KKIIDDSS!! SSAANN DDIIEEGGOO

PPOOEETTRRYY AANNNNUUAALL

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San Diego Entertainment + Arts Guild San Diego, California

ii

San Diego Entertainment + Arts Guild (SDEAG)

Garden Oak Press

1953 Huffstatler St., Suite A

Rainbow, CA 92028

760 728-2088

sdeag.org sdeag1@gmail.com

gardenoakpress.com gardenoakpress@gmail.com

© San Diego Entertainment + Arts Guild All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or

transmitted by any means without the express written consent of the

Publisher.

First published by Garden Oak Press on December 1, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-1979470780

ISBN-10: 1979470782

Printed in the United States of America

The views expressed in this anthology of poems are solely those of the poets

and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher, and the Publisher

hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

iii

KKIIDDSS!! SSAANN DDIIEEGGOO

PPOOEETTRRYY AANNNNUUAALL 22001177

RRAAEE RROOSSEE Editor

AAMMEEEERRAAHH HHOOLLLLIIDDAAYY Assistant Editor

KKIIMMII SSTTRRAAIINN Art Director

WWIILLLLIIAAMM HHAARRRRYY HHAARRDDIINNGG Publisher

iv

v

CCOONNTTEENNTTSS

EDITOR'S NOTE XII

THE POEMS

JESHUAH DE LA TORRE

When I Write 3

KINGSTON DAXIMILLION

(untitled) 4

WEYLAN GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT

Tiger 4

SAGE SEYMOUR

Star Jasmines 5

AMELIE BOELKE

In the Forest 6

AVAURA GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT

Wolves 7

HADLEY DAHL

I Am an Elevator 8

ZARA GRIFFIS

The Party 9

KAVI ZAVERI-TAVB

The Golden Rock 10

MILES FLYNN

The Impatient Reindeer 11

NATHANIEL SEPULVEDA

I Am a Bird 12

LILA SALATKA

As If Someone Were There 13

MAX CHEN

The Idiot Egg 14

OPHIE CHEN

My First Fall 15

VINCENT MONICO

Normal Elf Day with a Rabbit 16

KAYLEIGH SIM

Dreams 17

ELENA MONICO

The Secret Garden 18

FIONA SALATKA

The Mountains 19

vi

INDIGO CRAIG

The Photo Shoot 20

AILEEN GONZALES

And Somebody Now Is Walking 21

STELLA LIEBERMAN

Not For a Ride on a Unicorn 22

ALYSE GOAN

All of It Gone 23

SAFIYAH SALAMA

I Was So Dead 24

ROWAN GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT

(untitled) 25

COLVIN DAVIS

The Wind 25

SASHA MARTIN

The Park Ranger’s Plight

or Mission Complete 26

ANNE KELLEY

I Want to Cross the Street 27

KIMBERLY DELGADO

Not for All the Gems of the World 28

MAX MENDIOLA

As the Snakes Crawl Up Hissing 29

JEREMIAH RATNADURAI

I Was So Sleepy 30

MARISSA MENDIOLA

Not for All the People in the World 31

LISSETT MCMAHON

Forest 32

KIERAN NIEHANS

I Am Thor 33

ASHTON COCHRUN

It’s Alive! 34

VALERIA GARROFE

She Has Blonde Hair 35

SAIGE FINLAN

Supergirlygamer 36

LUCELLA JORGENSEN

My Grandparents 37

RYAH ESPINOZA

I Remember I Don’t Remember 38

vii

GEORGE BURRELL

Ode to Letter E 39

ARIANNA LARIOS Ode to Polar Bears 40

JAMES KELLEY

I Was So Cold 4o

LEELA ZAVERI-TAVB

Grandma’s House 41

PARSA BASHASH

Skateboard 42

MELODY MUNOZ

My Father Looks Like a Tall Guy 43

ANABEL DIAZ

Me 44

JOVANI GUADARRAMA

I Am the Rhode Island Red Chicken 45

RYAH ESPINOSA

Ode to Paper 45

RUBY GRACE WINTER

Loud and Quiet 46

LAYNE WINTER

Fun 47

PRIYA STONE

(untitled) 48

ANAIAH DE LA TORRE When I Write 48

CRISTIAN MOUET

(untitled) 49

CASSIDY SCHMELZER

I Am a Book 49

MATS DYKSTRA

Special Things 50

KATE FOSTER

My Ventriloquist Puppet 51

JAMES

Ode to Pandas 52

ASTER MCQUEEN

My Stuffed Animal Bunny 53

ISABELLA HARVEY

My MoMo 54

SOREN DYKSTRA

I Taste Like Meat 55

viii

ZOE CRENSHAW

Switch 56

MAX LISTON

He Tries to Be Cool 57

JAYLYNE GARCIA

(untitled) 58

MAXIMILIAN WHITE

Don’t Wake Me Up 58

HALIA CRUZ

Vamp Dog 59

JAMES BURRELL

Ode to Sharpies 60

KHOOBUN TARIN

Shell 61

TOLAN KIM

(untitled) 62

ATHENA SCHMELZER

Roller Skating 62

ANDY ASTITO

(untitled) 63

NEHA KARUNAKAR

Birds 64

ALISINA

(untitled) 65

HEER PATEL

(untitled) 66

PALUS AL NAWFALI

(untitled) 66

NARWAN TARIN

(untitled) 67

GRACE COWART

My Name is Todd 68

SAM JORGENSEN

Not for All of the Universe 69

KENNY TRUONG

A Dog Is Like. . . 69

DANIEL AYALA

Ode to Food 70

YUSRA TARIN

Wishes 71

MYA NORFOLK

My Pet Squid 72

ix

DANIELLE SIM

Dancing Fingers 73

ZOE JARA

My Ecuadorian Box 74

OMAR CHAN

(untitled) 75

JONATHAN CHAN

(untitled) 75

LENA JARA

I Love Black Licorice 76

ELLIE SPAIN

Fireflies 77

DALLIN BROWN-SMALLS

My Gorilla Grodd 78

BENJAMIN PETRENCSIK

Wood 79

SAYLOR HOLIDAY

My Crystal and The Universe 80

ELORA MARCHESE

I Want to Do Magic 81

JASPER HOLIDAY

Silver Owl, Silver Fish 82

NATALIE ELLIS

Bones 83

LILY LONG

The Toothpaste Factory 84

EMMA MANGEN

My Dog is Golden 85

EMILY AREND

I Am Disappointed 86

BRIELLE NIEMANN

My Caterpillar 87

SHANEEV PRIOLKAR

Hawk the Rock 88

HAZEL COWART

My Sister 89

JULIAN DIAZ

Soccer 90

SIENA PORCELLI

I Am the President

of the Toothbrush World 90

x

GWYNNETH SALAZAR

Her Name is Fluffy 91

JANE JONES

Hedgehog 92

AVERY HILL

Fit In 93

HANNAH FORSTHOEFEL

That’s Me! 94

JEDD LI

My Frog 95

JULIA CHAMBERS

Sleepless Night 96

CHEYENNE WOODCOCK

My Kitty 97

TABITHA COFF

If You Had a Cat 98

SAMARA KLEIN

My Mom 99

KYLEI PRIESTER

Stones Tell Secrets

to the Wildest Creatures 100

GABRIEL BETANCOURT

I Am 101

ALIAJAH GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT

Friends 102

LAYLA IDOUI

I Am a Dolphin 103

EMILY HAYS

The Ground Screams 104

LAUREN OGLE

Offering Nothing 105

ISABELLA ZHANG

My Nightmares 106

IBTISAM ABDULLAH

Rooftop Toys 107

ROY PERLEBERG

Electric Guitar 108

FAITH HUNTINGTON

Mema 109

BUSHRA ABDADULLA

Three Chickens 110

xi

EVA TRUJILLO

My Our Generation Doll Jackie 111

BLUE GALUSHO A Curse 112

CAROLINE SIMS

Grandpa 113

HANNAH SMITH

The Eagle’s Call 114

SOPHIA VALENTI

Like a Palm Tree 115

AVA VALENTI

In the Heart of the Violin 116

LUCIA BETANCOURT

I Am a White Puppy 117

BELLA VILLARIN

My Mom is the Reason 118

MAXWELL BIGBEE

My Friend Marten 119

THÉRÈSE VILLARIN

In the Heart of the Drum 120

SEAN NIEHANS

