Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Spring 2011
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Issue Seven Spring 2011
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 1
All Rights Reserved Copyright Š 2011 Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Petit Printing, Buffalo, NY ISSN: 2159-9599
2010-2011 Masthead Student Editorial Board (SEB)
Staff and Supporting Members
Brandi Alexander Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Ryan Weberling, Project Coordinator Juliana Burkhart, SEB Assistant Leo Nelson, SEB Assistant
Brazil McGee McKinley High School Chelsey Brown McKinley High School Chris Simmons East High School Corey Threet East High School Demetrius Hall Bennett High School Hector Tirado McKinley High School Nicole Rhynes Bennett High School Shawnay Parker Bennett High School Sierra Wilson McKinley High School Steven McDaniel McKinley High School
Steven Ansell, Layout and Graphic Design Dr. Mary Ellen Mulvey, Project Supervisor Laura Comstock, Administrative Assistant Siobhan Mulvey, Project Consultant Professor Courtney Grim, Art and Photography Consultant, Visual Arts Awards Committee Professor Mark Lavatelli, Art Consultant, Visual Awards Committee Professor Ted Pelton, Literary Awards Committee
Cover Artwork: Front: “Untitled (Bones)” by Veronica Hunt Grade 12, South Park High School
Teacher: Seana Root
Back: “SEB Calligraphy” by Alexander Harold Grade 12, Bennett High School
Teacher: Carol Cureo
CD: “Burma,” by Doh Moo
Grade 10, Burgard High School
Teacher: Nate Zappala
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 3
Acknowledgements Like with every issue of the journal, this year depended on a mesh of people and places. Medaille College again sponsored and hosted the journal—including both the Student Editorial Board and this year’s project coordinator—and many faculty and staff at the college contributed to the project. We are proud of how many people came together this year to support the students published in the book that you are now holding. Their voices, minds, and imaginations are all the stronger because of this support—and this, in turn, surely shapes and strengthens our communities, our city, and our world. The following teachers submitted work to this year’s issue. Other teachers also contributed to the project in one way or another, and many principals supported their efforts: Kathie Eizenger, Bennett High School Carol Cureo, Bennett High School Crystal Jackson, Bennett Park Montessori Judy Molik, Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts Nate Zappala, Burgard High School Jill Froebel, Burgard High School Cheryl St. George, City Honors School Marianne Burton, East High School Edie Syta, East High School Ashley Mehltretter, Frank A. Sedita Academy Diane Arnone, Frederick Law Olmsted School Renee Andrzejewski, Hillery Park Academy Ruth Robson, Hutchinson Technical High School
Craig Puffer, International Preparatory School at Grover Cleveland School Jane Van Deusen, Lafayette High School Melissa Meola Shanahan, Lafayette High School Barbara Russo, Leonardo Da Vinci High School Jackie Hart, McKinley High School Jo Ellen Harvey, McKinley High School John Raczynski, McKinley High School Bill Reed, Middle Early College High School Joanne Cannan, Riverside High School Erin Kaminski, Riverside High School Jan Abbarno, Riverside High School Rosemary Lyons, Riverside High School Seana Root, South Park High School
Thanks also to administrators for the Buffalo Public Schools: Michele Agosto, Supervisor of Curriculum in Art Education, for continuing to support the project; Julie Romain, Supervisor of English and Reading; Michael Cambria, Director of Libraries; and Mark Garcia, Director of Music. We are all also grateful to this year’s sponsors and other partners:
Major Sponsors: Medaille College Buffalo Public Schools
HSBC Bank USA WNY AmeriCorps, ABLE Program
Partners & Supporting Organizations: Architecture and Design Academy (ADA) at PS 198
International Prep Buffalo Arts Studio D’Youville College Deep Thinka Records/DTR Studios Grant Street Neighborhood Center Medaille College Humanities Dept. Medaille College Office of Admissions
Petit Printing PFLAG, Buffalo/Niagara Chapter Quadrangle (Canisius College’s art and literary journal) The Poetry Collection at UB Libraries Tops Friendly Markets WNY Service-Learning Coalition
A Word From the Project Coordinator After reading through previous issues of Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World last fall, I was excited at the thought of helping bring another issue of this journal into the world. The printed book, the CD, the Student Editorial Board, and everything else about the project reminded me of the opportunities I looked for and daydreamed about in my own high school years—but was never able to find. The fact that Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World is now releasing its seventh full-length issue since 2005 is a testament to the teachers, schools and colleges, volunteers, administrators, sponsors, and many other groups and individuals who have brought the journal into existence and supported its various forms over the years. Most importantly, I am reminded about why the journal is such a unique resource in classrooms, on bookshelves, and in the hands of students throughout the city. It can be such a powerful and inspiring resource because it represents the most powerful and inspiring resource in our society: the minds, voices, and experiences of young people. From the middle school students to the graduating seniors, each voice and image featured in these pages (not to mention the many fine pieces we could not publish this year) deserves your full attention. Please consider the beautiful and joyful moments as well as the honest, sorrowful, and profound emotions they express—our student editors and I tried our best not to censor anyone’s work, while also bearing in mind our audience’s wide range of age and background. By listening and looking, you are helping these students to speak their mind and shape their world.
Ryan Weberling April 30, 2011
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 5
About the Covers Front: This year’s journal cover was chosen by the editorial board for several reasons. It is very unique and conveys an underlying message that you must look into. The bones can represent the truth that you hold within—the secrets that you keep and the emotion that you try to hide. But SYM allows you to show your emotions and tell your secrets. The color can help you see how the truth strengthens you and sets you free. - Sierra Wilson Artist’s Statement: My assignment for my drawing and painting class was to draw portions of the human skeleton, and to add value using pastels. I chose this area of the skeleton to draw because I liked the way the positive and negative space worked together. I chose the colors because they represent passion and femininity. - Veronica Hunt
Back: The calligraphy featured on the back cover of this year’s issue was completed by Alexander Harold, a senior at Bennett High School, as part of Carol Cureo’s elective calligraphy course.
CD Artwork: The image of the spoken word CD, “Burma,” reflects a peaceful place to speak your mind. It’s a calming and colorful picture that show’s a unique existence that we’ve perhaps all wanted to live at some time. The tranquility of the painting allows you to open up to a part of yourself you can’t reach in the city. - Chelsey Brown
Colophon This issue of Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World was printed on recycled paper by Petit Printers in Buffalo, New York. Fonts in this issue come exclusively from the P22 type foundry and font publisher, also based in Buffalo. The body of the text is printed in the font Albertan, originally designed and cut by Jim Rimmer in 1982 for, Pie Tree Press, his private printing press. Titles and headings are printed in Franklin Caslon, which is based on original, hand-applied impressions from the printing office of Benjamin Franklin circa 1750. These fonts were selected by our Student Editorial Board for their unique quality and history.
