As Long As I Have My Memory

Writing by students from Brackenridge High School in the San Antonio Independent School District in collaboration with Gemini Ink readers and writers today and tomorrow

as long as I have

my memory Memory and Mural Project

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as long as I have

my memory Memory and Mural Project

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as long as I have

my memory Memory and Mural Project Writing by Students from Brackenridge High School in San Antonio, Texas in partnership with Gemini Ink readers and writers today and tomorrow Spring 2012 Funded by King William Association Writer-in-Residence Trey Moore Artist-in-Residence Fadela Castro Special thanks to Host Teacher Teresa YbaĂąez Layout & Design Anisa Onofre, Writers in Communities Director Student work has been edited as lightly as

possible in order to honor the original voices

Š 2012 Gemini Ink

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Foreword I have been walking into classrooms all my life, as a student and for the last eight years as a teacher. Each time I open the door, there is a hint of possibility that brings me to life. Each time I open the door, there is a hint of fear of the unknown. I’ll be the first one to admit that my bag of tricks often pushes students to the edge of their comfort zones immediately. I ask them to sing, to speak out loud, to feel, to care, and to express themselves openly. I challenge them to go into those secret rooms of love and grief, of lost and found to seek out the treasure chest, to open the lid and discover the silent voice that awaits them. “Come to me,” it whispers.

“Speak for me,” it says.

In a certain sense part of me was coming home — my grandparents, Felice Sloan and Eugene Moore, had fallen in love and graduated from Brackenridge High School in 1933. But when I walked into Terry Ybañez’s art class, the air of distrust was tangible. It was a new year and here was this long-haired guy asking them to sing. Asking them to imagine what it’s like to talk to a rock. I mean, this is art class, right?! I had to work a little harder than usual for the students to trust me.

And I should have to work hard for that trust. Trust is not cheap. But within a few weeks, we had embarked on a special mission of self-discovery, of looking at the world in a new way. As a class, we had freely admitted that this world shames and lies to its youth, that it teaches us through fear how to look at the Other.

This was a Memory Project that began with reflecting on 9/11 on its 10th anniversary. What could be more raw? The students were very young when the War on Terror began, and most had to interview their par6

ents to get an idea of what that moment had meant for America. This was the generation that had grown up in a Post-9/11 world. What could need more healing?

So we started out asking ourselves deep questions.

What is fear? What is love? What is the Other? How do we connect with the world around us and how do we connect to each other? There were lots of exercises from free writes, to poems, to performance posing, and portraiture. Their eyes opened wider and wider. The tough, calloused skin of adolescence wore thin and these shining, vibrant voices emerged. As our sense of community strengthened, our artistic selves stretched to meet a deeper understanding of the world.

Why do we NOT fear? Because we see the Other as Ourselves.

I do this work to learn, to become the student again.

The young men and women of Brackenridge High School taught me so much last fall about risk-taking, intuition, and creativity, and for that I am truly blessed and humbled. I can only say I am proud of these future leaders and look forward to tracing their rising stars across the horizon. Onward, into the night, boldly!

Shine on,

Trey Moore Writing on the Walls included writing and mural workshops for twelve weeks throughout the fall of 2011. Poet Trey Moore and artist Fadela Castro worked with Teresa Ybaùez’s art class at Brackenridge High School in San Antonio, to create narratives, poetry and a mural based on their exploration of 9/11, bullying, fear, reconciliation, and love.

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Contents September 11 On September 9/11... Hector Valencia 11 United States Flags... Joana Martinez 12 The Day of 9/11... Jonathan Romero 13 I See Darkness Around the City... Esmeralda Rivas 14 Smoke in the Air... Cristian Torrez 15 9/11 Was Terrible... Sergio Gonzalez 16 On Top of a Building... Ramiro Gloria 17 The Bombings That Happened... Erika Vazquez 18

Fear & Bullying I See This Young Man... David Samudio 21 Poor Girl... Tyler Wright 22 I Was a Big Wooden Fence... Hector Valencia 23 When I Was in Elementary School... Hector Valencia Roller Coaster View... Joana Martinez 25 In Class... Katherine Vela-Sanchez 26 When I Was in the 9th Grade... Guadalupe Sampayo Windows Closed... Esmeralda Rivas 28 Workshop and Mural Photos... 29-32 There Was This Little Boy... Jonathan Romero 33 Where We Live... Cristian Torrez 34 In Elementary School... Denise Reyes 35 Caught Red Handed... Sergio Gonzalez 36 The Rock... Hayley Labarca 37

