Wordplay

Just Buffalo’s Annual Anthology of Student Writing

2013

WELCOME TO WORDPLAY Welcome to Wordplay 2013, Just Buffalo Literary Center’s annual publication of the most outstanding student writing produced during our Writers in Education programs over the past year.

Each year, more than 100 classrooms throughout Western New York open their doors to our team of talented teaching artists. Our teaching artists are professional writers with a passion to bring the creative writing process to schoolchildren of all ages. They include poets, fiction writers, playwrights, journalists, and book artists.

As part of the Writers in Education program, our teaching artists are partnered with classroom teachers to custom design theme-based lesson plans that complement the Common Core Learning Standards and, at the same time, ignite the imaginations of students. This partnership— known as Writer Residencies—can include anywhere from 5 to 15 classes or sessions, during which students are immersed in reading, writing, and creating their own original work.

It is our hope at Just Buffalo that Writer Residencies engage students and give them space and time to generate new creative ideas about their world. Through the creative writing process, students are given the freedom to express a new idea and use imaginative language. This experience works to awaken the senses and allow students to connect with the world in which they live.

From my own experience as a classroom teacher for ten years, I know first-hand that there is a creative side embedded somewhere in each and every student. The challenge is finding an outlet or exercise to allow students’ imaginations to explode on paper. The Writer Residencies work to unlock students’ creativity and help them enjoy writing, providing opportunities to pour their thoughts out into the world for everyone to enjoy.

The student writing featured in this anthology was chosen from over 700 submissions. The work contained on the following pages reminds us just how compelling the written word can be, and how capturing a particular moment enables us to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the world.

The joint education program of CEPA Gallery and Just Buffalo Literary Center

It was a joy having the opportunity to read the poems of such talented young poets and writers. They filled me with a sense of awe and I hope they do the same for you.

www.writingwithlightbuffalo.org 716.832.5400

Noah Falck Education Director Just Buffalo Literary Center

All photos of students participating in our education programs were captured by Jon R. Hand (unless otherwise noted).

Just Buffalo gratefully acknowledges the funding support essential to making our Writers in Education programs and this publication possible:

Cameron & Jane Baird Foundation Veljko Jellech Trust George G. and Elizabeth G. Smith Foundation, Inc.

Writers in Education programs are provided in partnership with the following:

Erie 1 BOCES Buffalo Board of Education

Our sincerest thanks to the teachers, principals, parents and, most of all, the talented students who participated in Just Buffalo Literary Center’s successful education programs.

Meet the Writers José Alvergue is currently a student in the UB Poetics program. He holds an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts, School of Critical Studies, and has published in avant-garde journals like Nocturnes and Black Clock. His book, us look up/ there red dwells was published by Queue Books in 2008. José first began teaching poetry, music, and visual art to K1 students in 2001, with a focus on bilingual retention through the expression of language in all its possible forms.

Karima Amin preserves the art of storytelling in performances, workshops, and author visits for story lovers of all ages. She is the author of a children’s book, The Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Friends (Dorling Kindersley, 1999), as well as several original stories that have been anthologized in African American Children’s Stories: A Treasury of Tradition and Pride (2001) and Grandma Loves You (2003).

Her CD, You Can Say That Again! earned a Parents’ Choice Foundation Gold Award in 2005.

Susan Hodge Anner is a poet, playwright, and is certified in Special Education. Her work has been performed in New York, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Washington, D.C. Her play, “Letters to The World,” was produced in 2007 as part of The Infringement Festival in Buffalo. She also teaches playwriting in the University at Buffalo’s Theatre Department.

JUST BUFFALO Wordplay VOLUME XIV 2013 Editor Noah Falck Cover Art / Page Design Julian Montague Picturing Poetry & Reclaiming Buffalo Manuscript Preparation Nikki Gorman, Lauren Tent Photography Jon Hand Just Buffalo Administration

Akron Elementary School Buffalo Seminary Charter School for Applied Technologies Clinton Elementary School

Discovery School, P.S. 67 D’Youville Porter School, P.S. 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

Artistic Director Barbara Cole

Highgate Heights, P.S. 80 Hillery Park Elementary, P.S. 27

McKinley High School, P.S. 305

Grantwriter Kathleen Kearnan

Mount St. Mary Academy

Executive Assistant Lynda Kaszubski

North Park Middle Academy, P.S. 66

www.justbuffalo.org

Margaret Konkol holds a PhD from the Poetics Program at SUNY Buffalo. Her work appears in PQUEUE, Ekleksographia, Reconfigurations, charity llc, Working Papers, Jacket, Little Red Leaves, and Damn the Caesars. Margaret founded and ran the Mildred Lockwood Lacey Small Press in the Archive Lecture Series (2008-2012), a series devoted to highlighting original creative-critical research. She now lives in Atlanta where she teaches at Georgia Tech and performs at Borderline Gallery.