Table of Contents: Literary Arts Baskins, Laura “You’re My Rock?,” 98
Frazier, Jacqueline “Anger,” 62
Bazile, Franky “Lost in My Failures,” 22
Glasser, Kate “I Watch,” 75 Hall, Terasa “My Life,” 111
Bennett, Terri “The Jewels on My Necklace,” 70 Boone, Jonathan “Death Arrival,” 97 Brice, Dejon “I Am From,” 86 Cooke, Oneshia “Why Is It So Hard For Me?,” 92 D’Amico, Alexis “A Little Piece of Heaven,” 81 Davidson, Carina “My Pain Inside,” 96 Davis, Delisha “One Day,” 88
Hampton, James “Glass Box,” 78 “Fresh Ink,” 80 Hanley, Shamir “Love Struck,” 19 “It,”23 “M.I.S.U.N.D.E.R.S.T.O.O.D.,” 76 Harmon, Jr., Van “Life,” 103 Harris-Reed, Samekh “Sinful Rose,” 52 Horton, Myran D. “Me Against the World,” 28
Diaz, Maggie “A Mother’s Glory,” 105
Hunley, Corareen “I Will Always Love You,” 24 “Music is Life,” 25
Doucet, Sakile “Who Am I To Judge,” 106 “What’s Love?,” 107
Kelly, Justin “Innocence,” 117
Dysart-Nunekpeku, Angel “Black-White Girl: 6 Billion to One,” 82 Figueroa, Deliana “Mi Amor (My Love),” 113
Miranda, Yamilex “Loved Ones,” 20 “Dear Father,” 21 Mitchell, Rayven “No Reason For A Title,” 116
Mitchell, Yvonne “A Water’s Reflection,” 114
Stevens, Deja “Untitled (Question),” 115
Murray, Dominique “Forever Alone,” 90 “The Beast in Me, The Beauty in You,” 91
Threet, Corey “Your Worth?,” 26 “Symbols: A Dysfunctional Family,” 71 “Caged,” 94
Nance, Nequeva “Make-Up,” 104 Plaza, Destiney “Two Poems,” 64 Pompey, Mercedes “I Wish,” 51 “Daughter of Sin,” 55 Pwe, Hsa Mu “Haiku,” 112 Rhynes, Nicole “Change,” 17 “Tomorrow Will You Return…,” 18 Roman, Kyersten “Time’s Up,” 108 “Insecure,” 109 “I’m Just Me”, 110 Santana, Bryant “Sometimes,” 118 Scioli, Dawn “Last Breath,” 102 Shingleton, Alyssa “You Cause My Pain,” 69 Simmons, Chris “Music,” 12 Smail, Rachel “Dismissed,” 49
Tirado, Hector “Questions,” 15 “Truth,” 56 “Tears,” 57 Tomczak, Brianna “Breathe,” 112 Watts, Stephanie “I Am From,” 85 Williams, Carlos “Beautiful Maiden,” 50 “Light,” 60 “Understanding,” 66 Willoughby, Davone “Big or Small,” 93 White, Latosha “Into Your Eyes,” 100 “What if the World…,” 101 Yasmin, Nusrat “The Secret,” 59
Table of Contents: Visual Arts Abrams, Karema Winter Morning, 41
Halter, Roquel Inside Roquel, 48
Alexander, Brandi Untitled, 36
Harold, Alexander Hardware, 103 SEB Calligraphy, [Back Cover]
Al-Shabandar, Tiba Opps, 39 Baker, Shontel Multi-story Shopping Mall, with food court under dome, 35
Harris, Christina Countryside, 38 Hawo, Abdi Mayan Portal, 79
Baugous, Jordan Untitled (Ankle Bone), 39
Heard, Oscar Dock, 61
Brown, Andrew Untitled (Throwback), 53
Herrera, Gloryivette Morning Glory, 36
Brown, Chelsey Shoe, 41 King, 29
Herrera, Sam Monotype Print with Addition, 44
Bwenge, Gibrilla Courage, 95 Campfield, Janae Global Conservation Center, with rain forest under dome, 33 Cecela, Olivia Untitled (Wolverine), 90 Copeland, Devondre Table, 47 Dhakal, Tila Maya Angelou, 65 Dieguez Ortega, Anabel Cuban Peace, 38 Donahue, Joshua Self Portrait, 14 Geeba, Junior Forest Fantasy, 43 Hall, Demetrius Untitled (Monster), 48 The Brawler, 68
Hooks, Kadeejah Mohawk, 58 Hughes, Alexandra Hot Chocolate Series: #1 & #2, 46 Hunt, Brandon Moonlight, 42 Hunt, Veronica Untitled (Bones), [Front Cover] Hunter, Stephant Untitled 1, 77 Untitled 3, 74 Hussein, Yussuf Soccer Stadium, with retractable dome, 35 Jefferson, Katrina Sleeping in the Night, 89 Kahsay, Ezana Soccer Stadium, with retractable dome, 33 Krug, Megan Seaweed, 23
Lamourex, Jessica Raphael Simplified, 92 Le, Duy Spirit House of God, 44 McDaniel, Steven Nyjah, 43 McMillion, Raymund Leo, 46 Martin, Tommy Rose, 40 Mehnert, Canaan Ray Dancer on Stage – Figures from Degas, 30 Monsanto, Elizabeth The Game, 83 Moo, Doh Burma, 45 [CD Cover] Mucci, Catherine Frankie, 54 Muyasa, Gladice Face, 16 Myree, Breionna Self Portrait, 14 Niang, Mbaye Self Portrait, 13 Parker, Shawnay Because I Am A Woman‌ (Clare Booth Luce), 84 Peterson-Borins, Samantha Chocolate, 47 Petrovic, Nemanja My World Is Different, 37
Rivera, Ricardo Museum of Music, with performance space under dome, 34 Rivera, Taina Chinese Dragon, 40 Rodriguez, Anemlie Untitled, 91 Rohback, Daniel Untitled (Tapestry), 107 Santiago, Alexia Untitled (World Domination), 63 Santiago, Eddie Untitled, 45 Schrieber, Kayle Appliance Cats, 15 Siwakoti, Shree Ghandi, 31 Skurka, Victoria Garden, 100 Swanson, Tasha Self Portrait, 13 Thang, Lian Self Portrait, 37 Thompson, Khadijah September 11th, 42 Tsegaye, Dawit Ethiopia, 27 Praying Hands, 47 Wah, Nweh Church, with three domes and services held under central dome, 34
Pwe, Hsa Mu Graduate, 73
Walsh, Emma Night Tower, 119
Reh, Pray Book Transformed, 108
Williams, Carlos Love Lost, 19 Brother, 67
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Issue Seven Spring 2011
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 11
Music
Chris Simmons The definition of music is an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions In significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color My definition of music is more simple. Music is life Music is MY life. I walk to music I talk to music I eat to music I sleep to music... Well, I don’t eat to music; that just rhymes Haha—I’m sorry, I just love music so much But music is just a sound, something I can’t touch Music can’t die so there’s no way to bury it My love for music is strong, I just want to marry it! . . . But how can I marry the cause of such corrupt teens? This isn’t a joke here, it’s exactly how it seems They talk about saggin’ pants, cussing, shooting, sex, and being wild But I don’t like that kind of music, I stay away from that crowd I’m smarter than that, that’s not the right way to fame And it’s that kind of “music” that gives teens a bad name I wont fall into the weedheads and future alcoholics That crap ain’t even music… I don’t even know what to call it I could think of a million things to make this sound worse If you can listen to that music, then recite a bible verse How could that kind of music be something you’d want to live in? Giving no hope for these men and disrespecting these women They talk about having no love but having a relation And that “music” is getting passed down generation to generation Honestly, taking out this music is something I sought to do If one person can make a difference, imagine what we all could do So this ain’t all, you ain’t heard the last of me Music is my life, but that life ain’t a part of me. Grade 12 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 12
Self Portrait Mbaye Niang Middle Early College High School Grade 10
Self Portrait Tasha Swanson Middle Early College High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 13
Self Portrait Joshua Donahue Middle Early College High School Grade 10
Breionna Myree
Self Portrait Breionna Myree Middle Early College High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 14
Questions
Hector Tirado Why do we all have questions? Is it because of how courageous our minds are, or is it curiosity? Why do our minds all travel to the stereotype? Is it because we’re not open to different or up to a change? Why do we live in the past and not the future? Is it because the world around us or our revolution? Is this all circumstance or reality? Grade 10 McKinley High School
Appliance Cats Kayle Schrieber McKinley High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 15
Face Gladice Muyasa Bennett High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 16
Change
Nicole Rhynes You want to change my look, my style of hair, but why? When you were little did you change your image? Your parents said to you, “Go change and don’t wear it ‘til you’re older.” My room, my mind, right? My time, my space. “Change, change, change,” you say. My world, my creation, my love, my heart—two separate worlds apart. Will you order change? Grade 11 Bennett High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 17
Tomorrow Will You Return… Nicole Rhynes
As my heart feels sorrow about you leaving me, you and I go down to the beach, the place where you and I first breathed the same air. And you said to me at the left side of the shore that you will be back, I promise. I’ll return with the hug of a lifetime. My heart pounds louder and louder, as loud as a drum. My heartbeat is soft as a cloud. The time where you and I first said, “Hello.” You left me at the edge of my toes. You said to me, “Please be okay. When I return to this spot, will you be okay?” My tears reached my cheek before I put my head down. You said to me, “My heart feels sorrow about tomorrow. I will return.” Grade 11 Bennett High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 18
Love Struck Shamir Hanley
I layed in my bed Thinking about you And the words that you said My heart beats slow On the brink of death But my blood still flows Your sensual voice whispers in my ear The Things you tell me Make me come to tears