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Love Agape (A Spiritual Love)... Tyler Wright 41 Love... David Samudio 42 Love... Christina Flores 43 Unexplainable... Yesenia Ramirez 44 It Was My Favorite... Aaliyah S. 45 Mom... Edgar R. 46 My Favorite Ring... Joana Martinez 47 My Little Brother... Hector Valencia 48 I Don’t Really Know What Love Is... Guadalupe Sampayo Unconditional Love... Esmeralda Rivas 50 Element... David Samudio 51 Love... Aaliyah S. 52 Love... Katherine Vela-Sanchez 53 Dot... Erika Vazquez 54 My Grandmother... Sergio Gonzalez 55 Erika... Denise Reyes 56 Her Hair is Black as Night... Hayley Labarca 57

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About the Writer and Artist-in-Residence... 58

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September 11

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On September 9/11 On September 9/11 at home watching TV, enjoying the day by eating cereal watching cartoons.

It was sunny outside my apartment.

I asked myself what could ruin this day?

My mom walked in and changed the channel to the news.

They were showing live video of the towers pulverized by airplanes, falling down into rubble within minutes.

Enormous dust clouds, the buildings fell.

Hector Valencia, age 16

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United States Flags United States flags raised by firemen that look tired and dirty.

The destruction of 9-11.

The brave firemen make me proud and scared for them.

Joana Martinez, age 18

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The Day of 9/11 The day of 9/11 I was in school playing on the playground at Northwest Crossing Elementary. I can’t remember what grade I was in, but as soon as I heard about the attack I was scared because who knew where they were going to hit next. My mom worked at my school at that time so I went to her and asked, why did they do this? My mom told me because they are bad people and they do very bad things. As soon as we, my mom & I, went home we turned on the TV. It was all over the TV. The towers smoking. I was thinking of all the people in the tower. Imagining what they were going through, all that heat from the burning fire, thinking as if I was them. Wondering if I would jump or stay helplessly trying to accept my death.

Jonathan Romero, age 16

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I See Darkness Around the City I see darkness around the city.

I see people in pain.

I see so much violence.

The tower falling to the ground.

People screaming, crying.

Depressed.

Lost people don’t know what to do.

Babies, children, crying, saying, “Mommy! Where are you?”

People lost, didn’t know what was going on.

Everyone was panicking!

Watching people falling out of the towers.

Esmeralda Rivas, age 15

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Smoke in the Air There was so much smoke in the air.

The sight of people jumping was hard to bear.

The terrorist didn’t care about how many people got hurt.

Blocks and blocks were full of dirt after the towers collapsed.

We took them to war and popped caps.

It’s sad seeing all those families lose a loved one.

Cristian Torrez, age 17

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9/11 Was Terrible 9/11 was terrible. Don’t get me wrong. But it just happens. I mean no disrespect. This happened at least two times worse in other countries. For example, what about Hiroshima and Nagasaki? We nearly blew out the entire two cities. I mean, we did so much more to them and you don’t see them all anti-American, but I guess that’s just how life is. We shouldn’t spend our time remembering what happened to us ten years ago — we developed and endured. There are a lot of natural disasters in this world that top this. Part of being, and living in the future is letting go of the past.

Sergio Gonzalez, age 17

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On Top of a Building I was scared because I was on top of a building.

I saw the world and the people fighting.

I was scared because the building will fall down.

I know that if I fall down, I will have to fight to survive.

The house and the cars were on fire and it started raining blood.

Red and black everywhere.

Smoke in the air and the fire burning on my face. I can’t breathe.

I was blue. My face was blue because of the smoke, and then‌ I jumped, to die, and forget about life.

Ramiro Gloria, age 16

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The Bombings That Happened The bombings that happened have made me realize that we can get bombed right now. After what happened on 9/11, war really is big and happening right this instant. In a way, it’s been an eye-opener for many citizens. The smoke that clouded the top building, collapsing into the bottom building. Human.

Body. Ashes. The desperation. Their screams play in my head. Their feet clamping up like lobster legs, with hair flying all over the place. Like legos turning into gray dust, who knows where the bomb will drop next.