Houghton Academy, P.S. 69

Finance Director Kris Pope

Just Buffalo Literary Center 617 Main St., Suit 202A, Buffalo NY 14203

Robin Lee Jordan received her MFA in Poetry from Oregon State University. Her prose and poetry have been published in 42opus, Toe Good Poetry, Puerto del Sol, and A cappella Zoo, who awarded her with the Apospecimen Award for short fiction. She is currently working on a mixed genre collection and teaches at the University at Buffalo and Just Buffalo Literary Center. She is also a youth mentor at Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of Western New York.

Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 156 Harriet Ross Tubman School, P.S. 31

Program Coordinator Hallie Winter

Soula Harisiadis received her BA from Barnard College and her MFA. from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

She has taught writing at New York University, Buffalo State College, and The University of Iowa.

During her time at the Iowa Center for the Book, she designed and letterpress-printed two books of her original poetry, The Blackness and the Bird and Epigenome.

Community School, P.S. 53

Executive Director Laurie Dean Torrell

Education Director Noah Falck

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Participating Schools 2011-2012

Robin Brox is a poet and the founder of Saucebox, a feminist micropress and occasional performance series. Her books include Sure Thing (BlazeVOX, 2011), Of Fracture, with mIEKAL aND (Xerox Sutra Editions, 2012), and several chapbooks. A graduate of Amherst High School, she earned an MA in English from The University of Maine—Orono in 2005 and a BA in English from SUNY—Buffalo in 2001.

In addition to creative writing workshops for youth through Just Buffalo and other arts organizations in Western New York.

Pinnacle Charter School Roosevelt ECC, P.S. 65 P.S. 81 School Southside Elementary, P.S. 93 Tapestry Charter High School

Heather McEntarfer is a doctoral student at the University at Buffalo. She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh. Heather has taught composition and creative writing at Niagara University and the University of Pittsburgh, and also at the secondary level through programs such as Upward Bound and the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project. She holds an undergraduate degree in Integrated Language Arts. Her creative nonfiction has been published in several literary journals, including River Teeth and Permafrost.

Ellen Melamed, MA, Columbia University, created The Playwriting Project in 1982, and has taught theatre arts for grades 3-12 in New York City and Buffalo. Her play, Ethel, based on the life of Ethel Rosenberg, was produced off- Broadway. She was the academic tutor for The Cosby Show and a teaching artist for Theatre Development Fund, Young Audiences, and Arts Connection. Currently, she is a certified Alexander Technique teacher and teaching artist, and will begin teaching playwriting at Buffalo State College in summer 2013.

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Meet the Writers

Meet the Book Artists & Photographers

Brian Mihok is from New Jersey, but has lived in Florida, California and Massachusetts. His fiction has been published in several literary journals, including Hobart, Necessary Fiction, and TRNSFR. His novel, The Quantum Manual of Style, was recently published by Aqueous Books. He is an associate editor for sunnyoutside press in Buffalo, and is co-founder and editor of matchbook, an online journal of indeterminate prose.

Joel Brenden is an artist and educator working within a broad range of disciplines including photography and bookmaking. A native of Washington State, he received his MFA in Visual Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2008. His work has since been exhibited nationally.

Sherry Robbins has conducted creative writing workshops throughout New York State and abroad since the beginning of time and works with hundreds of students each year. She has a Masters in the poetics of ecstasy and two books of poetry, Snapshots of Paradise and Or, the Whale. Sherry ran her own letterpress for years, is a certified yoga teacher, and a multi-year panelist for the NEA’s Art Works program.

Kate Ebling is an artist and educator, currently teaching Studio in Art and Digital Photography at John F. Kennedy High School. She received her BS in Art Education, minoring in Art Therapy, and her M.S. in Educational Technology with a focus on Digital Media and Arts at the State University of New York College at Buffalo.

Gary Earl Ross is a language arts professor at the University at Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center.

His works include the short story collections The Wheel of Desire (2000) and Shimmerville (2002); the children’s tale, Dots (2002); the historical novel Blackbird Rising (2009); and the stage plays Sleepwalker (2002), Picture Perfect (2007), The Best Woman (2007), Murder Squared (2010), The Scavenger’s Daughter (2012), and Matter of Intent, winner of the 2006 Edgar Allan Poe Award from Mystery Writers of America.

Aitina Fareed is an entrepreneur and creative media artist who is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology at State University of New York College at Buffalo. She has served as the Youth Services Site Coordinator with the CAO N.U.R.T.U.R.E, the Youth Development Professional with the Boys & Girls Club, Youth Skill Builder and Mentor with The Heart Foundation and Gateway Longview, and as a teaching artist at CEPA Gallery.

Jon Rutzmoser is a writer, artist, and educator. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Integrated Media from CalArts. His recent writing appears or is forthcoming in Joyland, Drunken Boat, Prism of Reality, and X-TRA. His book shhhh! it’s poetry is forthcoming from Insert Blanc Press.