Erase all my fears With words so sweet I lose everything that makes me discreet You have a different set of mind You’re not the same You’re one of a kind. Grade 12 Hutchinson Central Technical High School
Love Lost Carlos Williams Burgard High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 19
Loved Ones
Yamilex Miranda It sucks how people come and go It makes it seem like life is real short Losing my cousin was the hardest part He was only 14 but with real big dreams Misunderstood by others They didn’t even get the chance to know him He was the type that was always scared to die Seeing him cry, just to fight for his life, it just sucks to say goodbye I always dream about him, just to see if he’s all right And how he’s doing and just hoping, this time, he will be okay. Grade 8 Frank E. Sedita Academy
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 20
Dear Father
Yamilex Miranda Dear father, I’m sorry I’m not the baby girl you always wanted Dear father, I’m sorry that mommy didn’t give me away Sorry that you didn’t want anything to do with me You only care about your other kids that you had from that other woman The only reason why you stood around was for mommy’s money Because that gave you a smile, but then you went and got locked up She was the only one to catch that tear Dear father, I’m sorry that it hurts me a lot that you don’t really care But I will put all this pain to beat you in your own game Now you want me, now I will put you through hell The same way as you treated mommy And that’s how we’re going to be even. Grade 8 Frank E. Sedita Academy
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 21
Lost in My Failures Franky Bazile
Rejection is one thing that I hate to go through Though I may be the sweetest, smartest boy you know But in love, I have no one to run to I hate how a girl that I’m cool with can say, “You would be the perfect boyfriend,” But whatever I do or say I find excuses in the form of nice rejections I feel lost in a sea of my failures With absolutely no sense of direction I’m saying and doing everything wrong And never do I get any working suggestions I feel the need to be loved all the time And it’s not love you can get from your friends or family It has to be that “love-love” That stuff that brings you to the brink of insanity I’ve had fake feelings thrown in my face And covered up by an intimate embrace I always jump in without testing the waters That has to be why my confidence has been misplaced I don’t know why a girl can’t see All the love I have to offer I’ll give her everything Right down to my last dollar I guess sweet and nice really Isn’t going to cover the fact that I’m ugly I guess I have to live with the fact Girls can’t look past my shell I guess my role in life is to be a buddy. Grade 12 Burgard High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 22
It
Shamir Hanley IT watches me every chance IT gets IT is a lingering shadow That never quits IT hides in all spaces IT’S there when I wake up IT’S there when I go to sleep So inevitable… That I can’t help but think about IT When IT gets close I will know So can you tell what IT is? If you can’t, I’ll give you one more hint IT is something that will get all of us Grade 12 Hutchinson Central Technical High School
Seaweed Megan Krug City Honors School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 23
I Will Always Love You Corareen Hunley
Standing here all on my own, Watching life go by, Taking in those dreadful words… A tear dropped from my eye. I stood there as I watched you run And waited for the pain. Love can be a painful thing, You used my love in vain. Why’d you leave me here to cry? Our love had felt so right, Why’d you go and break my heart? Just like you did that night, Let me kiss your lips once more So I can see it’s true. Help me see your love is gone, That I can’t be with you. Don’t leave me here to fall apart, To watch you fade away. Tell me how you really feel, And why you just won’t stay. I never thought I’d cry so much, I want to see this through… Although you’ll never feel for me, I always will love you. Grade 11 Buffalo Academy of Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 24
Music Is Life Corareen Hunley
“Music speaks what cannot be expressed Soothes the mind and gives it rest Heals the heart and makes it whole Flows from heaven to the soul” Music is life’s sweet melody Music is love’s only remedy Music is love… And love is like playing the piano First, you must play by the rules Then, you must forget the rules And play by your heart Music can change the world ‘Cause it can change people Music does not lie If there is something to be changed Then it can only happen through music And the things you love Music is universal! Grade 11 Buffalo Academy of Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 25
Your Worth? Corey Threet
Do you know your worth? Your last relationship was with this boy that was mighty fine And you felt divine every time you’d see him shine For many other girls they had to stand in line With no reservations because only you and him could recline You introduced him to everything in you Welcomed him into your venue Served him without an order placed from a menu The spark of passion between you two was sensually Idyllic but you began to miss him and intuitively You began to believe you misjudged if he wanted you sensually Or sexually, was he after you mentally, or visually Without a care for what you’ve done to pursue his feelings To direct towards you and now you’re thinking Without him, what is your worth? I know it hurts And you tried to go to church To soothe the pain but what was it worth Blinded by hyperbolized praises, so prayer didn’t work Tried to regroup with parties from your friends’ visual amusement and mirth But was simply demanded to shake it and show the boys the way you can twirk So what are you worth? I can see clearer now without the use of an eye glass Yeah, I’ve struggled, too, in my pass but my anguish is bypassed And by pass I mean like a night flash For the moment it’s there but I knew it might last But the only way it might last is if I widen my eyes to the fright cast Upon me, but wouldn’t that only blur my vision under an eye glass? I know what I’m worth! For I’m the one that made the glass shatter Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 26
What does it matter? You wouldn’t ask the reason to run home to a batter So fi the ball is in my park I too can hit it flatter Than the two sheets of wide-ruled gather I’m no Mad hatter but my hat’s madder Because it knows I no longer need it to hide my crown to get at her I know my worth! My crown is to show my regal sensibilities Physically and mentally You can even add spiritually If that’s the reason she’ll get to me I can see your worth, just give me the chance so you can see. Grade 12 East High School
Ethiopia Dawit Tsegaye Burgard High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 27
Me Against the World Myran D. Horton
Welcome to my world where there’s a lot of thinking A lot of thoughts A lot of blinking A lot of wondering how it will all end. The ending will be the beginning All by yourself with no one else Forget patience I hate waiting, now I’m debating (is this It?) Can I live? I know forever I can’t be a little kid I know life is short and everything has a meaning But the gap in between it is the reason for breathing From teething to bleeding How will it all end? Now your life is over Can’t start again. Grade 10 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 28
King Chelsea Brown McKinley High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 29
Basic Form of Edgar Degas, The Star (Dancer on Stage) Canaan Ray Mehnert South Park High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 30
Ghandi Shree Siwakoti Burgard High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 31
Domes The architectural models pictured on page 33-35 were completed as projects in the Architecture and Design Academy (ADA) at PS 198 International Prep. The ADA is open to all Buffalo Public Schools students in grade 9-12. The ADA is building strong relationships with local colleges and professionals, as well as taking field trips to explore Buffalo’s rich architectural heritage. Teaching Artists Jackie Albarella and Heather Maher collaborated with the ADA to create this unique architectural project. This unit of study used Domes as the focus. Students learned about Dome structures and then took field trips to two famous and diverse Buffalo domes: Our Lady of Victory Basilica and the HSBC Arena. Based on class discussions and the field trips, students were challenged to design their own domed structure, and then build a model of their design.