The plane that is an atomic flying bomb in the air with fuel. I feel bad for the people who will soon have to sell and empty their kitchen chairs.

Erika Vazquez, age 17

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Fear & Bullying

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I See This Young Man I see this young man always coming around me.

Sometimes he stops and stares or paces back and forth for hours with a grin or tears of sadness.

Late nights he seems to be looking for something, but he doesn’t find it.

David Samudio, age 17

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Poor Girl Poor girl, poor girl. Those mean gang greens, I was one of ‘em, such a shame such a shame.

When I was foolish, young, making fun of this girl made me feel strong.

Her reddish orange hair and a mole on her right cheek, that’s all I saw in her. I saw what made her unique, me and others would poke fun at her, making fun of the features on her face. Place to place we would see her again, and yes the ones laughing were me and my friends. My heart nearly stopped, my hand on my stomach, with the biggest grin on my face, I felt no disgrace. I felt good feeling better, stronger in my heart when we called her a “mole.” That’s when it starts.

“Mole! Mole!”

That’s all we said, from time to time on her face a tear would shed. I feel bad for what I’ve done, but I was dumb back then, I didn’t care about feelings, just the bully I had within.

On that bus, man, it was just our favorite place. We were just children. Only one careless adult in place, HA HA HA! Laughter, teasing and taunting. Mouths big as ever, we never stopped.

Tyler Wright, age 17

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I Was a Big Wooden Fence I was a big wooden fence Standing there minding my own business Watching birds go into the bird bath Cleaning their bright colored feathers.

Until a small child was running towards me He slowly lifted up the latch and quickly swung me open Until a breeze came by Swinging me back onto his small fingers.

I didn’t know what to do but stand there.

Hector Valencia, age 16

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When I Was in Elementary School When I was in Elementary School I saw a short chubby kid get beaten up by five different boys.

It was on a Thursday morning.

I went to school and walked towards the cafeteria, all the kids of every grade were eating breakfast.

I left to go outside just to play.

It was cold and dull.

The trees were shriveled up.

No leaves on the trees.

Hector Valencia, age 16

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Roller Coaster View People impatiently wait for me.

People screaming their guts out as I go fast.

People touching me with their sticky fingers from all the cotton candy they’ve eaten.

I spot one girl in pink shaking in fear.

Her friends pushing her toward me telling her to get on. As she gets on I feel her sweaty palms touching me.

She’s breathing heavily while telling herself, “It’s just a ride, it’s just a ride.”

I take off and hear her screaming, but also laughing.

I go through the loops twisting and turning then come to a stop.

The girl in the pink with her hair all messed up tells her friends, “Let’s go on that ride again!”

Joana Martinez, age 18

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In Class I was in class. Sat down with my friends. Boom!

The door slammed shut. A boy walks in angry then follows a group of boys behind him. They were all calling him names and talking about him. The boy tells them back, not afraid to say anything. As we sit there listening to what they were saying I was thinking to myself, this boy just might hit one of them. Nothing ever happened but still the name-calling and jokes were being made. “Your mama” jokes being made and telling him he’s fat. They were cussing and thrown out of there many times.

Katherine Vela-Sanchez, age 17

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When I Was in the 9th Grade The first two weeks of being there I got excited, because during the 8th grade I only wanted my 8th grade to be over. Everybody said that 9th grade was great and all good things. So I already wanted that, every emotion fell down when these things happened: Not all the people are nice and friendly, and this group of girls began disrespecting people.

During my last period, the girls always made fun of me and talked to each other about me too. I think it was because I didn’t talk to anybody because I didn’t feel comfortable, and another reason — everybody was new to me. I really felt that I was in the middle of the desert, alone with a bunch of animals that you don’t know are going to attack you. Those girls said things to me, and laughed about it, because they thought I wasn’t understanding anything they said.

But it wasn’t true, because I did understand. It was only that I didn’t feel comfortable talking. Everything changed when I started responding in English to the teacher, or when I had to read in front of the class, is when they noticed that I do understand English.

Guadalupe Sampayo, age 15

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Windows Closed Windows closed, windy with cold.

People talking about risks.

Doors like if you’re alone.

Lights turned off like a haunted house.

The bed like if someone is watching you sleep.

Babies crying for milk.