Christopher Fritton is a local artist who holds a BA in Philosophy and a BA in English from the University at Buffalo (2000), as well as an MA in Poetics from the University of Maine at Orono (2005). He is a published poet and professional artist whose work often integrates technical and scientific language with sentimental humanism in small, handmade, limited edition books.

Divya Victor is a doctoral candidate at SUNY Buffalo’s poetics and most recently author of Partial Derivative of the Unnamable. She is also author of PUNCH and Goodbye John! On John Baldessari, both from Gauss PDF, Hellocasts by Charles Reznikoff by Divya Victor by Vanessa Place (Ood press), and SUTURES (Little Red Leaves). Her books of poems Things to Do with Your Mouth is forthcoming as part of Les Figues Press’s TrenchArt series. She is a member of the publishing collective Troll Thread press and a writer for Jacket2.

Nikki Gorman is a Teaching Artist for CEPA Gallery. Originally from Syracuse, NY, she received her BFA in Photography and MEd in Teaching in and Through The Arts from the University at Buffalo.

Ryan Rose Weaver received her degree in journalism from Boston’s Emerson College before working as a content editor in New England’s tech sector and a freelance food and arts journalist. In 2010, she moved to South Korea to pursue her interests in food, education and travel while teaching English at a private academy in Seoul. As of fall 2011, she has relocated to Western New York to be closer to family, and now works as Yelp’s Buffalo community manager, encouraging great writers around WNY, and rediscovering all the history and culture this area of the country has to offer.

Catherine Linder Spencer is a visual artist whose work has been exhibited at local museums and galleries including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Burchfield Penney Art Center. She has participated in public art projects such as “Art on Wheels” and “Herd About Buffalo.” A tireless advocate for Western New York’s arts, cultural, educational and environmental community for 20 years, she has taught classes at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Bryant Street Studio and designed a children’s art program at VIVE La Casa.

Janna Willoughby-Lohr has been writing poetry since she was 5 and performing since age 12. She graduated from Warren Wilson College in 2004 with a BA in Entrepreneurial Creative Business Arts.

Janna was a Grand Slam finalist in 2005-2008 for the Nickel City Poetry Slam, and a member of the 2006 Nickel City Slam team at the National Poetry Slam. She is an editor and layout artist for Earth’s Daughters literary magazine, the longest running women’s publication in the country. She also runs her own business, Papercraft Miracles, making custom handmade books and papercrafts.

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SELF-PORTRAITS

SELF-PORTRAITS LIFE AS YOU SEE IT

Inspired by everything from ice cream to the waves of the sea, students prove time and again that it can be equally inspiring to look within themselves.

Tyreshia Chillis

I AM Hafsah Abdulhalim I am the person that whispers do good…

I am the something that wants to but never should…

I am the smile on your face…

But on a dark day the smile fades away…

I am the blue calm ocean that flows wherever I want…

I am the quiet little girl mixed up in a bunch…THAT’S ME!

I AM THE BOY WHO ALWAYS GETS

Grade 5 Community School, P.S. 53

Jaymeri Smith

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I am the boy who always gets picked on. I get hurt, you laugh and if I get a question wrong, you laugh. I don’t know if you know, but I am somebody, I will be somebody, I always will be somebody. I am the wings of God, the voice of the birds.

“The impact of this experience cannot be measured. They have been given wings to fly as they put pen in hand. A seed has been planted, their growth is limitless.”

Grade 5 Community School, P.S. 53

Nancy Lonergan, 4th grade teacher, Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

I am the wave of the roaring sea…

I am that animal that never sleeps…

I am that child that will never be able to eat, drink, see, or just be me... this was what I was meant to be, that dark black wave on the roaring sea...

Grade 5 Community School, P.S. 53

ALL ABOUT ME Timea Barlow I’m a whistle in the wind blowing things away I’m a cheetah in the grass looking for something to eat. I’m a shining star at night.

I’m everything so bright.

I’m a summery, summery breeze, so cool.

I’m a person eating cool ice cream.

That’s me!

Grade 3 Community School, P.S. 53

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JUST WRITE ABOUT IT Perhaps what is most unique about Just Buffalo Literary Center’s Writer Residencies is how these young people’s imaginations burst onto the page. These young writers give language a new life by sharing their creativity. Whether it is through reimagining ancient times or the many ways the color red speaks out, these students have the courage to “just write about it.”

JUST WRITE ABOUT IT THE RAIN THAT BEATS ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE*

The snow that falls on the roof in winter.

The leaves that fall on the ground in fall.

The beaming heat, it feels like it fell on me.

The rain that beats on the roof of the house, and the wind that flows away at night.

*poem inspired by a line from Elizabeth Bishop’s “Sestina”

FALLING* REFLECTION

Gillian Brown

Charles Edwards

A penny shows truth

I was walking on a shiny day then I saw a boy in the water. He said keep walking.