8 Teacher: Craig Puffer
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 32
Ezana Kahsay, 9th grade Soccer Stadium, with retractable dome
Janae Campfield, 9th grade Global Conservation Center, with rain forest under dome
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 33
Nweh Wah, 9th grade Church, with three domes – services held under central dome
Ricardo Rivera, 12th grade Museum of Music, with performance space under dome
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 34
Shontel Baker, 9th grade Multi-story Shopping Mall, with food court under dome
Yussuf Hussein, 9th grade Soccer Stadium, with retractable domeÂ
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 35
Morning Glory Gloryivette Herrera Bennett High School Grade 10
Untitled Brandi Alexander Speak MindArts & Shape Your World Buffalo Academy of Visual andYour Performing Grade 12 36
Self Portrait Lian Thang Lafayette High School Grade 10
My World Is Different Nemanja Petrovic Riverside High School Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Grade 12 37
Countryside Christina Harris Frederick Law Olmsted School Grade 11
Cuban Peace Anabel Dieguez Ortega Riverside High School Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Grade 9
38
Untitled (Ankle) Jordan Baugous South Park High School Grade 10
Opps Tiba Al-Shabandar Bennett High School Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Grade 9
39
Rose Tommy Martin McKinley High School Grade 12
Chinese Dragon Taina Rivera Lafayette High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 40
Shoe Chelsey Brown McKinley High School Grade 11
Winter Morning Karema Abrams Riverside High School Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Grade 10
41
September 11th Khadijah Thompson Riverside High School Grade 12
Moonlight Brandon Hunt Middle Early College High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 42
Forest Fantasy Junior Geeba Riverside High School Grade 10
Nyjah Steven McDaniel McKinley High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 43
Monotype Print with Addition Sam Herrera Lafayette High School Grade 11
Spirit House of God Duy Le Riverside High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 44
Untitled Eddie Santiago McKinley High School Grade 11
Burma Doh Moo Burgard High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 45
Leo Raymund McMillion East High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 46
Hot Chocolate Series: #1 & #2 Alex(andra) Hughes City Honors School Grade 11
Chocolate Samantha Peterson-Borin City Honors School Grade 12
Praying Hands Dawit Tsegaye Burgard High School Grade 12
Table Devondre Copeland Bennett High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 47
Inside Roquel Roquel Halter Riverside High School Grade 12
Untitled Demetrius Hall Bennett High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 48
Dismissed Rachel Smail
If I could be held by you again I sincerely wish I would kiss you, just because I wanted to I know you are my soul mate My gut tells me so, and I was always told to trust it You say you don’t intend to make me yours again But I implore, don’t dismiss the idea completely We can work; I know it can be so Kiss after a while waiting The spark will be there The connection will come back My intellect is failing, I am not the same So it would seem The bond, it feels so real, like I could touch it It’s the hardest thing to explain I feel when I’m not near you Fix this Come home Love me, love me alone Remember me, remember us, remember our love Remember, you must. Grade 11 Leonardo da Vinci High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 49
Beautiful Maiden Carlos Williams
Oh, beautiful maiden With joy you take flight Sunlight as your life And it shines so bright
Oh, beautiful maiden All your people are free All but one And that one is me
Oh, beautiful maiden You’re named with the sun Feeling love so near All except for one Who loves in the dark Distant and far apart Missing your welcoming arm As sorrow fills his heart Oh, beautiful maiden I’ve been cast away from your shores Remembering the past life And wanting it forever more
Oh, beautiful maiden You’re named with the sun Feeling love so near All except for one Who loves in the dark Distant and far apart Missing your welcoming arms As sorrow fills his heart. Grade 10 Burgard High School
Oh, beautiful maiden Dance forever in your warm summer breeze And sing love to your people As they live their lives in ease Oh, beautiful maiden Hold me and don’t let me go This place is cold and dark Torment and rejection is dragging me low
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 50
I Wish
Mercedes Pompey I’m not sure I meant it, when I said I was through. It’s just that I’ve gone through so much pain from loving you. I’ve been hurt so many times, I can’t even count. I’ve cried so many tears, only you know the amount. You’ve lied to me; I’ve always had open arms. You’ve cried with me, and that was an alarm. I thought I would die, the days you weren’t near. I kept my thoughts inside, praying that you didn’t hear. Sometimes I wish you knew how I felt. I wish you could feel the pain I try to live without. Sometimes I cry, I even fake a smile. I wish this pain was away from me, For miles and miles. It hurts so badly, The pain was cut so deep Into my heart. Now I know what others go through every day. But for some reason, I like it, In a weird type of way. The fact that you hurt me, I’ll never forget. But that means you’re always with me, And that’s what I try to live with. I just wish, and only to you, I just wish that you knew. That no matter what… I’ll always Love You. Grade 10 Burgard High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 51
Sinful Rose
Samekh Harris-Reed My sinful rose Whose petals are silk and soft Your heart was won by another For it was a battle It seems I have lost I’ll watch you grow and bloom From winter, fall, summer, and spring And inside a black box Lays two engraved rings Your heart, a lock, That I desperately tried to pick For I had no key My love for you is boundless Just as the land, sky, and sea Eyes full of innocence That I pray will never taint For us not to be together Is a cruel twist of fate Thousands of swords pierce this heart Yet all I can do is smile For I was happy to call you mine If only a short while
Watch this blood bleed black And sword stain red This heart has fallen silent For it was a victim of Cupid His laughter still haunts me As he watches my love fail Tears flow from agaony And a howl of dark pain ‘Twas love at first sight A time for sweet romance Only for the gods to end it quickly Never to give it a chance Soothe this aching heart With one gentle touch Take as long as you must For really, there is no rush For it waits here in slumber Whispering its one wish To have the sleep-bound spell Broken with true love’s first kiss Eyes full of mischief The air filled with laughter For this is a tragedy love story That does not end in “Happily Ever After.” Grade 9 McKinley High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 52
Untitled (Throwback) Andrew Brown East High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 53
Frankie Catherin Mucci City Honors School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 54
Daughter of Sin Mercedes Pompey
Sometimes you do know, But you just don’t want to. You see the truth, But for some reason you refuse to let it be. You avoid and neglect every sign of happiness and love. You want the worst, Because everyone predicts it. You feed on pure sadness and turn it into the devil’s best friend, A virgin of love raped by the devil Only to give birth to an angel. Born to a devil, Loved but Hated, An angel that grows, feeling every emotion there is: Hate, Love, Anger, Sadness, Happiness, Hope, Guilt, Hopelessness. Growing up not knowing its meaning of life. Mother of Purity, Father of Sin, Parents putting thoughts unknown within. Pulled from the dark side to the light, No definition from wrong to right, Then out of nowhere appears every reason to tame: Love. Unknowing. Unbearable Pain. Grade 10 Burgard High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 55
Truth
Hector Tirado I sit here in a deep thought, I appear to be in, But you say I’m out, You play the game, But it’s your way of feeling me. We both speak the language of “I love you,” But do we both digress the meaning? I mean, you mean, we all mean something, There’s just one question: what do I mean to you? You say a lot, but Your actions don’t express it, Why can’t I just stay sleeping. Grade 10 McKinley High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 56
Tears
Hector Tirado I’m glad you think you care In my eyes are all tears You, you, you You think you can try hard enough but you don’t My tears I cry If only we felt the same You say you like so much about me But that’s only temporary You’re always upset Yes, I know My tears I cry. Grade 10 McKinley High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 57
Mowhawk Kadeejah Hooks McKinley High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 58
The Secret Nusrat Yasmin
Soft whispers fill my ears And now locked without a seal Silence takes over With the tiny urge of letting go The patience is striking While the unspoken words begin to knock They slowly crawl up my mouth Waiting to be heard You made me a part of your lies and tears Now I’m suffering the pain It’s been many years And yet I haven’t told a single soul Those few words left a burden And now I’m afraid someone will find out I see you upset and sitting alone You spilled your secret And now everyone knows. Grade 12 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 59
Light
Carlos Williams 3,000 feet below sea level With pain and his evil Hidden in the water So broken, hope is no more So blinded by darkness I thought the water was air So crazed by loneliness I made friends who weren’t really there An underwater prison I wanted to leave She saved me from the seas of sorrow And told me to breathe She kissed my lips Threw away my pain and gave me light Then put aside my loneliness And gave me something new to write Happiness, shining bright, like a fire in a dark room I use it to erase All the bad memories that led to my doom Let me hold you with warming arms And place your head on my chest I’ll give you beautiful dreams Then close your eyes in a peaceful rest I’ll protect you from your dark Recycle this light form my heart to your heart Open your eyes With eyes that are shy Take my hand and together we will fly And we will call the sky our own And wherever we are, together will be our home. Grade 10 Burgard High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 60
