Young Wordsmith 4th issue 2024

YOUNG WORDSMITHS Young Wordsmiths is the online magazine of Lekha Writing Center.

It is dedicated to publishing writing BY and FOR children.

FOUNDER: JYOTI YELAGALAWADI

Text Copyright by Lekha students as noted in the Lekha Anthologies published by Lekha Publishers LLC. Material in this magazine are drawn from student writings’ from Lekha Anthologies published over the years as well as from current student writings’ from Lekha Writing Center classes and camps.

Images Used are Copyright Free and Royalty Free.

Shutterstock images have been used in this issue.

Fonts Used: Segoe Print, Bradley Hand ITC, Congenial Semibold, Congenial Black & Dreaming Outlook Pro.

FOUNDER’S NOTE Dear friends of Lekha, As a river flows, so does time turn the clock taking us individually and together day by day... month to month... year to year.

While now, the new year is here with new trials and opportunities.

Just as the river flows to the ocean, so does today move into the future leading us through a tunnel of hope... expectation... possibilities.

So now, time starts afresh for us to celebrate with joy.

May the river of time bring new ideas to the fore helping us move obstacles by writing... creating... sharing.

Together now, let us bring new thoughts to the table and fill the world with opportunities and cheer.

Write for joy!!

Jyoti Yelagalawadi.

Founder of Lekha Ink, Corp.

YOUNG WORDSMITHS is a quarterly magazine.

ONLINE ISSN: 2691-7912 Vol 7. No 4 Price: $2.99 EDITOR: Radhika Rajesh Raikar

If you love to write and love telling stories, then please send your submissions to the following email address: submissions@lekhaink.com

Inside this issue…

Free like the water

...Page 6-7

The ocean of hope

....Page 8-9

Pompoms

…Page 10

Pop-up poetry

...Page 11

Haikus

...Page 12-13

Tree of time

...Page 14-15

Echoes of despair

...Page 16-17

Collection of poems

…Page 18-22

Cats

...Page 23

Word games

...Page 24-25

Going green

...Page 26-27

Garden poem

...Page 28-30

Time to smile

...Page 31

Acrostic+Color+Story

...Page 32-33

Someone different inside

...Page 34-37

Lekha camp song

...Page 38-39

FREE LIKE THE WATER

BY ARIA LELE, AGE 13, 2024

Free like the water No worries, stresses, fears.

Free like the water Ming slowly becoming peaceful.

Free like the water Mind becoming free.

Free like the water Thoughts gradually slowing.

From fast, strained thoughts A cluttered mind To slow steady thoughts An empty mind.

Free like the water No worries, stresses, fears.

Free like the water Your mind, an empty mind.

THE OCEAN OF HOPE

THE OCEAN OF HOPE

BY VIOLET XU, 2024 The ocean of hope where no one will mope and complain about things that everyone sees.

No doubt, only pleasure.

Things can stay as they were and everyone is happy, no one is depressed or sassy.

Where dreams can come true, someone who matters is you!

THE OCEAN OF HOPE

BY AMELIA MURRAY, 2024 The ocean of hope will give a splash or poke for those with nothing but still have hope.

With prayers the ocean will rise in waters that thrive the ocean of hope will survive.

THE OCEAN OF HOPE The big blue ocean so wide and blue.

It’s like a water fountain.

Every penny you throw deep down below.

Hope.

POMPOMS

BY AVIKA, 2024

Put a pompom in a craft On a paper you see Merrily crafting still Put the craft on the wall On the wall you see Merrily your mom sees Surprised she will be

Butterflies flying high in the sky So pretty, colors fluttering by We can see them up in the sky What a view seeing them fly high !

POP UP POETRY IMAGINED, CREATED AND WRITTEN

BY INDIRA DIVIJA JAYANTI , AGE 8, 2021

A click clack click clack The train goes along the track Stationmaster calls

Oh no, lots of static The radio is broken Now no more music

I sit by the pond Silvery fish swim by me A bird catches one

TREE OF TIME

BY RADHIKA JHAVERI, AGE 13, 2024 Roots that dig down deep intertwine, snake, creep.

Branches that reach sky high where birds take off to fly.

Earth above, sea below.

Not hunched like an old creaky willow.

Leaves floating down, deep dark brown.

From Norse mythology, Yggdrasil some call it.

Time being knit, like the clock embedded in it’s bark, it tells all near to hark.

For it shows all the big events that unfold in time or what will happen in one’s lifetime.

It’s bark coarse rough, standing tall and tough.

It’s leaves lemony gold filled with stories untold which have so much to say,

swishing in the wind, it sways.

It’s roots stretch a long lengthy way into the depths While it’s branches reach up for a breath.

ECHOES OF DESPAIR

BY ZOE VELTMAN, AGE 11, 2024

In shadows deep a moonlight fades the night conceals its silent trade.

A whisper drifts through haunted air of dreams undone and deep despair.

Beneath the stars, a cold embrace, the echoes of a lost grace.

Where hope lies buried, still and cold in graves where all the story’s fold.

Time is a thief in the dead of night.

It steals our days and dims our light.

It turns our moments into dust and leaves behind a fading rust.

With every tick the shadow grows.

Our memories slip and we don’t know.

How quickly life begins to fade as times relentless hands invade.

Tears fall like rain from heavy skies tracing paths down weary eyes.

Each drop a tale of silent pain, a soft release from heart’s refrain.

In the stillness, sobs take flight.

A quite storm in the dead of night.

Crying spills out the hurt inside,

a fleeting glimpse where sorrow hides.

A COLLECTION OF FIVE POEMS

BY RITOJA GUHA, 2004

WINTERTIME Start of winter, gloomy day.