Esmeralda Rivas, age 15

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There Was This Little Boy One day early in the morning there was this little boy. He was walking with his mom going across their yard towards their truck. They did this every morning Monday thru Friday, but as they were walking, a big black German Shepherd came sprinting up to the little boy. The dog’s face looked vicious, mean, crazy, and you can see the focus that he had on the little boy. As soon as the little boy saw the crazy dog going straight for him, he suddenly froze. He froze as if he were in a big ice cube. His facial expression was in awe, but inside he was scared. He was wondering if the dog was going to attack him so bad to the point where he was going to die. It was like in slow motion when the dog jumped at the boy knocking him down and biting, chewing on the little boy’s left side of his head, and chewing on his ear, almost taking it off.

All I heard was intense screaming and crying from the little boy, and snarling, growling and barking from the beastly German Shepherd. The little boy’s mom turned around and started to hit the dog with her purse and still the dog wouldn’t stop. The whole attack lasted about a minute and a half, but for the little boy it lasted a millennium, forever, his life, the very little one he had, probably flashed before his eyes. His dad came rushing out of the house and started to kick the dog until he stopped attacking.

Then the dad picked up the little boy and took off in their green Ford Bronco.

Jonathan Romero, age 16 33

Where We Live My dad, brother, and I were turning on to our street where we live. About three houses down from our house, there was this guy walking in the heat. All of a sudden a car pulled next to him, three guys got out of the car. The first guy punched the man walking and he fell and then the other two guys started kicking and punching the guy on the floor. My dad and brothers were like “Oh @#?!,” but laughing. Then they went through the guy’s pockets and left.

Cristian Torrez, age 17

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In Elementary School Back in elementary school, I got bullied a few times.

They never left me alone, until one day my mom heard what was happening and she put an end to it. When I went back to school no one messed with me again. Plus, I was a quiet child, very shy. I didn’t bother anyone. Sometimes I just liked being alone because it was easier than dealing with immature kids. When the teacher would put us in groups for projects, any chance I could get to do it alone I took it because half the time I just didn’t know anyone.

My mom told me that I had a friend and every time someone would bully me, he would come and save me.

Denise Reyes, age 17

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Caught Red Handed Skipped out caught red handed this police stopped me.

About 3 AM laying on this rooftop, spray paint all over my hands.

This wall unfinished.

The sirens going off.

“What to do?”

I could be in bed staring at those glow in the dark stars that were on my ceiling.

Finally off of the rooftop the officer grabs me, cuffs my hands, and drops me.

My arms were bent back even more than they were supposed to be.

This officer bullied me, and he knew it.

He repeatedly yelled, cussed, and laughed at me. It wasn’t fun, but oh well…

Sergio Gonzalez, age 17

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The Rock A rock smooth edges with dark shadows deep greys and silver specks shimmering like stars the smell is earthy mixed with damp rain a sharp metal taste smooth rough yet soft memories of always tripping come to mind they always laugh at me but I still like them.

Rocks remind me of my dream the dark cellar light appears and I get shot dark spurts never-ending darkness eternal anguish silver grey tears I like this rock it’s pretty.

Hayley Labarca, age 17

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Love

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Agape (A Spiritual Love) He is not man, not man at all. He’s my Father, a Holy Father in the glorious shining skies of eternity. You live and believe in him, there is no fear. Don’t worry. He is always there. There are descriptions of him, for he is not seen. Some don’t believe because of that, but you can’t see wings, and yet you know He’s there. He wraps his arms around his child when cold and lonely.

His warm smiles cure the shivering child. You feel his presence.

So graceful So peaceful So right He is the definition of love.

His warm kiss caresses your cheek.

He shows his love, even to the troubled.

There he is in the eyes of the troubled boy holding him up like a house of cards, keeping him from collapsing. He is here, he is there, he is everywhere.

This is true love. This is agape love.

Tyler Wright, age 17

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Love Love is easy and simply explainable, yet unexplainable. Crazy isn’t it? People say it hurts, hard to find, or not needed. It’s true you can live solvent, full of hatred and in stupidity, but that’s for the weak and ignorant. I used to be like that always complaining why love feels a certain way and if it disappears you turn to darkness. My great-grandmother saved me from that — I thought I had nothing to live for. I thought no one cared, but my grandmother made it all worth living. People complain too much blaming other people for the unfortunate events or occurrences that happen to them as if the world and life is against them. Maybe it’s life wondering how strong you are?