Dock Oscar Heard McKinley High School Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 61
Anger
Jacqueline Frazier I have anger built up inside, yeah, seventeen years worth of it. Not having my parents, grandma dying, moving from house to house. Not feeling love. Knowing you are getting as much love as people can possibly give you, but it doesn’t feel like enough because the love you needed and wanted is not there due to drugs and just stupidness. I have so much anger built up inside that it’s like a ticking time bomb, except when it explodes. Another one starts ticking, so it’s like neverending. It keeps ticking and ticking until someone presses my buttons. Then bamm! It explodes. But no one can ever figure out why. I have so much anger built up. So much of it that I can’t allow people to come in to my life. It’s because I’m scared of getting hurt all over again. The funny thing is that I have 3 very special people in my life that truly understand me. And if they don’t, they will try to. These 3 people are my world. They keep me up when I’m down. They let me know that no matter what we may go through, the will always stick by me. I love you guys, always and forever. Grade 11 Lafayette High School / Grant Street Neighborhood Center
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 62
Untitled (World Domination) Alexia Santiago McKinley High School Grade 9
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 63
Two Poems Destiney Plaza #1 My eyes see differently than what you see… So don’t get mad If I can see what you can’t. We all come from the same world, But we have different Perspectives and ways to do things. #2 In my eyes you are famous In my eyes you are beautiful In my eyes you are brilliant In my eyes you are artistic In my eyes you are talented In my eyes you are unique the lady once said. Grade 10 Leonardo da Vinci High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 64
Maya Angelou Tila Dhakal Burgard High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 65
Understanding Carlos Williams
You’ll never know life Until you see death with your own eyes You’ll never know happiness Until the pain shows you its lies You don’t see what you got until it’s gone Never know how important you are Until you’re a pawn Never know how far you go Until you stop walking Never know who you hurt Until you stop talking You’ll never know what can work Until you give it a try Never know who you are Until you stop living a lie You’ll never know light Until you understand darkness Never know what’s right Until you get out of wrong’s blinding mist You never know your true friends Until they go away You never truly love colors Until you’ve seen the world in grey You’ll never know art Until you see it through your heart Never know where you will end Until you remember where to start You never know love Until loneliness is your friend
You’ll never know doves Until you seem them fly in the wind You’ll never know anything Until everything is told Never see my words Until every one of them is bold. Grade 10 Burgard High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 66
Brothers Carlos Williams Burgard Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 67
The Brawler Demetrius Hall Bennett High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 68
You Cause My Pain Alyssa Shingleton
The walls are burning My mind is turning I think I’m having second thoughts It’s because of you And what you’ve put me through And all the times I said, “I love you” You made me cry And left me to die And because of your lies I’m burning right in front of your eyes The dice are broken And you’ve been provokin’ And I’m done with everything But the truth… Grade 11 Leonardo da Vinci High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 69
“The Jewels On My Necklace…” Terri Bennett
Counting One by One you find a difference, You find understanding, faults, mistakes, Hope, Faith, Confidence in the shape of the pride that I carry. Each one with their own substance, A Part of Who I Am, Who it is that I’m growing to be, and who I see deep within, Making life a far more easy experience, just to know that I am going to make it… Do you see the symbols on my necklace, Or are you just judging by the material? Grade 12 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 70
Symbols: A Dysfunctional Family Corey Threet
I never really had a problem with symbols and ideology I can usually analyze the context and understand its quality But I always remember hearin’ quality was more important than quantity And here I’ve found a family with numbers but none seems to be fond of me You see Madame Justice is blind which really blows my mind To see that I guess she drew a blueprint but can’t get the design And her sister Hammurabi has a code of an eye for an eye So I guess Justice was messed up since the beginning of time Lady Liberty’s been holdin’ a torch that’s been blown out for over 500 years When Columbus entered the land that has now been shed of its tears She never noticed but the flame isn’t evoked from the sun But a digital implantation of what America claimed to have become Exactly the fireless flame that keeps the rooms heated Which should be a symbol for tension emitted from who we succeeded They have a pet Bald Eagle which freely exposed his courageous strength And spread his wings coverin’ my whole body in length It’s weird because once upon a time the Eagle really had hair But his brain was washed with bleach and it faced much more than it could bear They all had a tattoo in the middle of their chest And another on their back and it looked like a family crest Latin words under the devil stars that towered over America The thirteen Masonic symbols sat maskin’ hysteria It seems the delighted the Eagle as it sat regal Holdin’ the poison bush and arrows that are implanted in people Then on the back it showed their home symbolized by Pharaoh’s tomb The New World Order, consequently the statement to predicted doom The floating eye above the pyramid, hey, they’re watchin’ for our security Or maybe to shoot out laser beams but I’d reflect it with a mirror, see The Liberty bell rangs like the song of Sirens Bringin’ in the immigrants that it didn’t carry any desire in Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 71
But the second time it was struck you could hear the cries of the “citizens” That felt they were treated unfairly in a place they didn’t feel they were different in The Rose Garden is like a moat for the Dragon’s pit And they have the dragon for the draggin’ of those they can no longer tag and whip He roars a grand blast that signals he’s ready to start his feast But don’t feed him soup with crackers, he only likes dark meat And Uncle Sam doesn’t treat me like a nephew How would you like it if he left you With a dragon that treated you like refuse And when the Panthers tried to slay the Dragon everybody through a fit And caged them inside of a cell and sent the Dragon to take its pick Whatever it wanted it got, with help from snakes along the way The reptilians that dreamed to be Dragons someday, they’re called the Boule They all seek control from the Master of the Universe But there will be a day when his superiors will drive a puny Hearse With him locked inside it and give his people the natural rights of man Man, I swear I never wanna step foot in that house again. Grade 12 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 72
Graduate Hsa Mu Pwe Lafayette High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 73
Untitled 3 Stephant Hunter East High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 74
I Watch
Kate Glasser I sit here in despair For I cannot find peace of mind So for yet another eternity With isolation as my only companion And emptiness as my opposition I continue to wander aimlessly Down this wretched path called life Taking refuge in only one thought That one day I will slip slowly and silently into madness And know not the limitations of sanity But until that salvation is to occur I am forced to spend my lifetimes Among the self-loathing and misguided creatures called man Or so they are thought to be called Many a time I catch myself thinking Why, oh, why, I wonder Does man set himself upon the path of self-destruction? I also wonder if he knows he is not simply walking down this path but running This is my punishment My eternal hell To watch this once brilliant and wondrous creator Turn into the mindless being he is now And document his journal Every war, every sickness, and every tragedy I wait for the end, I watch I can do nothing But wander down this road And let it take me where it will Until I am free Until I am no longer bound by the limitations Of sanity. Grade 9 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 75
M.I.S.U.N.D.E.R.S.T.O.O.D. Shamir Hanley
Maliciously deviant Intertwine fates Sensational mentality Unusual dates Never-ending pain Descended from sane Erratic behavior Recognizing my savior Senseless thoughts Times that we fought Outburst of violence Outcry with silence Derogate me Grade 12 Hutchinson Central Technical High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 76
Untitled 1 Stephant Hunter East High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 77
Glass Box
James Hampton You say your life is a glass box that you are trapped in. Sometimes it feels like there is no way to win. It feels like you’re on the outside looking in, like a two-way mirror. But this time I ask you to lend me your ear and do not fear. I say, come with me, take my hand. Let’s break free of this glass box called destiny, spread your wings and fly away. Let’s break the laws of fate, and you’ll see, we’ll create our own destiny. Grade 11 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 78
Mayan Portal Abdi Hawo Riverside High School Grade 9
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 79
Fresh Ink
James Hampton The first time I laid eyes on you, you were just a rough sketch. As hours passed, this rough outlining in graphite became more. Your lines were bolder than any mountain top. As I added color, you started to come to life in front of me. As I drew the eyes, I started to see they had more depth than the deepest say. When I drew your mouth, I smiled, and you smiled back. As I continued to fill in your face and hair, You became more and more real than I could imagine. After I finished your first layer of perfection, the shadows started to creep onto paper. As I blew off the eraser pellets, I stared into your eyes and began to wonder: How great would it be to awaken art from its slumber? Grade 11 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 80