Dragons 120

SOFIA MAGGIONE

Avery Writes Notes to Me 121

ELSA HAYS

Driving to the E.R. 122

EZEKIEL SEPULVEDA

I Am Necrozma 123

ANDRES GUADARRAMA

Pool Waterslide 124

CAMILA BETANCOURT

New Shoes 125

AFTERWARD 126

GRATITUDE 127

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 128

CREDITS 129

xii

EEDDIITTOORR''SS NNOOTTEE

y first poem appeared in a tiny handmade book, held together by staples.

Everyone in my K-8 school in Rainbow, California had a poem in it. Mrs. S that's what we all called her came in to teach us extra things, like stars, music, dinosaurs, and taught us what a poem was. She helped us write the poems, then collected all of them.

Sitting in that class, searching my own feelings, felt different than memorizing facts about Christopher Columbus. This was my story. These were my thoughts. For the first time, I felt that my own experience how I fit into the world

was important.

I still have those books we made, published with kids who went on to become lawyers, doctors, teachers, builders, designers even a florist. I stuck with poetry. I like to think that even though all of us now have different jobs, the poetry we wrote back then helped us with our careers and our lives. At our small wooden desks, with two fans humming and sun reflecting off house windows across the street, we sat with our own thoughts and found a way to express ourselves through poetry.

I have wanted to be a Mrs. S my entire life. Thanks to the workshop facilitators, the parents and the librarians for giving me the chance to create this book. Special thanks to the poets the kids whose words, images, feelings and hearts fill these pages. I hope this book will help you understand how you can explore the world and your own feelings through poetry.

RAE ROSE

M

TTHHEE PPOOEEMMSS

2

3

JESHUAH DE LA TORRE 11

When I Write

When I write, sometimes I think of nothing. When I write, I think of happiness. Writing doesn’t have to be perfect. It has to be from the heart.

4

KINGSTON DAXIMILLION 10

An Albino tiger dived onto ocean floor and

swam into depth. The tiger is white and black in the

blue he ate his dinner and his wish came

true. WEYLAN GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT

7

Tiger

I am a tiger. Tigers are strong and brave. Tigers live in the mountains. They are the only cat that swims in the water. I swim in the Trinity River. Tiger is my spirit animal.

5

SAGE SEYMOUR 7

Star Jasmines

Jasmines dazzling and Glittering in the sunlight, Pear white beautiful jasmine everyone that sees the jasmine says “oh” and “ah.” The jasmine are so beautiful all the people say. My little brother says they also smell really good. They go rustle, rustle in the wind. I love jasmines.

6

AMELIE BOELKE 8

In the Forest

I am walking in the forest with my Daddy. I feel like we’re being watched.

Aahhhh! It’s a bear!

I see a house. I grab Daddy’s hand and yank him in and lock the door.

I look down. My dress is muddy and ripped. I tell my Daddy the story. We peek outside. The bear’s gone.

We finish our “interrupted” walk. It was a wonderful day, and now I have a story to tell my brother.

7

AVAURA GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT 10

Wolves

Wolves can be soft but they can be really cold. They are awesome to see in the forest but they can be dangerous. They can look like dogs but they are not the same as dogs. They live in a pack, as the years go by their pack grows bigger and stronger. That’s why I love them.

8

HADLEY DAHL 9

I Am an Elevator

It’s not as easy as it looks. Every day is a wrestling match. My match is 10 people stomping and kicking and pushing me endlessly. I run floor to floor for them and they still stomp and kick and push buttons endlessly. Mom was right. I should have been a refrigerator.

9

ZARA GRIFFIS 8

The Party

I’m the little white rabbit sitting on the gig.

I am watching the little girl

feeling sad about her party

going wrong. She sits on the broken

chair. With chairs hanging

down from the ceiling top.

I’m watching her drip, drip, drip, on her face as she cries.

A cake is going to fall and a candle in the corner is about to burn the house.

Right there I am sitting, there watching her.

Drip, drip, drip.

10

KAVI ZAVERI-TAVB 8

The Golden Rock

I walk in the silent meadows looking around. I spot a golden rock, with curvy, golden lumps wrapped in a silky, red cloth. Next to it is a stone that says how it came here. This is what it said:

1782 Once in the village of Sumbar there lived two hunters who wanted to go hunting. At the time East and West were at war. One day they found a golden rock, they picked it up then there was a cloud of

dust, the rock fell out of his hand and they never found the rock again.

They realized it was valuable. So they donated it to the Nat Museum.

11

MILES FLYNN 7

The Impatient Reindeer

I’m stranded on an island, I forget how I got here. It is now the third day

and me and my reindeer friends are almost starving.

We’ve lived on grass coconuts for a while now,

until these two ugly guys who looked quite afraid,

came to the rescue and dragged us ashore.

12

NATHANIEL SEPULVEDA 12

I Am a Bird

soaring in the sky. It is early. I am looking for food.

I’m an element, water, air, rock, mineral.

I am a star in the late, dark sky. I am shining over houses, people, animals, plants and oceans.

I’m a butterfly stretching my colorful wings. It is early in the day and I am looking for nectar.

I’m a house under the night. I’m big, and two stories high. A family lives in me.

13

LILA SALATKA 10

As If Someone Were There

She sits there on her little striped chair looking at the wall, as if someone were there. She glances at me, her mirror while I hang on the wall looking up and down, since I’m very tall. She looks at her reflection blue skin aglow looking like a river through the riverbed. She seems to flow. Black fish swim in the flickering light She looks back at her wall. Somehow seeing something looking very gloomily as it someone were there.

