The Outside Voices Poems and Stories by Imani House Kids at P.S. 282
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NY Writers Coalition Press
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The Outside Voices Fall 2009/Spring 2010
Poems and Stories by Imani House Kids at P.S. 282
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Copryright Š 2010 NY Writers Coalition Inc. Upon publication, copyright to individual works returns to the authors. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Editor/Layout: Erin Hopkins Title: Ejiro Ogodo Front Cover Drawing: Tara Dillard Back Cover Drawing: Malik Quow The Outside Voices contains writing by the Fall 2009/Spring 2010 members of the NY Writers Coalition creative writing workshops conducted at PS 282 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The workshops are part of the Imani House after-school program, which provides cultural activities and educational support to youth in the community. NY Writers Coalition Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides free and low-cost creative writing workshops throughout New York City for people from groups that have been historically deprived of voice in our society. For more information about NY Writers Coalition Inc.: NY Writers Coalition Inc. 80 Hanson Place, #603 Brooklyn, NY 11217 (718) 398-2883 info@nywriterscoalition.org www.nywriterscoalition.org Imani House, Inc. (IHI) is a community based multi-cultural organization that provides programs, services and hope to many immigrants, youth and lowincome residents of the area. For more information about Imani House, visit www.imanihouse.org or e-mail imani@imanihouse.org.
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Introduction They are a rowdy bunch. They laugh and holler. They are in and out of their seats a lot, fidgeting. They toss their pencils in the air and lean back in their chairs. And at times they talk over each other with loud, boisterous, outside voices, not unlike those drifting in the window from the playground. But when they write their voices are unapologetically honest, sharp, and lively. They take the writing in directions I could not have foreseen, surprising me each week with imaginative words and fresh perspectives. I have enjoyed getting to know these voices at Imani House over the course of the last year. Over the pages that follow, I hope you do too. Many people have worked hard to make this workshop and book a success. Thank you to our partner at Imani House: Program Director Akua Ishangi. Also thanks to Nancy Weber and Aaron Zimmerman at NY Writers Coalition for your continued support. Erin Hopkins June 2010
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THE OUTSIDE VOICES EJIRO OGODO, Age 7 Children screaming Grownups saying for their children to be safe Basketball playing Children calling each other from in the building It almost sounds like blah blah blah Cars honking and all that screaming and stuff is Making me want to play outside
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I AM THE WIND JOYA HINDS, AGE 7 I am the wind. I taste like rain and smell like leaves. I feel cold. I'm invisible but I can see people. They can't see me. I can fly like a bird. I am the wind.
STRONG BUG RASHAD BAUGH, AGE 8 Once upon a time there was a little bug named Mandy. Mandy always got stepped on. So one day Mandy walked into a potion woman. The potion woman asked Mandy, What are your problems? Mandy told the woman I'm always getting stepped on. So the potion lady put a spell on the little bug Mandy. So every time people step on Mandy she gets buff and picks them up and throws them. Now people make sure they're not stepping on Mandy the bug. 8
WHEN HE WAS BORN MUNTU JAHJU, AGE 10 On the day I was born the sun shined on me. It was windy. The moon shined bright in the sky. The trees, bees, grass, leaves said he is born. All of the planets smiled and said he is born. The people said he is born, he is born. On the day I was born the planets all circled around the earth and sung a beautiful song. The birds whistled, the sun sang, all the natural resources sang. Every planet, natural resource, sun and star said he is born.
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FLOWERS AMEERAH PRICE, AGE 7 Flowers are nice. They smell very good too. Sometimes you can see flowers in the garden, woods, in a lake, and in a flower pot in the window. Some flowers are dead because people pick them. Some people pick them because they want them for some things, like when someone is dead. THIS BOY DOWN THE BLOCK ANGELICA JAMES, AGE 9 There is this boy right down the hallway He is stout, short and stupid The boy wants to date me and kiss me galore I don't really like him for he is a bore You don't want to meet him for he will stomp or nearly jump on your hands together for stought 'o' rama
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MY FIRST APPLE PIE AYANA HAMILTON, AGE 8 When I was a little girl I went to my grandma's house to have lunch with her. I told my mom What are we having for lunch? My mom told me it was a surprise. Then we rang the door bell. I saw my grandma, we went inside. Then I heard a sound it was loud like a gun. I hid behind my mom' s back. My grandma said there is nothing to be afraid of. My mom said she's just nervous, mom also said what is that smell and it smells good. My grandma went to the oven and said‌ Does anybody want Apple Pie!!!! Then me and my brothers and mom ate the pie and there was no more left.