A Little Piece of Heaven Alexis D’Amico
I’m gazing at stars that I can reach, Saying things that I thought I could never speak, Twirling in the arms of someone so sweet. It is here that I feel free, free to let my heart sing it’s own melody And stop my brain from overanalyzing things. No worries, no fear, just overflowing possibilities. I’m dreaming of things I’ve never dreamt of, I’m speaking in a new language of love. It is here that I’ve found peace. I’m not ashamed of claing you, nor am I ashamed of speaking of you… Here I don’t have to express everything that my heart is feeling, For you have already put most of those things there. It is here that I can cry tears of happiness and shout out words of praise. When I say here, I don’t mean a location, what I mean is here in your presence. I can do anything. Here with you I feel as if I can have a little taste of heaven. Here with you, Lord, I can be me. Grade 11 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 81
Black-White Girl: 6 Billion to One Angel Dysart-Nunekpeku To little black girl: Why don’t you cat right? Why do you act white? How come you have to act so differently? How can you live this way? You don’t act black, you act white! Never cussing in school, Never having an attitude, Never in trouble— And you’re so smart, Like you watch Discovery every day. Why can’t you act black? Watch BET and talk like that? Can’t you curse? Don’t you like rap? Can’t you talk and snap? From little black girl: Can I tell you why? Why I act this way and not that? Because why should I be something I am not? I am not a color or race, Nor will I be defined by the tint on my skin. I will walk the way I want, Eat and dance the way I want, Study as much and read as much as I choose. I can walk and dress the way I want, and do not, Do not try to stop me No matter how much of an oddball it makes me. Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 82
But I’ll tell you a secret: If I could, I would, Because this black-white girl Is against the world by herself 6 billion to one. Grade 11 Lafayette High School
The Game Elizabeth Monsanto Riverside High School Grade 9
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 83
Because I Am A Woman... (Clare Boothe Luce quote) Shawnay Parker Bennett High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 84
I Am From
Stephanie Watts I am from computers that are always fast From Bluntvilles and little baggies I am from the house on the corner A house where you never want to be I am from roses that smell sweet and fresh And the big rotting tree in front Whose long-gone limbs I remember as if they were my own. I am from family get-togethers and attitude problems From Carla the alcoholic and James the control freak I’m from smoking, drinking, And fighting. I am from, “Girl, go sit down,” and “Don’t get your feelings hurt” I’m from cherries and strawberries I’m from my dad’s disease And he doesn’t have long to live From my grandma’s back-in-the-day pictures That are in the family book. But what I’m mostly from is constantly trying to fix problems in my life, Some that are beyond repair! Grade 11 Lafayette High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 85
I Am From
Dejon Brice I am from my skin, my blood, my hair I am from my family From the womb of a single mother with two jobs and Two kids From my Gram who at the age of forty-seven decided To go back to college for her Bachelor’s degree I am from my people I am from the lashes on their backs I am from the shackles on their feet I am from Billie Holiday’s tree; you know, the tree that bears strange fruit The tree with blood on the leaves and blood down at the root I am from the stereotypes I refuse to portray I am from my strive, anger, pride, and success From discipline, dedication, determination I am from my problem with authority, to my solution with those in power From Buffalo’s Uncrowned Kings and Queens To history’s most precious jewels I am from the stones on King Ramsey’s Pyramid To the twins that fell on 9/11 As I choke on Katrina’s waters, it fills my lungs I gasp for air But just like F.E.M.A., it comes too late I am from this thing we call Earth I am its abundance I am its scarcity I am its wrath to its creations
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 86
I am from literature, from writing I went from Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe To Tyler Perry to Quentin Tarantino I went from fighting Capulets and Montagues to family reunions with Madea I am from cancers, sickle cell anemia, and the HIV I am from the ignorance of people who run scared in fear of contact I am the ignorance and because of that I shall make people scared of what they don’t Understand I am form My Skin My Blood My Hair. Grade 11 Lafayette High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 87
One Day
Delesha Davis One day it will all be over My day will come Greatness will be seen and joy will be Saved But, why wonder when that will Be for me? It is now, because I am free For all eternity To let all see what I can be: The Successful, Intelligent, Beautiful, Grateful, Thankful Me That I will always be No one can change me I am too proud to be— Yes, me! Grade 11 Bennett High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 88
Sleeping in the Night Katrina Jefferson Bennett High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 89
Forever Alone Dominique Murray
The reasoning of my lack of rest Is my heart, it’s racing, Trying to escape my chest, Until it’s in a safe pair of hands. Grade 10 McKinley High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 90
The Beast in Me, The Beauty in You Dominique Murray
Let’s focus on reality, Not the dreams in your sleep But on the sight of true reality, The one that’s skin deep. There’s more to love than what’s in your sight. Isn’t that right? You’re too scared of what they’ll say, So you let the good slip away. Grade 10 McKinley High School
Wolverine Olivia Cecela McKinley High School Grade 9
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 91
Why Is It So Hard for Me? Oneshia Cooke
Why? Why is it so hard for a girl like me to be free? Free from you, free from me. Why is it so hard to be me? Everything around me seems to take over and be who I’m not—this evil sprit in this innocent girl who is trying to make it to the lord’s temple. Everything and everybody keeps bringing her down and making it hard. Praying to god every night, hoping he would help me get things right. Why is it so hard for a girl like me to be free? Free from you, free from me. Grade 7 Bennett Park Montessori
Raphael Simplified Jessica Lamourex South Park High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 92
Big or Small
Davone Willoughby Doesn’t matter if you’re Big or Small, With Determination You can conquer all. Big or Small— Give it your all. Someone has to fall. Big or Small— Win the battle, you get it all? Grade 8 Hillery Park Elementary
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 93
Caged
Corey Threet Inherited wings to soar through the sky To fly by ego spirited winds gracefully suspended in lies Judged by the creatures of the Earth damned only to wonder What could life be like while in the midst of tremblin’ thunder Jealous of the mystery they planned the bird to be history And made sure this to be the way his flight could never take place He’s fluent and with chaste he steadily carries himself Not thinkin’ that his fellow animals was plottin’ his death Occasionally they’d test out reason to bring him down from the sky And try to lure him in, but head had a different vision of life His eyes stayed in the direction that his instinct had taught And nothin’ would distract him not even the gifts that they bought Until they realized his dreams so now they’re turnin’ the page It’s all the rage the surge is laid inside of this glorious cage See—in the image of his ambition on an artificial plane The bars shut so he’s in pain and now he’s goin’ insane For years I used to love the thought of seein’ him in the air But he’s no longer there it seems that there’s nobody that cares I feel empty inside my heart believing that they clipped his wings He used to sing, but I tell you envy is a terrible thing I searched for years to find that light that used to brighten my day Locked in a cage obstructed in the most usual way Stuck for years ridiculed by everybody it seems But I released him ‘cause I’ll never let them hinder my dreams. Grade 12 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 94
Courage Gibrilla Bwenge Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 95
My Pain Inside Carina Davidson
Yesterday it started to rain, and I was in so much pain My life flashed before my eyes, and in that hospital I realized I am nothing without my mom My sleeping in the bed, one eye peeping out looking at her As if I never saw her before Taking that medicine, making me feel horrible While my mom gives me a kiss and whispers, “You’re so adorable” I ask my mom why everything is so hard in life She says, “You’ll know, honey,” when you get to become a wife As we start to walk home I feel so loopy But I am fine As long as I have my momma by my side. Grade 8 Frank E. Sedita Academy
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 96
Death Arrival Jonathan Boone
I got a lot of pain A lot of sorrows Because doctors said for me there’ll be no tomorrow My last night, my last cry I need a miracle to stay alive My heart beating, my heart pounding But I can’t seem to breathe I’m so astounded I’ll do anything just to survive But death is lurking in my body, my bounty high The hour is getting later, it’s getting darker I look down the road, but it’s getting farther When you look at my life, what will you see? A life full of lies, or serenity? I’m about to go This is my last breath I’m about to kiss the world goodbye Because death has just arrived. Grade 11 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 97
You’re My Rock? Laura Baskins
As a child You left and I feel like I Lost my best friend Now that you’re gone I feel I don’t know You any more. Even as A teen, I am still your Black Queen. It seems You left without my saying Goodbye. Dad, you’re my rock And I love you and miss you I miss telling you how I feel I dream that one day I will see you again. Rest in peace, Daddy. Grade 11 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 98