14

MAX CHEN 10

The Idiot Egg

There I am sitting all year, I am a house with an idiot near. I am a house to an idiot egg, and everyone here calls him Meg. First comes Thanksgiving, he is a feaster. All of a sudden, it is Easter. Brothers and sisters they are so smart, but poor Meg’s brain, was made of (fff)-art.

15

OPHIE CHEN 8

My First Fall

I picked up a leaf. A reddish-brownish leaf. Crunch! I crumpled it. I felt a cool, icy wind blow the bits of leaf away. I looked at our cabin. I looked at the tree that did not really have leaves at all. I peeked into the cabin. It looked warm. I looked to my left. Yay! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! I jumped into the leaf pile. Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! (okay, that was my hand.) Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! I made a leaf angel. Foof! Foof! Foof! The wind blew again. Crumple. Crumple. Crumple. Crack! Crack! Crack! Hop. Hop. Hop. I saw a bird. I sniffed the air. It felt fluffy. I ran inside. I saw hot chocolate! It tasted sweet. It tasted chocolatey. That day was. . . fun! Do you think it sounds fun?

16

VINCENT MONICO 10

Normal Elf Day with a Rabbit

The blue sky is up high. Elves down low are playing with a rabbit.

While other rabbits are watching them play, the elves are riding the rabbit. It is running around the meadow.

The sun is bright, shining down at the meadow.

The elves had so much fun, but it is time to go eat dinner. They say bye, and hope to see each other tomorrow at the meadow.

17

KAYLEIGH SIM 12

Dreams

When you close your eyes I come alive. I am an invisible storyteller, forever hidden, anonymous. Sometimes I haunt you with scenes of horror. Sometimes I warn you with visions of the future. Sometimes I tempt you with your deepest desires. Sometimes I taunt you with thoughts of happiness. I can go on forever, but when you open your eyes, I fade away.

18

ELENA MONICO 9

The Secret Garden

Blue for the sky that never dies. Red for the flowers that bloom for hours. In this picture I see so many colors. Green for the bushes, and Green for the trees. The path here is Tan and so are some leaves. So many colors for so many flowers.

Orange, Red, Yellow, White and Purple too. There is also Pink on the cherry blossom tree. As I slowly walk away from the beautiful flowers, I take one more sniff and walk away and follow the rest of the path. Goodbye, my shimmering garden!

19

FIONA SALATKA 8

The Mountains

I walked out onto a field in the distance on a mountain. I see a dark, brown bear. There were two mountains. In between the mountains there was a beautiful lake with sparkling, shiny, sunlight shimmering on the surface. Then I saw the bear getting up on it’s hind legs, growling. Then I realized maybe 250 yards away there was a baby bear cub. That was what the mother bear was growling about, that the baby bear could not climb the mountain. So I picked up the baby bear and climbed up the beautiful green mountain with squirrels and orange trees. Then I kept climbing the mountain as I handed the baby bear to the mom I kissed the baby’s head and it fell asleep.

20

INDIGO CRAIG 10

The Photo Shoot

Here I was at the photoshoot getting ready to take a photo.

Then I see who I am taking the photo of, it is a veteran and his baby daughter.

She is wearing a pink shirt and khaki pants. The father looks about the same, but with a khaki shirt and a camouflage hat.

There is something different, he has a false leg. They both look into the camera and are happy to be together.

Click. Flash.

21

AILEEN GONZALES 10

And Somebody Now Is Walking

And somebody now is walking silently past. Snakes crawl up through the floorboard cracks. The argument about the universe starts again. It’s not easy turning into smoke or a swimming pool full of brown leaves. I stare at a single branch all afternoon, The cat lies down like a sack of diamonds at your feet, trying to make you feel special.

22

STELLA LIEBERMAN

Not For a Ride on a Unicorn (After Charles Bernstein)

Not for all the jewelry in the world Not for all the horses on the ranch Not for every cobweb in the attic

Not if you gave me the power of the world Not if you gave me every single rose in the garden Not if you paid me with gold Not if you paid me with the ocean

Not for every s’more Not for every color Not for every star on the American flag And definitely not for every dust bunny under the rug

23

ALYSE GOAN 12

All of It Gone

My favorite tree. The beach. The neighborhood that gave the most candy on Halloween.

All of it gone when we moved to Mississippi.

But I was unaware, as we moved, a new life began!

24

SAFIYAH SALAMA 10

I Was So Dead

I was so dead as I climbed up the squeaky staircase.

I was so done as I silently crept away from my soon doom.

I was so finished as I reached her gaze and she walked towards me.

I was so scared as she raised her hand and opened her mouth.

I was so in trouble.

25

ROWAN GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT 8

A flying dog, an invisible boy and a talking cat. All these things are cool. I love my mom and dad and me. I’m good, too. I love to play. Playing is fun, but not as fun as life.

COLVIN DAVIS 8

The Wind

The wind is calm calm as the summer breeze the wind is smooth smooth as the clouds in the sky The wind is strong strong as a big red monster The wind can do many things.

26

SASHA MARTIN 8

The Park Ranger’s Plight or Mission Complete

A park ranger stood right next to the red roses. He stood there to guard the roses, but then a red bed and head appeared. The ranger called 911 to send the police, hospital and firefighters. They came to see what happened.

“Looks like you are the thief, huh?” said the police. “No!” said the ranger. He looked around, “look a brown gown!” “Hold your horses kiddo!” “What? Who are you?” “I’m Ghon” a deer said. What?

“So you’re a deer?” said the doctor. “Not just any deer. An engineer Deer!” “Oh” said the doctor.

Stop. . .

“Then you can build a way to find how, and why did the red bed and the ” “Hold your horses, kiddo,” said the ghony deer. “I'm not a kid!!!” said the ranger, “but. . .I did invent something interesting, something incredible. It is a tractor named Ghony Deer.” “OK cool, but what is the brown gown, the red bed, and head?” said the Ranger. “Oh those are my stuff.” said the deer. OK then, Mission Complete!

27

ANNE KELLEY 10

I Want to Cross the Street

without feeling guilty, but after what I’ve done there is no escaping my heavy heart. Perhaps there is a way out, there is a silver lining. So I have gathered up all the missing pieces and am waiting for dawn the way a cat waits for a mouse because I want a second chance. A chance to live again.

28

KIMBERLY DELGADO 12

Not for All the Gems of the World (After Charles Bernstein)

Not for all the shoes at the store Not for all the tears in the basement Not for a million trips to Mexico

Not if you paid me in diamonds Not if you paid me in money Not if you paid me in pearls Not if you give me your gems

Not for all the blue in the sky Not for all the tears of the ocean Not for an empire of my own Not even for a piece of mind

29

MAX MENDIOLA 11

As the Snakes Crawl Up Hissing

and glowing in the heat, the argument about the Universe starts again. While they bicker and fight I gather up all my missing pieces and wait for dawn as galaxies expand behind our eyes. I stare at a single branch. I don’t want my soul to explode because when I’m in pain, it seems everyone else is, too.

30

JEREMIAH RATNADURAI 12

I Was So Sleepy

that the world seemed asleep. Eyelids were closed and wrinkled.