If you can overcome hatred and vengeance, you can find love and kindness, which conquers all. I think it’s a great feeling, but this is just my opinion and my feelings and if people can’t accept that they can kiss my BUTT! Love is something you can use to save the world or simply enjoy it letting yourself free. To me it’s something I have to keep and to gain its trust. Love is common sense. Something you don’t have to think about, it’s just there. It happens. It can become YOU only if you let it…..

David Samudio, age 17

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Love The first time I found out what love is was in a relationship that I had a few years ago and it was my first real relationship. We were together for eight months. Towards the end of our relationship, I started talking to someone else so we had broken up. I had got with that other person and one weekend I was waiting for my girlfriend to call me to see if we were going to make plans, but she never called. So I called up my ex and she was willing to hang out with me. So her mother dropped her off and while we were there watching TV my girlfriend had called, but I told her I was busy. After we hung up, my exgirlfriend started crying. I asked her what was wrong.

She said that she loves me and at that moment I felt loved, but when she was really gone for good I know what love was, because I couldn’t let her go and was always thinking about her and at that moment I felt how much it hurts. I was scared to love again.

Christina Flores, age 18

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Unexplainable Out late at night, I found myself standing and walking around the football field, just enjoying life, a memyself-and-I moment, a chilly breeze came by as I’m spacing out to the distance, just basically thinking and wondering about life… All of a sudden a text message came in, it read “I LOVE YOU!! You are not alone, I promised you since day one I’ll be here for you and I’m standing to it.” My emotions were racing, tears falling along the side of my face. To receive that text message from that certain person at that very moment, really meant a lot… Just as I thought I had nothing better for myself, having a hard time trying to figure out what’s best for me, and getting that text really opened a lot! That love I have with that certain person is “UNEXPLAINABLE.” Not many will understand or even get it but only we could tell how we both feel about each other, that certain person is my Best Friend, my Partner in Crime, my BuB de BESTIE, so many nicknames I have… Only the man above knows what’s in store for us, and I leave it all in his hands, I trust him. That night at the football field made me realize a lot, little by little, a step at a time our friend-relationship will grow closer than it has.

I can’t say what would happen in a week or two or maybe in months, just living the high life, with my best friend by my side…

Yesenia Ramirez, age 18

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It Was My Favorite It’s yellow, has a red shirt, big belly, small eyes, and tiny ears like mine. I remember when I was little, it was my favorite cartoon character. I never went anywhere without it. One day when I was five years old it told me a bedtime story. We had many conversations especially that day when I said, “I love hugging because it feels like cotton.” It was all kinds of smells, sometimes it smelled like drool. When my mom washed it, it smelled like laundry detergent.

When we played outside it kind of smelled liked dirt and rocks… GROSS.

Aaliyah S.

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Mom Every time I’m with my mom I feel loved because I know she cares about me. She does everything to keep me happy. I love her to death. She means the world to me. I know she will do anything for me. She works very hard to give me everything I need. She cooks for me and whenever I have problems she helps me.

Like one time I had to go to court and she went with me and they wanted to send me to Juvenile and my mom said “No” — that she was going to do the best to make me do better in school and not get in trouble.

Another time she took me to the hospital, because I twisted my ankle and it was hurting really bad, and she got worried. So, that is why she took me, and that day I realized that she cares a lot for me.

Edgar R.

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My Favorite Ring Shiny silver rose. It was my favorite ring. My grandmother gave it to me on my 15th birthday. A year later she passed away. I treasured my rose ring, I loved it, and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world. Every time I felt down and alone I would play with my silver rose and remind myself that my grandmother is with me.

I feel down when my parents fight with my brother because of the things my brother does, like disrespect them and treat me and my family bad. The day I lost my silver rose I was devastated. I turned my house upside down just looking for my special ring. But never found it. A week later I found $200 under a table in a restaurant. It was my lucky day. I went to a jewelry store and bought a replica of my silver rose ring.

Joana Martinez, age 18

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My Little Brother My little brother is everything to me because he is the only brother I have. Since he only has me to look up to and the only brother he has, I have to take care of him as if he was my child. Every day when I pick him up from school he would tell me hi, shake my hand, and in the funniest way he would say, “Hello Hector.” It always makes me happy when he greets me because I know he loves me just as much as I love him. Every day when we go home he always wants me to play or watch TV with him. But sometimes I can’t because I have to either do homework or go somewhere, but I always try to make some time to spend with him so he won’t feel unappreciated or not wanted. Either way he will always be my brother.