Untitled Anemlie Rodriguez Lafayette High School / Grant Street Neighborhood Center Grade 10
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 99
Into Your Eyes Latosha White
Into your eyes; into a deep, mysterious ocean. The breeze makes me yearn for your smell. I close my eyes, and then I see your image, But when I open them, I know you won’t be there. So I’d rather live in a world blind with your image Than my eyes open to the world nonexistent of you. Let me see the ocean in your eyes, Hope for the wind so I can smell your sweet chocolate scent. Grade 12 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Garden Victoria Skurka Bennett High School Grade 12
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 100
What if the World… Latosha White
What if the world wasn’t tangible; In fact, transparent? We could then see through the walls of restriction. Punch out the “social rules” of society, Start A Riot… Not associated with war or violence, just a fist to break the chain of being “normal.” I am my own woman, I will start my own trend; Why can’t you? Let’s walk through this Illusion, Let’s Start A Riot. Grade 12 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 101
Last Breath Dawn Scioli
My heart breaks My hands shake My breath you take My mind can’t wake Dry my tears Cover my ears Blind my eyes Take my life Soul leaves earth No longer will I wake No more time to take Bury me deep So I can sleep Inside the ground Time will go around Forever dead I will be Until I leave earth and go to heaven There and forever I will rest in peace. Grade 9 Burgard High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 102
Life
Von Harmon, Jr. I bring Joy I bring New Adventures I bring Love I bring Hate I bring Pain I bring the Good I bring the Bad I am life. Grade 11 East High School
Hardware Alexander Harold Bennett High School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 103
Make-Up
Nequeva Nance It turns me into a celebrity The eye shadow blinds me with confidence I walk on the line of the bold liquid eyeliner And mascara is just like a flower waiting to blossom Many different colors, and the way you can mix and match—so many options When I think of make-up, I think of how many different people I can be It’s satisfying It’s refreshing Still, at the end of the day, make-up hides who I’m ashamed of inside Make-up is my escape It’s my exit, and I love it. Grade 11 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 104
A Mother’s Glory Maggie Diaz
The last page is turned, The book has finally met an end. Now in the past may it burn, And in the present may we mend. This book was like no other, It was full of pain and hate. The characters were of course a daughter & a mother, And how they let the past control their fate. But now as they shed their tears, They hold each other in eternal love. They release their fears And each fly away like an innocent white dove. May a new book begin, This one of good stories, Of a mother & a daughter a.k.a. best friends. And let this book be called “A Mother’s Glory.” Grade 9 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 105
Who Am I To Judge Sakile Doucet
If the only time you got to see your father Was behind bars, would you consider him a father? If your mother’s job was prostitution, Would you consider her a mother to look up to? If the only time you got to hear I love you Was when you were having sex with a guy, Would you feel loved? Most importantly, would you love your self? But, Who am I to judge! I see kids who never do work, barely come to school, And kids that stay talking back to teachers! But, Who am I to judge! I see my generation becoming the ex-generation, On street corners hustling their lives away. But, Who am I to judge! I see you girls who do not understand What respect is—But, Who am I to judge! Would this change? You be the judge! Grade 9 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 106
What’s Love? Sakile Doucet
What’s love? Every teenager wants to know What’s love? I believed I had it; I was wrong! What’s love? I don’t know. All I know is I wanna know I hope one day my heart will heal From the pain I once felt, inside The pain from a guy A guy who claimed he loved me So what’s love? I ask, because If that’s love I don’t ever want it back! Grade 9 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 107
Untitled (Tapestry) Daniel Rohback East High School Grade 10
Time’s Up!
Kyersten Roman I refuse to be treated like crap any further. I hate living in a world where I can’t have the one I love. I am in love with him, and he is still in love with her. I confessed my love to him. He had my heart in his hands, and he treated it as if it were a yo-yo. I gave up a lot of my ways to stay true to him, and he claimed he loved me, but his actions said otherwise. He tells me one thing, and her another. My heart is heavy, and it feels like I can’t go any further. What to do now is what I daily ask myself. Should I wait this out? I decide to talk to him. I walk into the room and see him kissing her. I guess my time is up. Grade 12 East High School
Book Transformed Pray Reh Riverside High School Grade 9
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 108
Insecure
Kyersten Roman It’s been confirmed, he and I are not meant to be. He is still in love with her and prefers her over me. I don’t blame him, though, with me and all my insecurities. I just don’t know where to go from here. I tried to cut him out of my life, but it just isn’t going the way I imagined. I am not how I used to be. I just wish I didn’t fall so deep in lust with him. I want to let go, I just don’t know how to do it yet. I just wish I could fall from the face of the earth. I put my all into that relationship that we had, but behind closed doors it was all a fairy tale because in reality you wanted her. Talking to you like talking to a brick wall. I can never get through to you. You’re going to do what you want regardless of what I say or how I react. All my emotions just drained out of me into a puddle, and you keep walking through it. I’m just confused on life. Looking into your eyes, I just see a blank space, no emotion at all. When we talk, you can’t even look me in my eyes and give me a bit of honesty. I sit five feet from you, and as bad as I want to greet you with a simple hello, I cannot. I opened my mouth to speak, and nothing is coming out. I’m just fed up with being lied to. Done fighting for your love. I have my future set, with or without you. No longer will I walk around crying over you. I now can walk with my head held high and be proud of who I am as a person. It’s time for me to move on with my life, to find someone who is truly there for me. I am ready for a new start. I’m ready! Grade 12 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 109
I’m Just Me Kyersten Roman
I am my own person With my own identity I have my own goals I have my own dreams I’m just me I walk my walk I talk my talk Because I’m confident of Who I am I’m just me Growing up Being misunderstood Being misguided Raised in a church Only one way to go Being with him It’s the way they forced me to go I’m just me
How are you here for me? Your words say one thing But your actions tell another I’m at the confusion state Where I can’t believe you I will not change for anyone Not even your acceptance of me I’m just me My life is separated form yours It will never be the same after this Accept me or don’t I will always be me I’m just me Grade 12 East High School
Being raised around Druggies, liars, hypocrites, Cheaters, homophobic behavior Not being able to explain How I really am Not being able to Express my sexuality If my friends can accept me Why can’t my family? I’m just me
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 110
My Life
Terasa Hall Murder, fire, robbery, and killing are some of the words I hear each day. You hear about the fire on this street and the break-in on this street, but do you ever stop and think about what was going through that person’s mind when they did that? They don’t just kill because they want to kill, they don’t murder people because they want to murder. It’s always because you’re on my property or messing with my girl or punking you off because of your hair or clothes or the old Jordan’s you’re wearing. So don’t let “those people” define you, you’re made that way because God made you that way. Boys, pull your pants up, you’re not in jail, and it’s not cute. How do you think you’re going to get a job that way? Boys and girls, stop making these stupid gangs (O Block, Bailey Stylez, Westside, just to name a few). You live over there. You talk made crap and don’t even think before you talk. That’s not your property, your momma doesn’t even own that house, ya’ll renting. Young boys, stop killing each other. Stop selling and doing drugs. Stop giving them to these babies to sell; leave their education alone and go get yourself one. That’s not your girl; you’re just dating her, and she might find somebody better than you. Let him talk, because if he would hit you then he’s not scared to go to jail. Now, you ladies, don’t be letting men touch you in an inappropriate way. Young girls, stop laying down with these boys and having these babies. They don’t them, and neither do you! They just tell you what you want to hear. It’s not the truth! Don’t fall for it! I know a girl that’s 16 with two kids already! She had to quit school and be a stay-at-home mom. She can’t go shopping with her friends, can’t party, or even finish school. I feel bad and sad for her, but that is what you get when you start having sex at the age of 12. Ladies, ladies—stop using your body as an escape from life. “Day to day” may be harder, but Life is even harder. Trust me. I know how you feel, but if I can make it, so can you! Grade 12 East High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 111
Haiku
Hsa Mu Pwe Love does have the eye Strong and hard and inhuman Two people build life. Grade 11 Lafayette High School
Breathe
Brianna Tomczak Take a deep breath, Close your eyes, Soon this will all just pass you by. Grade: 9 Frederick Law Olmsted School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 112
Mi Amor (My Love) Deliana Figueroa
Mi amor, una parte de mi vida, Mi sueno, yo imagino nosotros huntos, Mi amigo, para siempre, Te quiero con todo de mi Corazon, Yo estoy enamorada de ti, Mi amor, Te Amo.
My love, a part of my life, My dreams, I imagine us together, My friend, forever, I want you with all my heart, I am in love with you, My love, I love you.