The world had no light. I saw you, though.

No darkness can hold you. You are too strong. Always believe in yourself.

31

MARISSA MENDIOLA 9

Not for All the People in the World (After Charles Bernstein)

Not for all the annoying boys in my house Not for all the trash Not if you made me a million dollars Not if you give your life Not for all the green chairs in this room Not for all the peace in the world Not even for you

32

LISSETT MCMAHON 10

Forest

I lay on a swing and see a bird fly. I walk along a path and see a deer run like a cheetah. It jumps and skips over the dogs and leaves. I smell the sweet green pine trees swaying through the wind. I brush my hand on the rough tree trunks. The forest is a place of adventure and a place that I love.

33

KIERAN NIEHANS 8

I Am Thor

The giants steal my hammer. Thrym and son of Thrym are destroyed. I protect Midgard from the giants invading. I cannot read sign language, so I don’t know what Hearthstone is saying.

I lose my hammer all the time, but I get it back. Plus, I have my iron staff.

On my knuckles is the name of my son.

34

ASHTON COCHRUN 10

It’s Alive! (The Story of Frankenstein)

I grew up so lonely that I made my own friend. I gave him my name. He made friends with the dead!

Walking all night he strode down the halls in search of his master.

35

VALERIA GARROFE 8

She Has Blonde Hair

She has blonde hair and she wears dresses with high heels and once or twice wore lipstick light red because it was a special day

36

SAIGE FINLAN 10

Supergirlygamer

Supergirlygamer as awesome as can be. She always finds room in her heart for another person in the family tree. She loves her cat and like a bird loves to fly. She fights hard but always dies. She doesn’t like survival because she likes to fly.

37

LUCELLA JORGENSEN 8

My Grandparents

My Grandparents loved me but now it’s all over. We’d go out together and see the big clover. We’d have good times together, they never had a chance to meet my sisters. I wish I could bring them back forever.

38

RYAH ESPINOZA 12

I Remember I Don’t Remember

I remember when I was two years old, I lived with my grandparents, in Orange County. I wanted to rip the foil, and I ended up cutting myself, and my dad put me on his lap and put on the theme song to The Polar Express to make me feel better. And it worked!

I don’t remember having a crush on one of the characters from the show, Elmo, Mr. Noodle. Apparently I did, or my mom thought I did. But I was two!

I don’t remember throwing a fit while my parents were in Mexico. They went to a party, and I was driving away with my grandparents, apparently I was screaming, crying. . .

I do remember that it was smelly. It being a dead dolphin, washed up on the shore of The Sea of Cortez.

39

GEORGE BURRELL 9

Ode to Letter E

E is the most used vowel. (Take that as a fact.) Never-ending E, used for everything in every word, and as the cowboys say, “Yee-haw!” E, a wonderful sound, E, E, E, E! It’s the big cheese! Achoo! Sneeze! Superfast; zing! E, E, E, E! Eat your peas! (My mom says that.)

E is my Everything.

40

ARIANNA LARIOS 7

Ode to Polar Bears

Dear Mr. Polar Bear,

You are soft, cute, cool, white, warm, fluffy.

You eat fish. I don’t eat fish.

You are a good swimmer. So am I.

JAMES KELLEY 12

I Was So Cold (After Charles Simic)

when I arrived at our cellar. I jumped into the line to be the bait for the mouse trap. When it was my turn, I got a mouse. I walked to my mother and began sewing my mouse a fur coat.

41

LEELA ZAVERI-TAVB 9

Grandma’s House

I walk, slowly, step by step across the silky grass of Ethiopia, the blazing sun beaming onto my back, the only sound around is the sound of bees buzzing and the hush of the soft, warm breeze.

I am walking to my grandmother’s house, a house miles away from any other house. She had always dreamed of living in a peaceful, lonely, place, for she had never really enjoyed the mumbo-jumbo her neighbors would always be buzzing around.

Anyway, I’m happy now that she is happy, so I’m crawling across a flat, grassy plain with little daisies sprouting up here and there, giving the plain, green, grassy land some pop, to go visit her.

42

PARSA BASHASH 12

Skateboard

The skateboard is the thing that rides you down the street. It’s the only thing that is good in the skate park. The skateboard is the reason why people don’t go blind from their iPhone.

43

MELODY MUNOZ 7

My Father Looks Like a Tall Guy

My dad is the most special person to me. He is as tall as a medium sized tree. He teaches me a lot of stuff like sports, softball, math, and how to ride my bike. He is nice and walks the dog. My dad is a hero to me, but a normal person to other people. My dad is special to me because he loves me and he is my dad. I love my dad.

44

ANABEL DIAZ 10

Me

I am as lucky as a four-leaf clover. I’m 10 years old and I have a lot of dreams. I like reading comics. I want to be a professional swimmer. I have one brother. I have 5 pets, 3 crazy chickens, one lovely rabbit and one lazy turtle. I really like my life and who I am.

45

JOVANI GUADARRAMA 6

I Am the Rhode Island Red Chicken I hide at night, come back in the morning. I have a friend, and she died. Someone ate her body and drank her blood. Sometimes I need help. Another chicken, her eyes were jammed up. I eat watermelons and leftovers. I eat rocks and start to choke.

RYAH ESPINOSA 12

Ode to Paper

Easily influenced, white as snow white nose in moonlight.

The best camera, an artist’s best friend, like a sponge it absorbs color.

46

RUBY GRACE WINTER 7

Loud and Quiet

some things can be loud some things can be quiet some things can be dramatic the drum is loud the book is silent I am dramatic I am quiet when I talk I am loud when I sing

47

LAYNE WINTER 5

Fun

I play nice with boys and girls and dogs and frogs and logs.

48

PRIYA STONE 4

Bye Bye Montessori School Bye Bye Japanese School I will miss you, will you miss me? Yes I will!

ANAIAH DE LA TORRE 6

When I Write

Some people try to help me because I still can’t do it on my own.

But I know the words I want to say, I just can’t write them down on paper. My mind is full of words! So so many words!

49

CRISTIAN MOUET 6

When I cross the street, I look to the right and left. When there is nobody coming I cross the street and get to the other side. Next time I will look to the left then the right. The end.

CASSIDY SCHMELZER 7

I Am a Book

Read me. I could say anything. I am a book. I will tell a story. A happy story, or a sad story – or much more.

50

MATS DYKSTRA 8

Special Things

My special things are like heaven to me. Think, think of beautiful waterfalls by the special trees of the Heavens, by the beautiful lakes of spirits. It’s special to me and to you. When you get to the mountains of creation you will think of the world a different way. I love the world that you and I fight for, that you and I love together.

51

KATE FOSTER 9

My Ventriloquist Puppet

wears a leather jacket. It is blue with pink eyelids and brown, wavy hair. It fits on my hand. It lived in a whale’s blowhole until I ordered it online. Its best friend is my lamp and it believes in unicorns. It hula-hoops. It eats french fries – all day.

52

JAMES 10

Ode to Pandas

Pandas,

I love how they eat, sleep, and do whatever they want without a care in the world.