I said why are you in the water with a bike? He did not say anything.

When I reached for him he said stop, do not touch me. I pulled my hand away. He said I need to stay. I quietly touched him, but it was just a reflection. I said where did he go?

the love that comes from it shows the head that led our country the fortune it brings to our pockets the bronze shine that lights up our sky.

Grade 6 Southside Elementary, P.S. 93

Grade 4 Community School, P.S. 53

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Amira Almadrahi

Aaliyah Stewart

Grade 5 Community School, P.S. 53

A PENNY

WRITE ABOUT IT

Elijah Ray Why, I wouldn’t know anything about it, even if I fell off the top of the house, would the fall ever come to an end?

I must be getting somewhere near the center of the earth. Yes, that’s about right. I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth.

Grade 3 Community School, P.S. 53 *poem inspired from a page of Alice in Wonderland

Write About It,

Because Your Mind Is Like A Balloon

It Can Only Hold So Much, And Then It Breaks And You Lose It You Lose Yourself

It’s Gonna Happen Anyways

So Why Not Lose Yourself?

Lose your Self In Writing As If In A

Labyrinth

Of

Words.

Just Write About It,

Write About It Because

It’s Going To Keep Irritating You. Until You Let It Out. Write About It, Don’t Think About It, Write About It. Grade 6 Southside Elementary, P.S. 93

SUMMER SUN Ava Martina The summer sun Burns my face, at least it’s Not snowing out Grade 3 Akron Elementary School

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JUST WRITE ABOUT IT

JUST WRITE ABOUT IT

RELAXATION

DOWN IN ANCIENT

OUR HOPES AND DREAMS

UNTITLED

LaKayla Hall

Ilanna Jenkins

a collaborative poem by Mrs. Restivo’s class

Dynasti Embry

peaceful meadow flowers flowing through the air calming all my nerves listening to my favorite song splash right in the water go for a walk on the beach

I live in ancient times where the strawberries bloom, where flames sometimes freeze. I live down by the cemetery of Numinous.

Every time it’s nighttime I go to bed fearful under blankets. I have a pony always at my door ready to ride. Sometimes at night I wait outside for the mist.

Our hopes and dreams are mostly about family and friends.

We hope for joy and love.

We dream of loving and hoping that our friends care about us.

We dream of a time when there would be no fighting and no gangs in the streets.

We dream of a time when our country could not be destroyed and we could live forever and never die.

We dream of a time when it would be normal for school to be everyday, and dreams of being a princess, or dreams of being famous, or dreams of having a job in the Army could come true.

For now, we hope to play outside, ride a two-wheel bike, and dream of being a gymnast on TV. Our Hopes and Dreams.

It’s fun to be alone

Grade 4 Community School, P.S. 53

Grade 5 North Park Middle Academy, P.S. 66

THE COLOR RED Seidrick A. Red’s the color of blood running through your veins.

Red’s the color of a starting fire. Red’s the mood of an angry person. Or when you have to stop at a red light or red stop sign. The sound of a building being demolished. The smell of an erupting volcano.

The motion of an earthquake.

Red is the time of a sunset.

Red can be hatred.

It can be a cold star up in outer space or something with an angry, angry face.

Grade 4 Community School, P.S. 53

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THE SOUND OF SILENCE Arianna H. Hawaii’s wind blows.

The season of the music snows.

The grass begins to sway.

The pollen blows away.

Whistling a tune, The wind will stop soon.

Dancing all around, The grass dives down.

Grade 4 P.S. 81 School

Grade 2 Roosevelt ECC, P.S. 65

Grade 5 North Park Middle Academy, P.S. 66

WORM Megan Zwetsch As pink as a baby’s skin, smooth like silk, as wiggly as your finger, and as quiet as a mouse, unique in a way, so are you everyday, even if it can’t speak it has feelings, just like you, it’s a living thing just like you, everything you do it comes back to haunt you.

Grade 6 Southside Elementary, P.S. 93

THE SPIDER WEAVING ITS WEB Antonio Giusti The spider’s web is strong.

The designs are never wrong.

Grade 5 North Park Middle Academy, P.S. 66

UNTITLED Jeremy Hinman calm down and relax listen to paper airplanes gliding through the air Grade 5 North Park Middle Academy, P.S. 66

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PICturing Poetry Seven years ago, we joined forces with our collaborative partner, CEPA Gallery, and formed Writing with Light, our joint education program, bringing together photography and writing.

In Picturing Poetry, Writing with Light’s flagship program, students first learn the elements of photography from a CEPA Gallery teaching artist before taking home their own black-and-white cameras to practice what they have learned. Once their photographs have been developed, students exercise their critical thinking skills in selecting their best image. Then, over the course of multiple writing sessions, students compose original poems inspired by their photos.

