Anna found out so they got banned. But they managed to come back. They were in the house that night with knifes and guns and they managed to not wake Anna up, but they kidnapped her. She was funny and a poet, but that day they had her.

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B r o k e n D ra g o n Wi n g s Sasha the smart dragon had a owner named Jake. Jake was a scary person. Tall and his voice was deep. One day Sasha went to fly around. Her wing got caught in a net. She tried to get it out, but she failed. In her mind, she felt like she was gonna die. But when the person pulled her in, she noticed it was her owner. Sasha was so happy. Jake then took her back to their hut. Sasha’s wing was broken from the net. The owner then went to try and get stuff to fix it. But he never came back. Sasha then tried to go find him. She searched for months but never found him. But she did find some others. Their names were Dove, Jay and Zoey. They took care of her wing, everyday, her wings got better. They all found dragons. Zoey found Z. They did not name the dragons but they loved them with all their hearts. Sasha had found her old owner on the floor yelping. Sasha and the others got him and helped him and lived life to the fullest.

Their dragons have died but they are still alive. They cried all their tears and then they left.

RIP: Dragons RIP: Owners

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Ame lia DeVerte uil Age 11

M on e y Tr e e Yes, I got a money tree in my backyard It’s not that far Just walk straight and make a turn on the boulevard Then you’ll see a sprout Don’t pull it out For the fortunes you choose will not come true You can ask for a unicorn or two Or even a new pair of shoes But not from my money tree you see Because my money tree should only be used by me

L u cy ’ s L i p st i ck Lucy loves her lipstick because it’s from Louis Vuitton. Its luscious lingering smell leaves a lovely spirit behind. Lucy likes its good luck and its lollipop flavor. It leaves power for Lucy. That’s all she needs.

The luscious lingering smell of her lipstick is hard to beat.

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A n c i e n t De a t h Way back when we went to Greece there were so many different city -states to see, like Athens that is coastal and near the shore, and thousands of soldiers in Sparta waiting at your door. There is a statue where you see her. You must bow down beneath her when she is summoned in the night by her fellows. She is surrounded with a head full of snakes. When you come from the market place with your big black plastic bag. Don’t look at the hag, for if you look into her bright green eyes, you will be turned to stone and die.

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A n A m a z i n g Ra ce Run, run as fast as you can- with a person you don’t know, who is from a different land. Jump on a plane and soar in the sky and travel through mountains on an adventurous hike! Then, you’ll meet your destination and complete a task, but hurry up because other contestants can run pass. Here are suggestions: don’t come if you’re afraid of heights or afraid of crawlers that can really bite. Just come because it won’t be a bore, and at the end one team will find what they’re looking for.

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Rashe ed Jo hnso n Age 11

R h y me In the beginning of time God created the rhyme and the heavens too He also created Mars and Earth Well I think he did not create the planets Just the life on them He gives us future generations to live our life fully Made ancient civilizations that would go before me That’s why we try so hard and try our best To make no regrets The thought of this bless So that’s why we put our hands up And stop the violence And make his wish by keeping the silence

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T he L on e l y G u n s It is the year 2025 where everything is not bright but gray Guns weren't invented till this day So let me take you back to those days where there was no color tv And police pull you over for being a thief Now that I’m here with no guns, The flower might not shine but The peace has been won But on a sunny gray day, I heard a big pow!

And everyone ran as if they haven’t met death on this gloomy night. Run! Well, I wait for no man because I’ve met death and slapped it across the face Till I see this freaky gun That’s when I started to race I just feel so bad about that guy who died and That man with the gun having to put his family through that trial So as I sit and honor the grave I lay this beautiful flower That still is gray I still question where are the cops and why this happened If I could have been there to stop the drama This is what happens when you play with a gun They would have thought victory is won, But was not That’s why 2025 is the day we should be scared Of how this place would turn out to be

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Danie l Mitc hell Age 11

H o pe Hope can heal Hope can hurt Hope is the stain on your shirt Hope is strength Hope is gold Hope is the trophy that you hold Hope is love Hope is pain

Te m p ta ti o n Got me once.

That bank was so rich and I was so poor With all the money, it was hard to ignore I knew it was a crime And I’d done the time I don’t know where I’m headed But it sure isn’t heaven I once was a sinner And my platform only gets thinner.

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Gabrielle Polonio Age 11

Death I have no clue what death feels like, but I think it feels like you’re not in control. It feels lifeless. You cannot move your limbs. For the life of you, you cannot even twitch your finger, not even open your eyes.

You can’t breathe anymore. “Am I on Mars?” You realize you don’t have a space suit, but you’re dead anyway.

J u s ti ce on Ju p i te r It was January on Jupiter and the aliens were jeering for justice. “We want justice for juice!” they said. There had been a juice robber on Jupiter in January. The aliens went to the judicial branch, but they did nothing. In June, the aliens were jumping for joy when they discovered soda.

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M o n e y Tr e e s Money trees, money trees I wish I had one to spare Growing tall in my backyard So money won’t be a problem Everybody’s raving about how to save some green But I’m raving about how to spend it I’m not trying to make them feel bad But forget it Not like that’s ever going to happen

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D a n g e rou s Col o r s Her bright magenta lipstick and her dark pink heels are just enough to sting all the guys, just like electric eels. She thinks that her lipstick is like a blanket or sheet that she can hide behind and slowly fall asleep. She thinks it brings her luck. That’s why she wears it every day. She says certain bright colors can shoo the boys away. What she doesn’t know is that it can hurt like a jagged lollipop if you keep hiding away. She needs to know something about her lipstick. That she will eventually turn grey.

