"Crow" by Adam Barker

"Who I am"

By Eloy Greigo

I am from South Cali, the City of Valinda

From hills and streams

I am from Los Angeles County

And ranches and gardening

I am from giving my family food

From I have my own home

I am from buying fruits and vegetables

And I can show my kids how to keep the tradition

I am from never been afraid to ask for help

And you are stronger together

From unified

I am from trustworthiness and hard work

And if work needs to be done in a home or side job

I am from they're selfless, their doors are always open

And English/Spanish

I am from Greece and Italy

From someone that speaks it

I am from help with community projects

And maintaining land

I am from having farmer's rights once a month

From I reading and watching shows

And keep teaching those who are interested

"Who I Am"

By Bryon Argueta

I am from Africa

From desert and jungle and floods of the Nile River

I am from a group of hunters

And I am a king in my own place

I am from protection

From strength

And caring and helping to grow

I am from unity

And we do everything together

From water, food, sunrise

I am from strength

And leadership

I am from we need protection

And spanish

I am from inoseté

From reading and books

I am from speaking more

And Maya

I am from clothes, food, toys

From making clothes and toys

And making my own company

Who I am is Maya, clothes, toys, and Africa

I am Ninja

by Benny Scaiano

All I ever wanted was to find "love"...but instead I died looking for it! Betrayal was ever so kind, I couldn't even recognize death while I stared it in the face. Slain like a "Roman" pierced in the heart by a double bladed katana, I lie face up as I peer into the eyes of my demise. She has a crimson red silk scarf around her neck, adorned and draped in the most elegant fitted black hooded dress with leather heeled tactical boots, "red bottoms"..."she walked all over me". I was so vulnerable while I fell victim to her deception and trickery! They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Oh, how my heart gets colder as I grow older. I call her "lady death", but she was the..."Grim Reaper"! ... She became the death of me, the Ninja's only defeat. In a puddle of my own blood, I was drained of my "soul", in death we were united. I was rejuvenated. I became a celestial being..."Phantom of Death".

Hell, fallen like a "Spartan" for messing with "Harlots"! Changed forever, I meditate on a vision, as I'm taught a valuable lesson. "I chose to die, because I couldn't change to save my life!" In death, I became so raw, something more like a "Demi-god" everybody take a seat - sit back, and applaud! I remember when I first encountered death, she tried to take my head with her scythe, she swung, I ducked, and then she missed. She was so vicious, but I was game, I lived for the challenge because (you already know). "I'm insane!" Countering her attacks as I threw a spear at a "demon" without fear. Then I saw the rection of "Medusa" in the mirror. So for better or worse, I pursued love, although I didn't have a clue as to what I was giving up? All that managed to survive was my inner conciousness, even now it haunts my thoughts to think of this. As I became aware, and to my surprise the pain and anguish of a lifetime of suffering ended in horror, but it brought me peace!

Once so brave, filled with courage, very heroic, and poetically stoic. The only battle this Ninha ever lost was the "spiritual battle within". It was a date with destiny that sealed my fate! Like Bruce Lee once said, "The key to immortality is...living a life worth remembering." So in their memories I will live on, trapped in their heads like their favorite song. As I lay dying on cold concrete, I acknowledge in blood from my head to my feet, I begin to suffocate...I can no longer breath! In my final moment of darkness, I reach out to death for solace. She grabs my hand with a quick embrace. I begin to feel her emotions of love and hate. So I ask her why must Ninja die today? With a grimace and a sneer she says, "You died long ago, you died yesterday, and you would die - tomorrow. You see life is so precious it's not something you can borrow. I needed you to recognize how important it is to live in the moment, time is always fleeting, now you're stricken down bleeding!" "How much more does life matter when you're dying?" Death is so ghoulish, death was so foolish, and the situation becomes critical, my decisions are pivotal. As I begin to get back up, before my times up, and as I do I remember I am more than the "Man behind the Mask". I am also the "Lion"... My eyes become a flame, "all turnt up". All I see is the color red, "resurrection", and back from the dead! Maximum effort like I'm "Dead Poole", just so sorry I ever met you.

Death looks upon me with shock, then glances at her clock, death's time is done, the Legend had enough. Refusing to lose and with a series of moves, Death is dealt fatal blows, her reign is over as she falls...Ninja stands over death and finds purpose in combat. Like a "nomad" I begin to wander. While death was cast down six feet, becoming ancient history! It appears as though for a moment I have captured immortality, at least until death recovers (ignorance is bliss). Death took her stab at me, I survived, I guess she missed? Even scars begin to fade, forget all the times I was wounded and hit. Parts of me have died but I'm still alive all ripped up because I am split! More than that I'm even torn, still filled with ambition, desire, and passion. Searching for purpose while lost and abandoned... A Ninja brought to the brink of death in shame, recovering what's lost, restoring my name - "surrounded by flames!" Envisioning and channeling new beginnings working towards improvements, and winning. Sometimes life gets hard, embrace the struggle in pursuit of greatness, every day is an opportunity to make an impact. Always moving forward never willing to back track. Fallen like a star, off the grid, different planet, another map. Born into existence only to die, flirting with death, damn there's nothing left...

I'm giving it my all, coming out guns a blazing like a commando, camoflauged bandana like Rambo. I'm slinging Ninja stars, joy riding Bugatti, Lambo, and Ferrari cars, speed dating in clubs, lounges, and sports bars. "Crossfitting" with jump ropes, I like big trucks, with my nunchucks. Skydiving, parachute landings, combat training and I'm riding dirt bikes. Wielding light sabers, I carry laser guns packing punches in bunches, and combos with kicks. I wear gold grills as I pop pills, I bust moves, in design. I'm from back then, the present, and the future! Ever so passionate in a strait jacket, I'm so ugly, yet so handsome. I'm cold then I'm hot. I'm there until I'm not. Something like a rockstar or maybe more like a "trap god". I'm like Batman, not Robin. Superman not Clark Kent. I'm neither good nor evil, not light or darkness, maybe somewhere stuck in between? I'm all cut up from a straight blade, never early but always late. A mastermind, I'm one of a kind. Already gone on my Kawasaki. Off street racing on a Hayabusa and Harley. "Everybody say goodbye to the life of the party"...In the end , even in death, all that I am and ever will be is a...Ninja!