They take things at their own pace.

53

ASTER MCQUEEN 9

My Stuffed Animal Bunny

He has glass eyes, a small tail, two small floppy ears, two broken feet. He is white, light brown and dark brown. His name is Big Bunny and his head is floppy. He only eats carrots in outer space, and I wish he wouldn’t. He’s married to a bow. He reads Harry Potter. He lives with Lord Voldermort and he is evil. He hates everyone.

54

ISABELLA HARVEY 9

My MoMo

Her hair is darker than mine. She tells stories, is kind, loving and sweet. She hates caramel. She takes me to the fair. I’m always laughing. Her birthday is August 14th. She is so pretty. I love my mom.

55

SOREN DYKSTRA 6

I Taste Like Meat

I taste like meat. I ride animals. I am like a spider. I like rhinos. I can crawl. I am good at what I do.

56

ZOE CRENSHAW 7

Switch

My dog Switch is a German shepherd. Soft, kind, he makes me happy. He likes going on walks and makes me laugh when he licks me. He smells like waffles. It’s true! I don’t know why, but he really smells like waffles!

57

MAX LISTON 8

He Tries to Be Cool

There is this kid named Chuck. I do not like him. He is not nice. He tries to not get in trouble, but he pushes and shoves. He says all the girls like him and he has a Mohawk. He tries to be cool, but he fails.

58

JAYLYNE GARCIA 8

Wall, wall, how are you so tall, tall, tall, how did you turn so tall?

Bird, bird in a tree. The bird went tweet, tweet, tweet.

MAXIMILIAN WHITE 6

Don’t Wake Me Up

It feels like getting touched by a ghost. I like my cozy bed. It’s a bunk bed. Sometimes I jump off it. I like waking up on my own. Don’t interrupt my dreams.

59

HALIA CRUZ 8

Vamp Dog

I have a puppy named Rue. He is a brindle and he smells like grass. He used to live with a vampire named Batbreath. His mother was a science experiment. Rue’s father is from Pluto and is blue and green. Rue’s mother is a brindle and has a bat mark on her ear. Rue likes to hang with Crookshanks and Peter Pettigrew. But Rue is on the good side and his favorite food is tomatoes. He sneaks in with Crookshanks and has a cracker. It is very crazy at my house.

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JAMES BURRELL 9

Ode to Sharpies

Sharpies, the number one, lying down, in the sun, drying out, running ink, very soon, they will stink.

Sharpies beat the pencil, (the pencil’s number two), all the pencils will say, “Boo-hoo!”

All the colors of the rainbow, maybe others too, will sing their praises and sing out loudly like other Sharpies do.

It is soft like a lamb, never like a rock, (and sometimes smells like a very stinky sock).

The Sharpies’ brother, Ultra Soft, has taken all the fame, but someday Ultra Soft will go in very shame.

Sharpies, they’re my building blocks, like stones and wooden hammers, they like to help me, like little salamanders.

Sharpies, they’re my everything, I love them very much, soon, they will be in a soda-punch.

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KHOOBUN TARIN 9

Shell

Hear the ocean. Hear the ocean from a shell outside my window. The sound I hear makes me happy. It sounds like the waves are whistling to me.

62

TOLAN KIM 9

You are as lovely as nothing bad. Nice as chocolate mousse. you are evil as a pineapple: you look like a doorstop, you taste very very bland. You taste like a clean toilet – which is not that bad.

ATHENA SCHMELZER 8

Roller Skating

Gliding across the sidewalk things start to blur. They turn into colorful passing blobs. I can feel the air whooshing past my wheels.

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ANDY ASTITO 9

I'm angry and don't know how to relax. I open the window and breathe in and out and relax because some of the anger goes out and I might feel better.

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NEHA KARUNAKAR 8.5

Birds

Weird sizes, weird colors. Some are red, blue, light pink, or black. Small or large, every bird hunts for worms, butterflies, or slugs. They work for themselves or their baby chicks. Their nests make great homes for them. If I was a bird, I would be a hummingbird.

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ALISINA 10

I only have one window to see out of but days go by with nothing but blue sky One day I heard and eagle: eeh! eeh! eeh! He sat on the window ledge and pecked at the pane. He seemed to know my name, calling, Alisina! Alisina – come fly with me.

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HEER PATEL 6

I want to put a crystal outside. You can wear a flower necklace. You can ask the turkey, can I take your feather?

PALUS AL NAWFALI 7

I'm playing a video game – Legos. Someone is at my door. It's not a tiger, not a puppy. It's not my Dad. I call my Dad. He loves me. My Dad opens the door.

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NARWAN TARIN 6

I keep my window shut. I see birds, flowers, trees, sun, animals. They are so happy. I am happy too. I feel good when I watch them. They are so cute.

I go outside. I feel so good when I play with them. I love them.

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GRACE COWART 9

My Name is Todd

I am 20 feet tall. I am 2,000 years old but a witch cursed me to look like I’m nine. I was married to Albert Einstein, Luigi, Justin Bieber and a Brussels sprout. I enjoyed the Brussels sprout the most. He had great stories to tell. I’ve had a Pomeranian named Boo and a cat called Grumpy Cat. My BFF is Pikachu, Bill Nye is my dad and Taylor Swift is my mom. I was born on Saturn’s rings. I am psychic. My archenemy is a giant cake.

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SAM JORGENSEN 10

Not for All of the Universe (After Charles Bernstein)

Not for a glowing monkey Not for a cheese burger Not for all the fish in the sea Not for a billion dollars Not if you gave me your mansion Not even for a hot dog

KENNY TRUONG 9

A Dog Is Like. . .

Dogs have great hearing. They have a good sense of smell and they can run fast and bark at people. Dogs know.

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DANIEL AYALA 10

Ode to Food

Oh food! Delicious pizza pies! Oh! The delicate white cheddar popcorn! Look at the frosting on that drumstick! That ice cream! Oh my! Oh my!

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YUSRA TARIN 8

Wishes

She hears the wind. Who hears the wind? A princess appears. She has a fish. The fish disappears because he ate a potion. The princess cries: her best friend is gone.

A magic mineral grants her three wishes. Her first wish was to get her friend back. He came back. The princess was so happy. Her second wish was to have some money. Her third wish was that her friend could not disappear anymore.

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MYA NORFOLK 11

My Pet Squid

His name is Fred. He likes being in his coral bed. He had a pet fish named Ted, but now. . . Ted is dead. Fred makes a wish for food – not fish! Fred likes a squid named Tilly. She is silly. Anyway, my best friend can mend. He tends to a problem. He is my squid. He is Fred.

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DANIELLE SIM 12

Dancing Fingers

My fingers dance across the black and white keys that live together harmoniously. My fingers flutter gracefully through the sounds of joy and sadness pirouetting, twirling, leaping here and there. My eyes can see the story it tells of adventure and love full of deep meaning and emotion. Forever flowing, a never-ending song, of a beautiful world on my fingertips.