Each project concludes with a final celebration where students perform their writing alongside their projected artwork as well as an in-school exhibition of all of the students’ finished work in an area where the entire school community can appreciate the inspiring artwork.

The artworks on these pages represent a small fraction of the hundreds of pieces students have created in Picturing Poetry.

PICTURING POETRY A Tree, a Branch A tree, a branch, so flimsy, so weak.

Blowing wind bends the tree.

It makes it plain, no leaves in sight.

A tree, a branch, scraping the house.

The tree is high, as high as the roof.

I could climb it if it wasn’t so flimsy.

Andrew V. Grade 4 Discovery School, P.S. 67

A joint education program of CEPA Gallery and Just Buffalo Literary Center

The Flag

Stop Bullying

I was up in the air so proud.

I am sad.

I am mad.

Don’t be silent.

Confront it.

Report it.

End it.

Everyone is fighting.

The trees are dead.

I am riding to schools to help stop bullying everywhere.

To be up here I will stay strong stay invincible for the rest of my life.

But now knowing I’m hurt and torn up.

I’m laying on my side as you can see hoping and hoping

Destiny Smith Grade 5 Houghton Academy, P.S. 69

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that one day I will

Please help schools.

Luke Lester Grade 4 Discovery School, P.S. 67

be mended.

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PICTURING POETRY

PICTURING POETRY

Listen let me play you what my feelings sound like, slurring and trying to tie together these indescribable emotions.

I’ll make a rhythm to express my heart’s desires.

Together they will join to become a symphony of my mind.

The thoughts I think will create their own vibrato and will express to you what I hide, what my mind treasures.

Just be aware that playing music isn’t an activity by any means but a haven to myself.

Sincerely, The Musician

UNTITLED Hard, crackly platform at my feet, delicate wind on my shoulder hot bright sun beaming down on my forehead splashing of water prickling my skin a yellow wall of voices speaking their love the calm even flow of my family I feel safe, no drama, no pressure just me, my family

Nylah Pringle Grade 8 Charter School for Applied Technologies

Madissen Garland Grade 8 Charter School for Applied Technologies

Skyrim The Queen sweeping the land after all her warriors lost the battle

Asil Garden filled with flowers and trees.

Green and white brighten her life.

My sister trims the flowers and trees.

The Heavenly light coming down to take all the killed warriors

DO NOT EAT THE LEAVES. These leaves are for animals only.

Sweet and Sour smelling flowers.

Nasro Ahmed

The wind whispers softly like the buzz of a bumble bee.

Luis Dieguez Ortega

Grade 5 D’Youville-Porter Campus School, P.S. 3

I can smell the rain coming.

Grade 5 D’Youville-Porter Campus School, P.S. 3

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A master about to come from the dark to take the souls.

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PICTURING POETRY

PICTURING POETRY Still There Still not moving looking not a sound up and down straight and tall long and big no sound still not moving at all it’s looking I’m looking quiet one sound I turned around still there

Amiyah Pope Grade 5 Highgate Heights Elementary, P.S. 80

Lost and Found, a Poem for Two Voices I’m lost. There is no hope.

I’m starving.

I’ve been lost for a month.

Maybe I should get a new life on this river.

Who is that?

Finally, I found you!

Water Flow Water flow water flow only such little time to go.

The water pulling me into its relaxing bed.

My life being put in the thrill of the lake.

All the waves will soon shake.

The water flowing, days going.

The days going, water flowing water flow water flow only such little time to go.

(both) This is great!

Let’s start again here.

Nicholas Paradowski Grade 5 Hillery Park Elementary, P.S. 27

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I’m lost. I can’t take it.

I’m hungry.

I’ve been lost for weeks.

I should just start my life again.

Who are you?

This is great!

Vinicio Brancato Grade 4 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

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NarrAtive Poems Whether they are inspired by moving to a new place, the sadness in the loss of a beloved grandfather, or even a simple bike ride, some of the best poems tell us stories.

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MY BROTHER

UNCLE MORRIS

Trayvon Frisby

Mrs. Seitz

My brother dillies and dallies, he gets on my nerves. I would throw him like a boomerang if he could curve. I would flush him down the toilet if he was small enough. I would fill him up with helium and let him blow away in wind.

I would send him into space if he could breathe. Get him far away from me, please!

My great uncle Morris would pinch my earlobe to say hello, buy you an ice cream cone and eat half of it to make sure it was safe for you to eat.

He loved to be called “Uncle Morris darling dear,” and he was.

Grade 5 Community School, P.S. 53

Special Education Teacher Community School, P.S. 53

NarrAtive Poems THE FLOW OF MY BLACK BIKE Kenneth Shields The flow of my black bike Tires on the concrete Is like the beat Of my heart under my Skin.

The spinning of my Flat pedals is like The spinning of My head.

The tight grip of my Handle bars is like Gripping for life.

The breeze of Riding my bike is like Diving into a deep pool.