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LOVE BRANDON VALENTIN, AGE 10 One day this man meets this nice lady. The man said hi, the lady said hi do you want to go out. The man said yes. The next day they went out with each other. They went to 200 5th. Ave. The man ordered a 9 pound steak. The lady said can you eat all that food? The man said of course. The lady said to the waiter I want buffalo wings. The waiter said okay. 20 minutes later the food came to the table. The man and the lady said thank you. After they ate they went home. The lady said you are stupid. The man said what did I DO? The lady said ordering a 9 pound steak. The man said whatever and he said get out of my house. The lady said fine, that was the end of that. Next 3 months they saw each other and they said do you want to get back with us? They both said yes, then they had a baby. 12
How are we going to live with a new baby? And the man said I don't how about we get a baby sitter. The mom said what do you think this is Deal or No Deal? We can not afford to pay someone every day. The man said okay let us get jobs. The lady said okay. The baby started to cry. The man said shut up you big fat baby. The baby stopped crying. The man said okay let us get a job, they got jobs and they left the baby at their house. They went home and they did not find the baby. The next 6 years they did not find the baby. Someone knocks on the door. They open the door, they saw someone and the boy said, I am your son. To be continued‌
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HAIKU CUPCAKES AMINA FALCONER, AGE 9 Cupcakes, cupcakes, fun Cupcakes fun cupcakes fun fun I love fun cupcakes
CAN YOU GUESS WHAT I AM? EJIRO OGODO, AGE 7 My costume is like this: the cape is heavy. I have blood on my mouth. I climb trees. I drink people's blood or take their guts to eat. It is good for us. I'm so bad I have a pet bat. It really pees on my servants. I can disappear. I taste like goop. What am I? And I have claws.
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ROSETA VICTORIA OLALOWO She is a magic queen smarter than you think She lives in a magic land She's in every magazine She always makes a scene She is an alien queen Well she is mighty pretty isn't she? 'Cause guess what, I drew her and she's me
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UNIQUE IS BEAUTY ZARIA HARRELL, AGE 10 Beauty is a gift not a sin God made us this way Okay? Okay? My beauty is a gift If beauty was a sin we would be too God made us unique We are different But different is cool Heritage, color and language I'm happy to be me Beauty is a gift Not a sin
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WHEN I WAS BORN KOBE FRANCOIS, AGE 9 When I was born it was August 19, 2000. My legs came out. When I came out it was delightful to smell my first breath. My eyes were open. I did not cry because my mom held me very tightly in her arms. Then they took me and checked to see if I had a disease or any heart problems. I was named Kobe and given a certificate. My mom's family was very delighted. They all touched me. They were excited.
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LULU MUNTU JAHJU, AGE 10 One day it was sizzling hot outside so a girl named Lilly had a fan. It was a small fan that had a little fuzzy body on the back. Lilly loved that fan. She named it Lulu. The next day Lilly went to school. Everyone liked the fan Lilly had so Lilly asked her friend if she could hold it. Lilly's friend liked the fan too, like everyone else. So Lilly asked her friend, where is Lulu? Her friend said I gave it someone that said she was your sister. I told you to hold it for a minute‌ To be continued.
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MY LIFE AT 25 PAQUIANA WILSON, AGE 8 When I am 25 years old I predict I will have my own life and be a fashion designer. I will have my own money and go to the clubs. I will not usually get drunk! There will be no teachers to be annoying. I will have my own house. I will have a boyfriend. I will be very smart. This is my life at 25.