Hector Valencia

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I Don’t Really Know What Love Is I don’t really know what love is, because it’s something indescribable. But in my life I have many really important people to me. Examples are obvious: in the first place, my parents. They mean everything to me. And those people who I know for a fact are really my best friends, or something similar. With time, they pass as a member of my family, like brothers, sisters, cousins, etc…

For those people I feel a lot of things, I cannot see my life without one of them, family and friends…

Exaggerated, but I can say that I would give my own life without thinking once about it, for them. If they are sad, I am sad too. I always want the best for them, if I can do something that can make them happy, I do it.

It doesn’t matter if I am sad or something like that as long as they are happy, I am happy too. And I don’t know what to say because what I feel for them is so big, so irreplaceable that I can’t explain it, but I think that is love. This feeling, I know for sure, is never going to change.

Yes! People can change as time passes, things occur, but I am always going to feel this because love is love and is something that you need every day.

Guadalupe Sampayo, age 15 49

Unconditional Love My mom and dad have been there for me since I was born.

Mom would dress me with a bow bigger than my head.

I was her muñeca.

When I was a little girl I remember my dad working hard for my family and me to raise us the best he could.

When I was 3 years old my parents brought the whole family to the United States.

When I was growing up I made mistakes in life like any human being.

But my parents told me, no matter what happens, no matter what mistakes I made, they would always love me, because I’m always going to be their little girl, Su muñeca.

And that’s what I call Unconditional Love.

Esmeralda Rivas, age 15

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Element A symbol of an Eagle Raising its wings on top of a ball A rollercoaster Feeling free of air and free of mind I’m imagining myself on top of the world I’m soaring in the sky carefree No worries, my success drastically rising Dreams of being superhuman Unique and bringing great character Trying my best never slumping down Full of courage, integrity, honor, I love The high sky blue spirit Smells like a golden opportunity Feels like glory Sounds like a warrior Tastes like victory Looks like greatness.

David Samudio, age 17

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Love Sometime during 1995 a lady (my godmother) was there for me the whole time.

Treating me as if I were a one-in-a-million type of baby.

Even now in 2011, they are still there.

They go above and beyond to make sure I have what I want and need.

They would actually go without if I really wanted or needed anything.

That tells me they will love me no matter what, right or wrong.

Aaliyah S.

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Love Mostly all people feel, show, or have love. I’ve felt love before by my boyfriend. But the time I really felt love was by my father. I know my dad loves me. He’s always there for me 100%. But, it was one day when I was younger. I was at my dad’s for the weekend. It was that time when my mom came to pick me up. I didn’t want to go, I hated living with my mother. It was a bright sunny day. Hot outside. I told my dad I didn’t want to leave. I started to cry. My father grabbed me and hugged me and told me everything will be okay.

He told me “I love you and if you ever need anything I will be here for you.” My father told me, “Don’t worry you will be okay.” He hugged me tight and at that moment I felt okay, because I knew for sure that he was telling me the truth. I knew for sure that he really did love me. As I walked away and got into the car, and we drove away I was sitting down happy inside because I felt love from my father. Still to this day I know my father loves me and he sure does show it!

Katherine Vela-Sanchez, age 17

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Dot The black dot that would welcome me every morning as I put on my contacts was the black solemn dot that I would look at right before going to bed, when my mother would force me to lotion. It was the dot I grew up seeing since age six. It was my median guide, my planet orbit…my middle finger.

I never saw the discoloration of it. I just saw it as a guide, like a hint of peppered cheese on the tip of my finger that would point me in my direction. I wasn’t really sure what this dot was, therefore I would constantly try to bite it off. I didn’t mind having it on.

If anything I felt a representation of myself sucked in my skin. It might have been a mole or a piece of clotted dust in my system that couldn’t be removed, but I really didn’t mind it. When looking at it I could even see myself planted on it, standing on it like a settled land. In a way I felt like a UFO walking around but I never even noticed the discoloration that was happening as the years passed by. The dot that was there… who knows what it was, but I recover a sense of emptiness as I discover new moles on my thin meaty skin, but I have not seen one since like the one on the tip of my finger.