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ZOE JARA 10

My Ecuadorian Box

Ever since my great-grandmother had handcrafted this amazing box from Ecuador, it has been passed down from generation to generation. Now I have it. I’m a creative and adventurous 10-year-old girl who has nothing to do with it but stare. Ever since it was in my possession it has given me and my family great fortune – but everyone knows fortune is never free. It stops me from having more than one personality, like a bird trapped in a cage. I can’t be anything but who I am, and I have already told you that I am very adventurous. Is this Ecuadorian box worth the price?

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OMAR CHAN 6

I see a black spider pinching my neighbor who smashed it with his shoe. He stopped crying when I gave him a popsicle. Then I knew how important it was to open a window to help a friend.

JONATHAN CHAN 8

In my world I will open my window for a big dog and a skeleton, nice friends, small brothers. And then the air blew everyone away and I never saw them again.

He saw a bright light.

76

LENA JARA 8

I Love Black Licorice

I hate Super Mario Brothers. I have 300,000 dogs. I love sushi. I’m not going to Ecuador. I have no friends. I don’t have a sibling. My eyes are made out of gummy bears. I hate Legos. I married Jack Sparrow, he called me his lass. My name is Captain Underpants. I am a ghost.

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ELLIE SPAIN 8

Fireflies

Fireflies go off and on, flashing lights while they fly in the dark night in July. I try to catch them in my hands.

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DALLIN BROWN-SMALLS 11

My Gorilla Grodd

My gorilla lives in a volcano in the middle of the ocean. He doesn’t like humans and he eats beef ribs all day. He has a steaming hot indestructible lava bed, he plays Marvel Disney Infinity and when humans come he kicks them all the way to Pluto or smashes them with lava until they disintegrate to death! His name is GRODD!

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BENJAMIN PETRENCSIK 9

Wood

From the past to the present from the rulers to the peasants it is wood From the rich to the poor from the castles through the doors it is always wood From the dungeons to the street from the spears to the heat every time it is wood

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SAYLOR HOLIDAY 10

My Crystal and The Universe

Since the beginning of time, my crystal watched over the whole universe. But because he was stubborn, he wouldn’t let humans live. One day, his children, the planets, decided to rebel against him. They called my rock’s enemy, the sun, to help them out. The sun told them to get one of his rays and feed it to my crystal, whose name is Carl, in the form of his favorite food – deep-fried, chocolate covered worms. They fed him the dish and he let out all of his power. Immediately he turned into a regular crystal and humans came to life. He fell on my roof where I found him. He now lives in my room in peace, but when I’m gone he makes a big mess.

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ELORA MARCHESE 8

I Want to Do Magic

Magic sounds like bells. It looks like sparkles. Magic smells like cinnamon. I want to do magic. I wish I could do magic. If I could do magic, I would fly.

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JASPER HOLIDAY 7

Silver Owl, Silver Fish

The owl is r0ugh. Sparkles. A clip on the bottom. Smooth eyes. Cardboard flower lashes.

My fish is silver with a stripe. It grew legs. It likes to kill people and it is in France and killed all the people in France!

And – it’s now in San Diego!

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NATALIE ELLIS 11

Bones

He eats practically everything, but waits for me by the door. He looks seriously depressed when I leave. I play with him all the time and he loves when I pet him. He seems loud at first, since he barks at everyone, but he is actually pretty nice. He is a Chiweenie dog, which is a Chihuahua Dachshund mix. He makes me extremely happy.

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LILY LONG 8

The Toothpaste Factory

My bed used to work in the tooth paste factory. One day the robot (which used to be my bed) was working and he didn't aim at the right spot so all the toothpaste shot out at him, into his unprotected gears, so he malfunctioned, and the workers had to take out it's gears, and to do that, they had to disassemble the entire robot, and thought there was no point in putting it back together, lest the robot malfunction again, so they turned the wood into a bed. However, they did not notice that the bottom frame of the bed was broken (lame) so as a result, I once fell into it (those last two things are true facts).

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EMMA MANGEN 11

My Dog is Golden

He makes me happy. He waits by the door. What is he waiting for? I play with him, he plays with me. At night he kisses my face. He lies at my feet and never leaves. He is Sadie. My dog is golden.

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EMILY AREND 11

I Am Disappointed

Because my juice box has perished. It’s lonely Empty Pleading to not be doomed to the can of filth and stench Just because we have sucked the joy out of it. The flavorful joy of juice from picking the ripe fruit to the squeezing to the emptying into the box. And now it pleads to not be banished to the stench can Oh the dreaded name! The trash.

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BRIELLE NIEMANN 7

My Caterpillar

Yellow, black, white. I was working on a patio cover with Grampy and Dad. We saw a butterfly lay eggs and Mommy came home with lunch. The next day I came home from school and found eggs! One was black. The next day I saw it! One of them hatched!

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SHANEEV PRIOLKAR 7

Hawk the Rock

I am Hawk the Rock, who you can not lock. I will make you mock. With my easy to peck beak I eat mice and other rodents that make my feathers strong. I will not let you do anything wrong and that is what makes me strong.

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HAZEL COWART 6

My Sister

I love my sister. She makes me feel happy. She smells like lemon ice cream.

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JULIAN DIAZ 8

Soccer

It looks like fun. It sounds like a ball hitting a net. It smells like magic. Soccer is like playing catch with a ball going back and forth.

SIENA PORCELLI 7

I Am the President of the Toothbrush World

I am the tallest person in the world. 100 feet tall! I have six eyes. I live in a shoe and drink pink lemonade. I ate a juice box, kissed the wall, and married the garbage.

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GWYNNETH SALAZAR 8

Her Name is Fluffy

My bear is pink as people blushing and purple as grapes. She is soft as a pillow and makes me feel like I’m in Heaven. When I hug her I feel happy and joyful. She loves to eat pink and purple lollypops and lives in Candy Land. She is scared of Big Mommy The Bear.

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JANE JONES 6

Hedgehog

My hedgehog is a poky ball of spines. Brown and white, it holds a strawberry in its little two hands. It makes squeaky sounds. When I’m at school, it gets me into a lot of trouble. Every time I go away it gets into everything. That is who messes up my room.

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AVERY HILL 11

Fit In

The star walks down a crowded avenue. Blond hair on the browns, blue eyes on the grays, standing out thought she just wants to fit in.

The star goes to the pharmacy. Dark grey contacts to hide her sky bright eyes ashy brown dye to cover her sunny glowing hair. Changing myself to fit in, she thought, is the only way.

Who used to be the star walks down the avenue. No more sky-eyes, no more blonde hair. Just like everyone else. But her inside glow is so strong, you can almost see it.

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HANNAH FORSTHOEFEL 9

That’s Me!

That’s me! Yes! You’re correct! All of that is true! I live on Pluto and I know how to sew! I have a dinosaur called Drogo and for some reason he does not understand the word “No!” My bestie is Tulip, she is a cow and she is probably eating grass right now! I am married to a jellyfish – that was my biggest wish! Clocks are my favorite dish! No! I’m not lying! I’m sure! And besides, I can never tell a lie. . .