The spokes of my Rim remind me of The earth rotating Around the sun.

My back rim is Like a bee singing Zzzzzzz.

The squeak of my Brakes is like A sneaker in the hall.

When I’m on my Bike, nothing else Matters.

Grade 6 Southside Elementary, P.S. 93

THE LAST DAY Elizabeth Cornell I woke up with my heart pounding like

a base drum early in the morning

I was seven it was an extremely hot summer day I would not be playing outside though I rushed got my clothes on all I wanted to do was see him

see that my grandfather’s breath was not stolen during the night I got to the hospital

all I could see was the angles on his wall then I saw him

he was there waiting for me to jump

into his arms then he looked at the wall and hesitated

as he took his last breath he said

“I love you” I could feel tears in my eyes i held them back I had to tell my family that he died and what his last words were when I told my mother I could see the rain storm in her eyes and the fear that she did not have her father anymore.

Grade 6 Southside Elementary, P.S. 93

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NarrAtive Poems

NarrAtive Poems

THE BIG MOVE

A FURRY SURPRISE

Ruth Baez

Riley Ritchie

It was June 15, 2007.

The day of the big move.

The day I needed to start learning a new language.

The big day that I moved from Puerto Rico to the U.S.A.

After school Got off the bus Leaves were falling

HOCKEY PLAYER Ryan Creek

That day I felt fear but also happiness.

I felt a new beginning starting for my family.

It was the big day.

When we got to the airport there were different planes everywhere.

Hearing them start and then fly away into the air.

The airplanes were like huge birds. Birds with huge wings.

A really pleasing and shiny bright day. I was on my way, to a new start.

Grade 6 Southside Elementary, P.S. 93

Hockey player breathe, now because you just dashed up and down the ice Hockey player breathe, now grab a drink of water because you charged down the ice like a hurricane so Hockey player breathe, now because we need you out there you can’t quit on me you are the best player.

You are like a cheetah on skates when you put a game face on you are as tough as a saber tooth you are a target out there because you are the best there is.

When you get off the ice you are out of breath, and breathing hard When you get hit you don’t even make an ugh when you score fans get up and cheer.

When you get a hat trick all of your fans’ hats are on the ice so Hockey player Breathe, now.

My Mother was there To pick me up The crunch of brittle leaves Beneath our frozen feet The door closed With a slight bang And on the couch A silent sleeping puppy Was told to leave Her be. So excited So peaceful like an angel Soon enough she Would be my best friend 6th grade Southside Elementary, P.S. 93

“The program always refreshes and refocuses my teaching. It reminds me that we are writing for ourselves, and for a greater audience. It “allows” me to give writing a more prominent place in my schedule.”

Kate Willoughby, 3rd grade teacher, Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

Grade 6 Southside Elementary, P.S. 93

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FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP Just Buffalo has been partnering with the dedicated teachers and gifted students at Frederick Law Olmsted Schools since the beginning. In honor of this special partnership, we wanted to highlight some of the powerful work that has been created by the amazing students at Olmsted.

In this section you will find poems inspired by the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. You will come across poems from Bookmaking Residencies and selected work from both Picturing Poetry and Writer Residencies.

It has been an honor working with the talented teachers and students at Frederick Law Olmsted Schools. We hope to continue such a wonderful partnership. Enjoy the imaginative work!

FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP THE BRAVE PRINCESSS WHO CAN FIGHT IN WARS

DEAR WORLD, Maika Bird

Caroline Finkbeiner Dear World, I am quiet as a mouse sometimes.

Nature is my pride and shine.

Inside of me there’s hope everywhere.

There’s hope even in you.

What is it like being the earth?

I will try to help you.

Thank you for the trees.

Without you we would not be here.

The trees help us breathe.

I love the singing birds.

I will plant more trees.

I will pick up litter.

I will create a poster that says “Do not litter!”

People will recycle. (I promise!)

Do you like being the Earth?

Do you have any requests for me?

Grade 2 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

I AM THE OCEAN Hetta Gardner

MY MOM Luc Thimot The time I was at my mom’s graduation and she was sitting in the back row and I was staring at her, excited just like her.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

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I am the ocean, I wander up the beach On a cool summer day.

I see and feel all the excitement.

When my fury rises I wash the beach clean.

I rush across the ocean floor.

When I go to fetch you I sing: Swish rush toosh.

Grade 2 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

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FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

I FEEL THE GRASS Connor Quimby I feel the grass on my foot.

The river sounds like basset hounds.

OUTSIDE IN THE PARK THE SUN

MY MIND IS AS BIG AS A LAKE

THE MAGICAL OCEAN

Kobe N.

Ian Henderson

Greta L.

Outside in the park the sun shine is over head. When we run we have some fun with the wind in our hair.

My mind is as big as a lake.

I explore over the treetops.

I am as silent as a bridge expanding over a gap.