Grade 11 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 113
A Water’s Reflection Yvonne Mitchell
A ripple in the water has a calming effect When you look in the water, who does it reflect? The person you’ve become… Who you always wanted to be? Is the reflection in the water the one you wanted to see? Does your reflection speak volumes? Does it leave behind mystery? Does it shout out who you are? Or whisper secretly? Do you flash a big smile that bounces back at you? Do you weep into the water until your tears become few? Do you wish yourself different? Not scarred from neglect, When you look into the water, are you sure what to expect? Do you hold on tightly to all that you know? Do you keep your reflection still or let it grow? A ripple in the water has a calming effect, So in your eyes, Who in the water does it reflect? Grade 12 Leonardo da Vinci High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 114
Untitled (Question) Deja Stevens
Question: Why me? Billions of other flowers in the patch, But you picked me, Took me in, and watered me— Gave me sunlight. You brought me back to life When I was brittle, isolate, feeble. Billions taller, elegant, beautiful, Yet you took me. Are you tempted? Or, am I enough for you? Hidden behind a tree, Across the river, On to the end of the earth, You walked thousands of miles for me. Curious, curious, curious I am. Grade 10 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 115
No Reason For a Title Rayven Mitchell
My first name is a symbol A symbol of death My last name spells out a place It spells out hell My head holds thoughts All the thoughts are negative My heart beats It beats to fear My eyes can see They see through tears My feet can walk They walk through pain My stomach jumps It jumps with hunger My ears can hear They hear the screams My mouth can speak It speaks words of anger My hand can write It writes words of misery. Grade 8 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 116
Innocence Justin Kelly
I may not be innocent For the crime I have composed But my hate toward that man just simmered and arose During my short, ignorant life Full of pain and dread That one man would end up being dead After he passed I was nowhere near being glad For my plan had backfired... I’ll be missing you, dad. Grade 9 McKinley High School
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 117
Sometimes
Bryant Santana Sometimes in life we gotta Make our own choices instead Of listening to all the lame Voices.
I know that life gets Harder. I know that life Is rough. But sometimes in Life we gotta be tough.
Sometimes I feel that people Won’t care about what I gotta Say. But I’m gonna say it anyway. I’m gonna do me by going Through the right path. You Just do you by going the wrong Path. Would you join me going Through the right path? Grade 10 Riverside Institute of Technology
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 118
Night Tower Emma Walsh City Honors School Grade 11
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 119
Staff Bios Brandi Alexander Brandi Juliene Reese Rose Alexander was born on October 16, 1992. Brandi is currently a visual arts major at Buffalo’s Academy of Visual and Performing Arts. She will be graduating in June of 2011 with a visual arts diploma and also a Regents diploma. Brandi’s favorite color is pink and she loves to watch scary movies. She enjoys reading in her free time as well as volunteering at Althea’s Family Daycare. She has dreams to become a successful rehabilitation specialist for those with mental disabilities. Chelsey Brown Chelsey Brown is a junior at McKinley High School, and this is her second year on the Speak Your Mind staff. She is an advertising art student and has been drawing her whole life. It’s one of her favorite things to do. She also enjoys writing stories and just started writing poems. She loves to shop, and music is a major part of her life. She is hoping to act when she is older, or maybe even get a book published. This summer, she’ll be reading every book in the library and seeing as many plays as humanly possible. Juliana Burkhart Juliana graduated with High Honors this fall from the University at Buffalo with a BA in English. She is a member of the University Honors College as well as the English Honors Program, the English academic fraternity Sigma Tau Delta, and was recently invited to join the national academic fraternity Phi Beta Kappa. She became involved with Speak Your Mind and Shape Your World when she met Ryan at Just Buffalo’s Spotlight on Youth open mic, where she was doing a reading of some of the poetry pieces from her senior thesis. Juliana had a fantastic time working with the Student Editorial Board reviewing poetry submissions—she learned so much and is so proud of the students of Buffalo for their great talent. She is an avid rock climber and currently works as a teaching assistant at a childcare center, a job which she has found very rewarding for the last three years. She also does some editing work on the side for UB’s Honors office. She will be spending the summer is Seoul, South Korea, and when she gets back she will begin searching for jobs in editing and publication. Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 121
Demetrius Hall “Knowledge is Power” Demetrius—a.k.a DJ—is a cool, funny guy that’s an art major from Bennett High School. He also enjoys soccer, drawing, and studying various martial arts. This is his first year being a part of the Speak Your Mind editor team, and this has been a wonderful experience for him.
Steven McDaniel Hey, my name is Steven McDaniel. I was born July 22, 1995. Last year, I drew up some awesome pictures that got into a really cool club called Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World. They took my art and put it in this cool book with other great art and poems. This is my first year in the club, and I so far like it and will attend it next year. This year was fun to work with everyone. I’m just glad my picture was accepted this year and can’t wait for the Unveiling. Leo Nelson There’s so much I could say about myself, so I’m gonna cut it short. The name is Leo Nelson, for those who don’t know. I’m definitely that weird kid, but not creepy-weird—the cool, funny weird. I have a big sense of humor so I love to laugh and crack jokes. Most of all, I love to dance. I’m going to learn everything there is to dance. I’m determined to, even if it kills me… but then it would be pointless. The entire time I was typing this bio I was trying to think of an original and spectacular way to end it: so here it goes! Shawnay Parker “Shawnay ltrice Parker - the queen of all vampires” The school that our lady attends is Bennett High School (the place she calls “hell”). She can’t wait to get out of the there, but she also adores her teachers. Her highness joined this Speak Your Mind coven for a new blood thirst and new friends (a.k.a. minions). Also, she loves anime, puppies, herself, and her annoying family—and she only has one best friend who she calls “door knob.” BEWARE!!! I dare you to NOT read this bio because, if you DO, I will drink you dry! ~R.I.P PAPA~
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 122
Nicole Rhynes “THE NEW TIMES OF THE BEGINNING DAY…” Nicole Rhynes a writer of words and a singer of languages. The school she attends is Bennett High School, and it is very interesting to her to see many new or old faces at the school. As she explores the world step-by-step and day-by-day, she remembers the saying “sijag il-ui saeloun sidae” meaning in Korean “the new times of the beginning day.” Her favorite songs to listen to are Korean, Japanese, French and Chinese. Her favorite colors are blue and pink, but she loves everything equally, not hatefully. Chris “The Saint” Simmons “The one who enjoys watching wrestling.“ Chris Simmons also enjoys music as much as one possibly can. He also knows how to play the drums and is learning how to play the guitar. He enjoys being with his friends and making jokes. He also likes playing videogames and wants to become a videogame designer. His favorite candy is Skittles, and his favorite color is blue. He listens to rock music, and his favorite band is Puddle of Mudd. His favorite song from them is ‘Blood on the Table.”
Corey Threet An imaginative genius who’s hypocritically oxymoronic The brother of Hate and son of Evil Only loves poetry, video games and Idiots, Martial arts at most Feels reborn but saddened as life underestimated him All he needs now is love to ease his need for his grandmother Lives life only fearing the Most High and fear itself He can only offer peace of mind, wisdom, and a few giggles Wishes to see Lupe, peace, and inevitably nonexistence Governmental resident of Sprenger Ave. but stands by disaster 3T
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 123
Hector Tirado Hector Tirado is currently a sophomore at McKinley High School, expecting to graduate in June of 2013. He became an editor for Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World through an art teacher, Ms. Harvey, who he thanks very much. Given the opportunity to be an editor for the journal has been a great deal of fun, and he would love to do it again next year. His favorite color is… well, he just doesn’t have one color that he likes. He is also a strong believer in what he would like to achieve and a determined person on the path to success. Ryan Weberling “Read, write, repeat.” Ryan has lived on several sides of Lake Erie—he grew up in Ohio, went to Calvin College in Michigan, and now lives a few blocks away from the lake in Buffalo. He loves poetry, the arts, and all other imaginative endeavors, and coordinating this year’s journal has been an amazing way for him to see the imaginative superpowers of young people throughout this city. The Student Editorial Board consistently blows his mind with their humor and intelligence! Lake Erie will sadly be far away from Ryan after he begins graduate school in Boston this fall (he’ll be studying and teaching literature). Sierra Wilson “I’m a warrior of words. It’s just that simple.” Sierra Wilson is a senior at McKinley Vocational High School and has dreams of becoming a professional writer. She has been accepted to Canisius College and plans on attending there in fall of 2011. She enjoys writing poetry and short stories and is working on her first novel (look for it in a few years). Her favorite color is green; green is the new black! She loves animals, yes, even snakes and lizards—they’re AWESOME! She hates stripes, both horizontal and vertical. She LOVES scary movies, even the bad ones. Her favorite author is James Patterson and her favorite poet is Emily Dickinson. This is her third and final year at Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World.
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 124
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 125
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 126
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 127
Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World 128