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JEDD LI 7

My Frog

My devil frog leaned against that tree, contemplating and resting.

His sleepy eyes were closed, sitting very still so he would not jolt his three broken feet.

Sitting so still, his grass green body seemed to be part of the grassy ground.

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JULIA CHAMBERS 9

Sleepless Night

He was traveling on a rail of rainbow, but stopped at the sunlight low all the cats he met on his journey appeared while Durango catered, all on that sleepless night. But when Kona ate that soggy burrito and made a mess on the tortio they started to sing and dance in a ring all on that sleepless night.

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CHEYENNE WOODCOCK 6

My Kitty

I know a kitty that goes to Candy Land. She climbs on candy ropes. She makes a house out of candy. She is scared of a monster whose name is Angry! She’s allergic to peanut butter. My kitty’s name is Sparkles. She eats three cakes in one day

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TABITHA COFF 7

If You Had a Cat

I love my cats. My cats are so so soft. They smell sweet. I love them so so much. Cats are like us! They like to play. If you had a cat, you would know how it is to have a cat!

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SAMARA KLEIN 6

My Mom

I love her. And whenever my dad makes her laugh she would laugh so lovely I would have to cover my ears. My dad makes her laugh when she burns the rice. She made a strawberry shortcake that was five layers. She has black hair and brownish eyes. She reads me stories before bed. She likes to play tag in the park with me.

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KYLEI PRIESTER 12

Stones Tell Secrets to the Wildest Creatures

that come from lands beyond. That swirl and whirl around your head forever on. They can teach you, or lead you to places nobody knows. These places go on forever with heroes and villains.

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GABRIEL BETANCOURT 10

I Am

I am a famous soccer player. I score goals with my eyes closed. I love the sound people make when they cheer. They sound like a thunder storm! The ball gives me strength and power. Sometimes I get lost but I always find a way to get back on track.

I am a computer. I give information, music, games, anything you wish. I love giving information, and I wait for a person to switch me on and get to work. When someone turns me off, I feel my little chip breaking.

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ALIAJAH GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT 11

Friends

My friends are rude. I deal with it. My friends are like leeches. They use you for your ideas. It feels like they don’t want me – they need me.

103

LAYLA IDOUI

I Am a Dolphin

I live in the Pacific ocean, where the reefs sway with the water as the gray dolphins jump for air and dive back down for a little snack I go back to my dolphin pod.

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EMILY HAYS 11

The Ground Screams:

I’m sore! People keep walking on my face, hands and knees. I tell them to stop and to walk on the grass but they seem to just walk passed. I know they hear me, I hear them everyday, and now I’m considering just crawling away.

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LAUREN OGLE 9

Offering Nothing

Offering nothing, nothing to spare, offering nothing, nothing but air.

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ISABELLA ZHANG 7

My Nightmares

My nightmares are the worst. It’s like I fall off a cliff and no one sees me. Then poof! my nightmare wakes me up. Vampire ghost. . . Ahahaha! I got lost. . . in a NiGhTmArE.

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IBTISAM ABDULLAH 7

Rooftop Toys

We have toys on top of the roof. They are playing with each other. There are four of them, and they talk like “dat-dat-dat.” They like the roof and are not afraid. We throw rocks at them. I don’t know if they like that.

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ROY PERLEBERG 9

Electric Guitar

In the heart of the electric guitar a loud sound has risen through the strings. A sound so loud.

There are lots of gods that rule the planet. They are the loud ones. They can make whatever sound they like.

There are only loud sounds on Electric Planet.

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FAITH HUNTINGTON 8

Mema

My Mema is a poet, and knows it. Her hair is nice and doesn’t have lice. She wears dresses and doesn’t make messes. She buys me books and Daddy gives her looks. She has a dog that hogs the couch. Tashi hates a wash.

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BUSHRA ABDADULLA 8

Three Chickens

I have three chickens, two are boys. They are cute, but they are afraid of new people. They are fast. The brown one is named Zac. The white one is named Roxy. The black one is named Jack. We feed them. We gave them a home.

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EVA TRUJILLO 8

My Our Generation Doll Jackie

I got my doll Jackie for my birthday when I was seven. She has dark brown curly hair, brown eyes and tan skin. The outfit she wears is a floral shirt, orange leggings, cow girl boots, a purple jacket and a necklace. She lives in Texas. Her favorite color is purple and her favorite animal is horses. She has a horse named Popcorn and enters lots of horse races. She has a friend named Reese, Reese has a horse named Gracie. Jackie loves her life.

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BLUE GALUSHO 9

A Curse

I should not have done it, I kept saying to myself. It was a storm in a bottle stuck on a shelf tugging and pulling it was even fooling a nightmare,

but I also think it is truthful. Running, hiding the soon dying. The last breath, I let go, and this is where it hits me I could have done so much more if it wasn’t for that evil, mean, ruthless, backstabbing curse. The last word, the deadline.

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CAROLINE SIMS 9

Grandpa

you are magical (in a way), and you are famous for your hamburgers. You are funny and you don’t even know it. I like when you start yelling for no reason. You work so hard (so leave him alone when he comes home) just to put a roof over our head.

Every time you see my Grandpa, he will make you happy. And that’s why my Grandpa is special.

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HANNAH SMITH 8

The Eagle’s Call

The flutes call is from the eagle’s call in the Rocky Mountains When you play the flute, the eagle flies high in the sky and calls The eagle flies high

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SOPHIA VALENTI 11

Like a Palm Tree

Leaves fall from the trees. Friends leave and go away. But the trunk remains, staying with the ground. Best friends. We’ve known each other forever

You the tree Me the ground.

Like a palm tree unbroken, you sway in the wind, fallen to the ground, the palm fronds lay.

The soil picks them up; they disappear

and new growth prevails.

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AVA VALENTI 9

In the Heart of the Violin

I imagine I am an eagle soaring through the sky, free as can be as the music flows off of the strings and into the world. In the heart of the violin violet dogs are chasing blue balls in space. In the heart of the violin green lobsters are running up a tree. In the heart of a the violin, anyone can do anything.

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LUCIA BETANCOURT 7

I Am a White Puppy

I was lost in the flower field. It was raining. I had no home or food. I was waiting for help. No one was there. But one day – I saw a family come by – I was so happy – they took me. They gave me food – and water. I loved my home – and playing with my kids – they are not getting big – and they still love me – one day we moved. I was in the car but I love my new home – and I will never move again.

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BELLA VILLARIN 11

My Mom is the Reason

My mom is the reason why I’m here today. Her homemade banana bread makes me feel like I’m on cloud nine. And when her spinach bread comes out of the oven, my mouth waters at the golden baked crust. I’ll always remember her short black hair and shining face, for she is my mother.

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MAXWELL BIGBEE 8

My Friend Marten

Marten always playing always happy, with curly hair and a computer.

Playing games with me and dice, too. Bringing food like chips and fruit.

Some games we play are Roblox and Hartston.

That’s my friend Marten. Hope you enjoyed.

PS: If Marten reads this, I will be very happy.