MY MOM'S HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PIE TARA DILLARD, AGE 7 My mom is making Pumpkin Pie. She puts cinnamon with some slices of pumpkin. Then she puts the crust on and starts to put it in the pan and then she puts it in the oven and it cooks. It smelled good. Yum, it was finally out of the oven, we ate it all up in a second. 19
THE BAG MALIK QUOW, AGE 8 I will put a werewolf in my bag I will put summer in my bag I can put a tiger in my bag and I can put a lion in my bag I will put a vampire in my bag too I will put a poster in my bag I will put my whole family in my bag and my friends, even my mom and in it I too, and Joel, Mom and Dad
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JUST SAYING SORRY ZARIA HARRELL, AGE 10 That shirt went with my jeans Didn't know it was yours, hope it's okay Sequin, cool, cherry red It was hard for me to go to bed So I took it in the middle of the night I put it on in the morning Went to the mall with my cousin and got it dirty To be for real I'm not sorry That girl "accidentally” spilled soda on me Good night big sister Once again… Sorry
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ON THE DAY OF MY BIRTH QUIAN KING, AGE 8 On the day of my birth; I felt so relieved To be out of that dark cave With no healthy food On the day of my birth; My spirits broke free And my heart set everything In front of me On the day of my birth; My life came alive And all the animals greeted me Like the world was my beehive On the day of my birth; I cured all the earth Made the animals perch And the earth is who just Made me alert!
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SUNNY KOBE FRANCOIS, AGE 9 One hot day I got up. My mom said to go get dressed because she and my dad were taking me somewhere secret. So we took the train. When we got there outside there was a girl who was a performer. She put a gallon of gasoline in her mouth and fire just came out of her mouth and went into the air. After that happened we went to a BBQ and they had an arcade. My mom said to go play a game, but first get a card. When we got the card I played some of the games and they had racing games and Deal or No Deal.
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BEAUTY VICTORIA OLALOWO, AGE 11 Beauty, Beauty, Beauty is pain Beauty is different styles in the world you can't explain Beauty is the thing on my mothers face Beauty sets fashion in our daily base Beauty in on everyone — that's what makes us special Beauty is gracious, elegant, fabulous, Beauty is on God's entire place He is the one who brought Beauty to me and my mother's face
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DEAD RASHAD BAUGH, AGE 8 Me and doodle broke a case my mom screamed and hit me with a vase I got knocked out and my brain popped out My mom took me to the hospital I said I wanna popsicle The doctor said I was not going to make it My mom said why did this boy break it I was reborn but I was air born My mom cried I said oh why I went to my house then I saw a mouse my mom screamed I said oh please I thought I was a spirit I was just a digit
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CATS AMEERAH PRICE, AGE 7 My mom says she doesn't like cats because they are sneaky, very sneaky, but I like cats no matter what. I wish I had a cat, but I have a dog. His name is Bud. I know cats and dogs don't get along. My other dog Rammie hates cats because they are sneaky. Do you like cats?
DEAR NYC JADE STEPHENS, AGE 8 Dear NYC, You are so loud to me. Would you please be quiet? Thank you. Love, Jade
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In My Bag Quian King, Age 8 I would put in my bag A gleam of yellow sun An Angel from heaven A smell of pretty roses Silky smooth cloth Happy, excited feelings A natural touch of mother nature A dream of being very rich A life of having to run free A taste of tomato (my favorite fruit) A nice touch of lemon A cute piece of the sun Many different colors In my bag I will have A wonderful Cute PARADISE
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ICE MAN MALIK QUOW, AGE 8 There was a man called Ice Man. He had a boomerang. He got an ear that was sticky and was like ice but his ear was ice. He had a flibble flabble ding dang. He had to do his mission. He knew how to flatten himself. He had a special knife in his hand for protection.
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WHEN I WAS BORN JOYA HINDS, AGE 7 On the day I was born, April 5, 2002, my grandma Mona was there. All my cousins were there and my whole family was there with me. My eye sight was blurry and my little nose was running. I had a little hat so I wouldn’t get sick. After I came out of the doctor, I had a little dress with flowers on it. It was white and red. Everyone came around me and I got scared! But my family was just giving me presents!
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WIND TARA DILLARD, AGE 7 I am the wind. I can feel the leaves and air when I blow down trees. It's okay I am so high I can feel the blue sky and it can make rain to make puddles on the ground. I feel happy to be around here. I am the wind and I like it the way I am.
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Rashad Baugh
$5.00
Tara Dillard Amina Falconer Kobe Francois Ayana Hamilton Zaria Harrell Joya Hinds Muntu Jahju Angelica James Quian King Ejiro Ogodo Victoria Olalowo Ameerah Price Malik Quow Jade Stephens Brandon Valentin Paquiana Wilson
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