Snow falls as if to say, “Enjoy the weather, it’s not for long.

The storm is coming, run away!”

OCEAN Salty air, a rushing wave, Blue waters, calm over there.

By the beach, the road they pave, Sandy feet, wind in air

LEMONADE, A HAIKU Sweet and tangy, Summer drink, icy and cold, Lemon yellow drink.

THE MOVIES I’ve come to the movies for some cheer The smell of popcorn in the air.

Go to the man and pay the fare Watch the movie loud and clear.

FLOWERS

Bright shades and hues, big and small blooms.

New plants are nature’s cue that the spring is coming soon.

CATS

BY VIOLET XU, 2024

I really love cats!1 They aren’t scary like bats They aren’t loud like dogs They aren’t dirt like hogs They are very graceful.

They can stand a gentle pull.

They are really cute They are really a hoot!

GOING GREEN POEM BY ANOOHYA PANIDAPU, AGE 6 YEARS Going green is a wonderful thing to do.

Save the earth and the atmosphere too.

What can we do to go green?

The answer is simple and as easy as learning 1, 2, 3…

Come on let's do it, step by step, recycle and reuse,

it'll make a big difference.

Clean, clean, clean to go green.

Clean up the cans, paper, plastic, and don't litter.

Earth is home for people, animals and plants, so keep it clean.

Save, save,

save water when you are not using it.

Plant, plant, plant, trees in your garden and go green.

Save, save, save,

the energy and power.

Here are some tips-walk and carpool, turn off the lights, TV, computer when not in use.

There are more ways to go green.

You have the power to change the world.

Go green, make the difference.

Take the pledge to go green and save the planet Earth.

I love going green and spreading the word to go green.

BY KAYLIE MACDONALD, AGE 9, 2012

The garden is a peaceful place, which brings to the fore feelings in the human race.

It’s a pretty garden that is made just for you!

Here in this garden, it feels like a crown rests upon your head, as the wind goes up and down.

I feel the embrace of the flowers and green leaves, as I think to myself of the garden’s wealth.

A willow tree over a lake, with leaves of green, stones of white, bright and beautiful as twilight.

Flowers of pink, white, and blue.

Clovers of green as the sun shines through on the leaves of the great, big, oak tree I see, as I think to myself of the garden’s wealth.

Purple pansies, white daisies sway to and fro.

Beatles lie among the trees

wherever the flowers grow.

Spiders spin silky cobwebs as bright as morning dew.

A lady bug’s spots of pure black, they just pop out as they do.

Yellow as twilight, pretty as a butterfly’s wing, my heart soars and sings as I think to myself

of the garden’s wealth.

A garden is where elves, pixies and fairies play.

Where it takes all the bad thoughts away.

Where leaves and rocks help enjoy the summer And when winter comes it’s just a bummer.

Yellow, red, and blue flowers were by bubbling brook, I curl up and read my favorite book as I think to myself of the garden’s wealth.

TIME TO SMILE

BY YALDA ALEXANDRA SAII, AGE 12, 2012

In the dimly lit room There is a jar.

A jar full of little pieces of paper Letters are scrawled on these pieces, Spelling out things she loves.

When she is sad, Her hand hovers over the little pieces.

And, she picks one.

Her lips curl into a small smile As she reads what is written.

ACROSTIC

COLOR

STORY

WRITTEN AND DESIGNED BY SWEEKRUTI KULKARNI, AGE 10, 2021

SOMEONE DIFFERENT INSIDE

BY KAVYA MUNNAGI, AGE 10

Feels like I have no voice in the crowd.

Feels like no one cares about me.

They say to be strong and proud but how can I be?

Everyone seems to be special though they’re all just the same.

To be truthful, I got much more of an aim

They all act so happy but are they really inside?

I want to know because maybe I’m just not fine.

Will I ever be known for who I am?

Will I ever quit acting like everything is just right?

Why can’t I just pull off my cover?

My life is in a knot so tight.

I should just express my feelings.

I should just tell them how I feel.

Hopefully they will understand me and then I can be real.

Will they understand me?

That’s the only question!

Will they stand beside me?

Should I make my confession?

Will they still support me as they have done for many years?

What if I am afraid?

I guess I’ll forget my fears.

Will I still have an identity?

Should I alert my peers?

I hope they don’t humiliate me or I might unleash my tears

Will I still have friends?

Will my life still matter?

Will I have to change again for the worse or better?

Will I be misguided?

Will I have another chance?

Will there still be light

in the future like in the past?

Once I get through this

will there be more pain?

Will I feel enlightened

or be alone in the rain.

All these questions are popping up.

Should I ask or should I refrain?

Should I share them out loud or should I hide them in my brain?

I will still be good at things just like beforewriting, soccer and baseball and much, much more.

Hope is going to guide me through the dark days and nights.

I will still be happy though it takes some tries.

I wonder if I belong here?

Will I still be free?

Will my friends understand this is who I’m going to be?

I want them to get my message that as long as I’m alive I will be who I am and I’ll go ahead and strive.

LEKHA CAMP SONG

LEKHA CAMP SONG WRITTEN BY ALLISON, HIROKA, GABRIELA AND KRYSTINA 2009

When we come to Lekha writing camp not knowing what to expect.

We thought it would be bad and boring, but instead it was perfect!

Lekha is a writing camp, and we are writing champs!

We played a lot of hangman, we ate a lot of snacks.

We had a lot of reading time.

We really had a lot of fun and had a great time.

This is a great song, with a lot of slant rhymes.

Lekha is a writing camp and we are writing champs!

We did a lot of writing, we ate a lot of snacks.

We had a lot of reading time.

Thank you Lekha camp!!!