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THÉRÈSE VILLARIN 12

In the Heart of the Drum

it is like a seal doing tricks in the circus. It goes through the rings of fire and shows the audience how good the tricks are. The people are impressed that the seal can do the tricks on land and not the icy water where they belong.

SEAN NIEHANS 6.5

Dragons

Circling the green eggs chocolate wind ignites desire

falling on wings of thunder landing on grassy ground bravery pushes back arrow of death

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SOFIA MAGGIONE

Avery Writes Notes to Me

She has nice handwriting. Avery, do you like school? She colors things like snowmen nicely. She plays soccer with me. Avery, do you like coloring? We play patty cake and rock paper scissors. She has brown straight hair. She is one of my besties. Avery, I love you.

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ELSA HAYS 9

Driving to the E.R.

It was 11:00 p.m. and I was coughing like heck it was like I was dying in my bed cold and alone, then my dad came into my room and drove me to the hospital. They got a clip on my finger and listened to my blood pressure, then they put me in a hospital gown and listened to my heart beat and looked inside my ears and eyes. I can’t remember the whole thing, because it was four years ago, but I can still remember some of the stuff like a breathing treatment.

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EZEKIEL SEPULVEDA 10

I Am Necrozma

I am a made-up creature that so many believe in. I came to life. I soar through the sky, finding a hidden island called Incinium Island to find the jewel called The Dragon’s Eye. I wait until dawn and see a diamond shape portal in the sky. I jump right through to get to The Dragon’s Eye. To get the jewel you have to go through the mystic lakes to get to the forest of redwood, then cross Jagged Bridge to get The Dragon’s Eye.

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ANDRES GUADARRAMA 7

Pool Waterslide

We went to my aunt’s pool. She had a waterslide. I did a cannonball. When I jumped in it, it felt cold. I swam around and it got warmer. I went in the Jacuzzi and didn’t want to go back in the pool, but I did. I don’t need floaties. I played Marco Polo with my cousins but sometimes I get scared when my eyes are closed so I stick my hands out. We played Monkey in the Middle. The Jacuzzi has bubbles and when it mixes with the red light it looks like lava.

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CAMILA BETANCOURT 8

New Shoes

The Christmas I turned four I got new shoes. They were black with silver sparkles. I put the new shoes on and never took them off until the next day. From then on I wore those shoes until they didn’t fit me anymore. When they stopped fitting me I got used to these plastic heels that went click clock click clock.

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AAFFTTEERRWWAARRDD

his inaugural edition of the KIDS! San Diego Poetry Annual completes three years of planning and preparation. Over the summer of 2017, a dozen workshops were

conducted all hosted by public libraries. In addition to the branch librarians and library directors, special thanks go the staff members who worked directly with our facilitators to make this project possible:

MARIE TOWN [Oceanside], ANGIE STAVA [La Jolla/Riford], MARSHA

WEEKS [Carlsbad Georgina Cole], DAN WOOD [Escondido], BARBARA CHUNG [Carlsbad City (Dove)], CHRISTOPHER CURLEY [Poway], ORQUIDIA CONTRERAS [Vista], ELLENJOY WEBER [Coronado], STEVEN SCHIMMINGER [National City], STEPHEN

WHEELER [Mission Hills], MOLLIE LISOWSKY and KRISTIN WARD [El Cajon], JORDAN GATLIN [Pt Loma/Hervey].

Additional special thanks to: BILL HORN, District 5 Supervisor, and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for providing a grant that funded the Escondido workshop through the Community Enhancement Program Fund; FRIENDS OF THE OCEANSIDE LIBRARY for their gift in support of this program.

These grants and gifts, together with generous private donations from DANIEL PALASCIANO, SUZANNE O'CONNELL and GORDON

WILLIAMSON, and from families sponsoring our poets, helped make this annual a reality.

As an added bonus from our workshops, a video course is being developed for public elementary schools in our region, for the 2018-2019 school year.

The aim of the KIDS! San Diego Poetry Annual is to introduce the transformative power of poetry and The Arts to the lives of our youngest students preteens as a key element in a well-rounded education and as an important part of their development as insightful, empathetic and responsible citizens.

WILLIAM HARRY HARDING Publisher

Chair, San Diego Entertainment + Arts Guild (SDEAG)

T

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to our Workshop Facilitators:

ANTHONY BLACKSHER FRANCISCO J. BUSTOS

SONIA GUTIERREZ SERETTA MARTIN

JIM MORENO CLAUDIA POQUOC

KIM NORIEGA RAE ROSE

TERRY SPOHN to our Workshop Assistants:

JOEL BURKE VICTORIA GONZALEZ

BILL HARDING AMEERAH HOLLIDAY

LISA RATNAVIRA KIMI STRAIN

for the financial support of Grants and Donations:

DANIEL PALASCIANO SUZANNE O'CONNELL

SAN DIEGO COUNTY COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUND FRIENDS OF THE OCEANSIDE LIBRARY

GORDON WILLIAMSON

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AACCKKNNOOWWLLEEDDGGEEMMEENNTTSS

pecial thanks to these public libraries and their staff for hosting our free workshops.

Georgina Cole Library 1250 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 434-2872

Carlsbad City (Dove) Library 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92011 (760) 602-2047

Coronado Library 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-7390

El Cajon Library 201 E Douglas Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020 (619) 588-3718

Escondido Library 239 S Kalmia St, Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 839-4684

La Jolla/Riford Library 7555 Draper Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 552-1657

Mission Hills Library 925 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 692-4910

National City Library 1401 National City Blvd National City, CA 91950

(619) 470-5800

Oceanside Library 330 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 435-5600

Poway Library : 13137 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064 (858) 513-2900

Pt. Loma/Hervey Library 3701 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107 (619) 531-1539

Vista Library 700 Eucalyptus Ave, Vista, CA 92084 (760) 643-5100

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CCRREEDDIITTSS Cover Art MADELINE O’CARROLL (age 8)

Interior Art

artist page(s)

BRIELLE NIEMANN 5, 35 MYA NORFOLK 10, 18, 72, 105 NEHA KARUNAKAR 12 ALIYAH SALAMA 21 ZOE CRENSHAW 24, 118 MAX MENDIOLA 29 SIENNA 32, 100 DALLIN BROWN-SMALLS 38, 78 AZARI BROWN-SMALLS 42, 123 LAYNE WINTER 47, 87 GWYNNETH SALAZAR 51, 91 TABITHA COFF 54 MAX LISTON 57 MIA NORFOLK 59 LILY 61, 115 HALIA CRUZ 63 GRACE COWART 68 ALEXIS MENDIOLA 70 SAYLOR HOLIDAY 74, 80 LENA JARA 76 JASPER HOLIDAY 82, 102 EMMA MANGEN 85 HAZEL COWART 89 JEDD LI 95 AVAURA GRAINGER-MCKNIGHT 97 LILA CUGINI 98 COLVIN DAVIS 107 FAITH HUNTINGTON 109 KATE FOSTER 111 CAMILA BETANCOURT 125