As I run to leave, I leave my home, the land seems to run along me.

I am the ocean.

I feel the glittering, tan sand.

I feel the snow freezing my top And see the sun melting it.

I touch the smooth breeze On my clear surface.

I smell like morning air.

I taste like salty salt.

And best of all you can swim with me.

It’s just like magic!

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

The cave is dark like a stormy night.

There is no sound like a bark in the light.

The flowers bloom throughout the spring.

Even then there’s no groom; there’s no one with food to bring.

Luis Luciano Sanchez

WHEN I AM IN THE FOREST I HEAR

I feel the grass on my foot.

The river sounds like basset hounds.

whispers in the stars.

Idris Young When I am in the forest I hear

When I am in the sand I feel creatures under my feet.

When I am in the moonlight all I

1 On windy mornings soldiers don’t move.

2 In the afternoon soldiers don’t see.

3 In the evening soldiers sleep.

4 At dawn soldiers eat.

hear is darkness.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

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Grade 2 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

SOLDIERS

The ant was down on the ground.

It was brown and round.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

Grade 11 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 156

IMAGINE I AM AN...

Nathan Sommer I am an ant, a little black creature, seeing giants stepping on my cousins, getting stuck in dirt, seeing a bee fly over me.

Now I’m a bee sucking nectar out of the flower. Now I’m a flower, red velvet and a nice olive green. My stem is my street and my leaves are my houses and my flower is the depths of the peaceful community park.

I am nature.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

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FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP moon carved rock

MOM

Nolan McLaughlin

Kevin Fontanez López

moon carved rock ancient carving

1

big furry owl looking at me

FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

On cold mornings Mom wakes me up in the morning.

2

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

In the afternoon Mom leaves the house and goes to school.

3 At night Mom watches novellas on Channel 38.

4

DAYDREAMING Alyssa Wasielewski Underneath the apple tree, everything looks so plain, I am inventing things right inside my brain.

I need silence everywhere, I see inside my head beautiful robins filling the air.

I now see all the nature is coming to me.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

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At dawn Mom eats soup from a small bowl.

A SWEET DAYDREAM Emma Zullich

Grade 11 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 156

I am a snake in the desert Miani Stafford

I want to be lightning because he goes fast and flies like a bird.

I am a snake in the desert.

I move like the wind.

I am all different shapes, sometimes I blend.

I’m fast and cute.

Weird, do you say?

I slide like jello.

I also stretch like clay.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

I want to be lightning Christian Burgos Torres

I would like to daydream in an empty field sitting in a circle of dandelions thinking about tall trees that I can climb, long rivers with shining fish, high hills covered with violets, and all of my friends.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

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FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP WILD NATURE Matthew Cambria

I AM Kennedy Heitman I am like a lion I love my space and myself and I am like a ball of yarn cats love to play with me I like to eat meat I like to lay back and enjoy the air me rolling on the ground.

Grade 2 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

The duck swims in the cool, cool water, the blackberries blossom on a thorny plant.

Migrating birds fly overhead.

Big storm clouds, there is sure to be a storm.

Flowers bloom in late summer.

The moon is early to rise up.

Tall grass is filled with living creatures.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP IN A PARK Tyler R. I went to a park, I saw talking trees and I heard a noise under the ground and I thought it was a dinosaur.

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

My Day Dream Maria K. Underneath an apple tree, blades of grass beneath me. I am flying in a hammock, starting to daydream.

I’m in my backyard, pillow underneath my head, now I’m starting to go to bed, the apples, they’re so red, I feel like I’m in my bed, there’s a blanket over me, I eat an apple from the apple tree, juice dripping yum, yum, yum!

Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

The Sun Is Rising Callum Silvestrini It is winter the mysterious fox spotting its prey standing on the ice roaming through the forest as white as snow the sun awakens the rocks in the ocean Grade 3 Frederick Law Olmsted School, P.S. 64

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reclaiming Buffalo This Is A Place This is a place Like a flat notebook That has been stained and forgotten

Reclaiming Buffalo, a Writing with Light program, introduces students from all over Buffalo to a unique after–school opportunity combining photography, computer literacy, and creative writing.

Students begin by photographing buildings in their neighborhood that they wish to “reclaim.”

Using PhotoShop, students transform their “before” image into an “after” and write accompanying poems or prose to put their vision into words.

Selected artworks were featured on bus shelters across Buffalo, spreading hope and inspiration throughout the city.

It is like a summer day That has been dried out It has been abducted by garbage Overflowed with disgrace...

It is like a book that You can’t read The value is broken and lost Gray grass Feels like it was tossed One that is broken and went through pain Always can

A joint education program of CEPA Gallery and Just Buffalo Literary Center

Be reclaimed

BEFORE 32

Kofi Asante Grade 6 Clinton Elementary School

AFTER 33

reclaiming Buffalo

reclaiming Buffalo

BEFORE

AFTER

The night is yours.