Erika Vazquez, age 17

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My Grandmother I lost my grandmother when I was about 6. I still remember the grief, and the slight feeling of my heart beating like a metronome. The feeling was gnawing at me, even though I was too young to comprehend the situation, I knew for a fact that she was gone and out of my life. But she wasn’t forgotten. She could never be forgotten, well at least not in my memory.

Someone as special as her? Never in a million years.

She was always there for me, and as a child I was so attached to her. I never wanted to leave her side.

Those days when I’d just be outside with her, or when I would sit waiting in the living room looking at all those beautiful Aztec almanacs. It may not seem perfect to me now, but back then it was paradise.

Now every time I come into relation with her smile, when I see, hear, read, or talk about her, I smile.

Those delicious tamales she would make, and who could ever forget the cookies she would bake? She will never be gone as long as I have my memory, because the dead are only dead when we forget them.

Sergio Gonzalez, age 17

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Erika Her hair in a ponytail with caramel colors, a unique sense of color.

Her hands are artist hands with a variety of colors and patterns.

She is very energetic, very happy, never sad or depressed, very funny, but sometimes shy.

Her fashion sense is very unique.

She is the most unique person I’ve ever known with her bright-colored clothes.

She hates being at home, she’s a very outgoing person who wants to be free and live her life.

She loves food.

Food emphasizes her personality, it’s part of who she is, she loves all kinds of food like Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and seafood.

She is not shy to say what’s on her mind, like if you are rude to her, she will tell you straight up, what’s on her mind.

Denise Reyes, age 17 56

Her Hair is Black as Night Her hair is as black as night.

She seems cool and composed while her hairstyle seems relaxed and fun.

For some strange reason the grey sweater represents sports.

Her skin is chocolate.

The hoops may represent a party side to her.

Her smile is big and her eyes are bright.

Her personality seems to be talkative, outgoing optimistic, sporty.

Hayley Labarca, age 17

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Writer-in-Residence Trey Moore, a poet and fourth-generation carpenter, holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Texas State University. He has traveled extensively (Alaska, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos) and has taught as a poet in public schools and juvenile detention centers, as well as at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas. His work has appeared in the Texas Observer and a number of anthologies, including Is This Forever or What? and Between Heaven and Texas. He has two books of poetry—We Forget We Are Water, and Some Will Play The Cello. A Spanishspeaking Texas native, arts activist, and builder of community gardens, Trey’s poems investigate “our intimate, indivisible relationship to nature” from a city-dweller’s perspective.

Artist-in-Residence Fadela Castro was born in Africa, grew up in Mexico City, and currently lives in the U.S. She began creating art as a child and has been commissioned to create many private as well as public works of art nationally and internationally. She is an artist, photographer and educator who has taught art and photography through various organizations including Jump-Start Performance Co., Gemini Ink, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, and VSA Arts of Texas (Vision. Strength. Access.), among others. She is co-creator of FotoFronteras, a vocational photography course designed for youth from Central and South America currently in detention.

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A FOCUS ON READING AND WRITING FOR ALL

Gemini Ink nurtures writers and readers and builds community through literature and the related arts. At Gemini Ink we believe human story in all its diverse and complicated forms and genres—from poetry and fiction to memoir and oral tradition—is essential to developing compassion and richness in both individual and community life. We encourage focused reading, writing, and exchange at every level, from elementary school students to incarcerated youth and from the polished professional writer to the elder who has always wanted to record her family stories.

Writers in Communities (WIC) sends professional writers into diverse community settings to work alongside students of all ages, needs, interests, and abilities in free workshops based in oral traditions, reading, and creative writing.

Open Classroom, comprising Autograph Series and Breakthrough Thinkers, presents writers of national and international stature—many of them recipients of major prizes such as the Pulitzer or National Book Award—in free public performances followed by audience Q&A. University Without Walls (UWW) offers three semesters of fee-based reading groups and workshops and also many free literary events, all led by professional writers, scholars, and interdisciplinary artists.

Dramatic Readers Theater (DRT) features professional actors interpreting literary works in free performances, often accompanied by original music.

Contributions and donations of time and resources are gratefully accepted.

For more information about Gemini Ink, visit www.geminiink.org or call 210.734.9673

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513 S. Presa San Antonio, Texas 78205 877.734.9673 geminiink.org

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