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U n ti t le d 2,000 years ago, death was a one-time thing. You would NEVER, EVER come back. But now, that’s a different story. When you die, you stay in that state for a certain period of time. The way we determine that is by these rules: 1 day – you were a dog 2 days – you were a cat 3 days – you were a bird 4 days – you were not employed 5 days – you went to work 6 days – you were a couch potato 7 days – you were a farmer or a veterinarian 8 days – you were a dad 9 days – you were a mom 10 days – you were a child (to get enough rest from your parents)

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H o pe Hope was the right to be associated with access. New hope is being one with success. Hope is less of the rich white man having all the power. Hope is my brothers not being stereotyped because they live in project building. Hope is where the NYPD start acting like real superheroes instead of villains in disguise. Hope is when no one is living on the streets. Hope is when my dad won’t be stopped every 5 times by police officers asking why is his windows tinted. Hope is when my mom can walk the streets without perverts looking back.

Hope is when everyone can get an education no matter what gender, race or age.

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Jared Spoo ner Age 11

T r u e S to r y 21 and 23 were two grown men who did very bad things. 21 called 23 and wanted some cash. They hopped in a car and sped off. Two weeks later 23 was by himself buying something from a corner store.

Two police officers caught him and brought him in. They wanted 23 to snitch on 21. When 23 didn’t, they promised him a lot of money, so he snitched. When 21 got caught, 23 got a nasty look and knew 21 had a lot of dough but didn’t care. When he got the money, 23 bought a Porsche, a 2 million dollar house, and the rest he spent on Louisiana girls and chains. 21 got out of jail and kidnapped 23. He shot 23 with a shotgun. After that, 21 started rapping and no one ever heard of 23 again.

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Rahme l Whitfie ld Age 11

T he Ja po ca l y p s e The Japocalypse was on January 12, 567 when the Mayans discovered Jupiter in space. They went there, and when they got on Jupiter they started to hear an echo saying “death” over and over again. Out of nowhere 500 million Jupiter head freaks came and the justice of the Japocalypse began on Jupiter.

2 0 25 These days the po-po always came to kill. They never see how others feel. How dare they do this for fun? They be doing this for nothing.

They be always shooting. Bang, bang, bang. Why do we have to be in this mess? All we do is cause less… trouble. Using shotguns for days, all day every day. 2025. That’s the date. Before the po-po come, I better go find my soulmate. Wait. Am I too late? 2025. This is how it is these days.

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Rashe ed Jo hnso n Age 11

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T he Bro oklyn East Colle giate Middle School Writing Group

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Ackno wledgements We share our belief that the world is a better place when everyone’s voice is listened to and respected.

Many thanks go to our foundation, government, and corporate supporters, without whom this writing community and publication would not exist: Allianz GI, Amazon Literary Partnership, Nicholas B. Ottoway Foundation, Kalliopeia Foundation, Meringoff Family Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. NYWC programming is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

The Brooklyn East Collegiate Middle School Writing Club and this publication are made possible by the Art A Catalyst for Change Initiative, supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and NYC Council Member Laurie Cumbo.

We rely heavily on the support of individual NYWC members and attendees of our annual Write-A-Thon. In addition, members of our Board of Directors have kept this vital, rewarding work going year after year: Timothy Ballenger, Tamiko Beyer, Jonas Blank, Louise Crawford, Atiba Edwards, Marian Fontana, Ben Groom, and NYWC Founder and Executive Director Aaron Zimmerman.

We would like to thank the following staff at Brooklyn East Collegiate: Ms. Terry, Ms. Ansah, Ms. Caldwell and Mr. Alem. We would also like to thank Timothy DuWhite & Daisy Flores at NY Writers Coalition.

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NY Writers Coalition Inc. (NYWC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that creates opportunities for formerly voiceless members of society to be heard through the art of writing.

One of the largest community-based writing organizations in the country, we provide free, unique, and powerful creative writing workshops throughout New York City for people from groups that have been historically deprived of voice in our society, including at-risk, disconnected, and LGBT youth, homeless and formerly homeless people, those who are incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, war veterans, people living with disabilities, cancer, and other major illnesses, immigrants, seniors, and many others.

For more information about NYWC programs and NY Writers Coalition Press publications visit www.nywriterscoalition.org

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Write from our Hearts W RITING

F RO M TH E

S T U D EN T S A T B RO O K L Y N E A ST C O LL E G I A T E M I D D L E S CH O O L

F e at u r i n g Savannah Banks David Braithwaite Lyric Corbitt Amelia DeVerteuil Nevaeh Ebanks Rasheed Johnson

Daniel Mitchell Gabrielle Polonio Cameron Polonio Amir Phillips Jared Spooner Rahmel Whitfield

NY Writers Coalition Press is proud to present Write from Our Hearts, a collection of writing and art by members of the NY Writers Coalition creative writing workshop for students at Brooklyn East Collegiate Middle School.

Brooklyn East Collegiate’s Middle School Writing Group is made possible by the Art A Catalyst For Change Initiative, supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Art A Catalyst For Change was created by Council Member Laurie Cumbo to include art as part of a comprehensive city-wide anti-gun violence effort.

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