“This program far exceeded my expectations... Since the program, many of my students have tried writing poetry, short stories, and one has even written to the mayor talking about how important it is to have citizens take care of our city.”

Sharon Pikul, 4th grade teacher, Lorraine Elementary, P.S. 72

Walking past with the bittersweet taste of gas running up your nose.

The disproportioned, distorted house stares when I cut the corner.

It’s a monster disguised as a house.

A cold breeze flows, hitting the back of my neck, Followed by a horrific giggle.

I look behind me.

I’m afraid of the house following me.

Shane H. 12th Grade Tapestry Charter High School

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35

reclaiming Buffalo

INDEX

BEFORE

AFTER

Take Back The City Everyone said it couldn’t be fixed A cold-hearted building stood in our midst.

Broken windows Pebbles And shattered bricks Were the only thing left on its defeated surface.

But along came a mind that saw change, To take our city back and reclaim.

Then stood a building with Beauty And warmth.

36

A stylish place for all to come.

Beautiful clothes and sparkly shoes too, Made smiles light up across the room.

The smell of fresh coffee and newly baked pastries Brought all together around the community.

Beautiful Flowers and trees brought warmth to the once dull scene.

Now this place will always be seen All you need is an imagination So let your mind go Take back the city and make it our own.

Hafsah Abdulhalim, 7

Luke Lester, 13

Seidrick A., 10

Kevin Fontanez López, 26

Nasro Ahmed, 14

Ava Martina, 9

Amira Almadrahi, 9

Nolan McLaughlin, 26

Kofi Asante, 30-31

Kobe N., 24

Ruth Baez, 20

Luis Dieguez Ortega, 15

Timea Barlow, 7

Nicholas Paradowski, 16

Maika Bird, 23

Amiyah Pope, 16

Vinicio Brancata, 17

Nylah Pringle, 15

Gillian Brown, 8

Connor Quimby, 24

Matthew Cambria, 28

Tyler R., 29

Tyreshia Chillis, 7

Elijah Ray, 9

Elizabeth Cornell, 19

Mrs. Restivo’s Class, 11

Ryan Creek, 20

Riley Ritchie, 21

Charles Edwards, 8

Luis Luciano Sanchez, 25

Dynasti Embry, 11

Mrs. Seitz, 18

Caroline Finkbeiner, 23

Kenneth Shields, 19

Trayvon Frisby, 18

Callum Silvestrini, 28

Hetta Gardner, 23

Destiny Smith, 12

Madissen Garland, 14

Jaymeri Smith, 6

Antonio Giusti, 11

Nathan Sommer, 25

Arianna H., 10

Miani Stafford, 27

Shane H., 32-33

Aaliyah Stewart, 9

LaKayla Hall, 10

Luc Thimot, 23

Kennedy Heitman, 28

Christian Burgos Torres, 26

Ian Henderson, 25

Andrew V., 13

Jeremy Hinman, 11

Alyssa Wasielewski, 26

Dominique Jones, 34

Idris Young, 24

Ilanna Jenkins, 10

Emma Zullich, 27

Maria K., 29

Megan Zwetsch, 11

Greta L., 25

Dominique Jones 11th Grade Mount St. Mary Academy

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IGNITE THE MIND THROUGH WRITING JUST BUFFALO LITERARY CENTER BRING US TO YOUR SCHOOL call 716.832.5400 or visit www.justbuffalo.org

Tall Tales Cosmograms, Mapping the Self Memoirs World Tours Injustice Art and Music Mystery, Masks, and Veils Disguised & Transformed Graphic Novels Spoken Word Exploring Emotion & Sensation Memories Environment Fact vs. Feeling Reinvent & Reimagine Inside Art The 60s Erie Canal The Beats Harlem Renaissance

PROGRAMS

COLLEGE

ES SA O G L U O Y ES N O WR & M ITI DI WRIT NG ER ALO RE GU ES SI BAB DE EL NC IN IE S TH E SC POS HO TC OLS AR D PR SYM FLA S H F IC T I O N PH OJ ON EC T Y RE D CL O AI W N M IN I PICT MY UR SOUL B IN UF G FA P LO * OE TR Y

G N

Voice of the character

THEMES

Just Buffalo Literary Center’s Writers in Education offers custom-designed lessons that complement and work with the Common Core Learning Standards.

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

*

*Joint programs of Just Buffalo and CEPA Gallery

Each year, classrooms throughout Western New York open their doors to Just Buffalo’s team of talented teaching artists. Our corps of professional writers—including poets, fiction writers, playwrights, journalists, and book artists—go out into the community and spark imaginations, renewing a love for learning through creative writing and bookmaking. Each writer is professionally accomplished, actively engaged in their own creative work, and skilled at working in classrooms with young people.

To learn more about Just Buffalo’s teaching artists, go to our website: www.justbuffalo.org