The eyes of the house.
The belly of the ball pops out.
The tulips open their eyes.

The skin of the drum.
The building’s leg was broken.
Winter held us in its snow.

The sweet voice of the wind.
The deep moan of the cave.
I was cradled by the arms of the house.

The river grabbed the boat with its hands.
The laughter of the cold
was all we could hear.

–Joseph Crowell, age 7
From the WritersCorps 2006 anthology “Solid Ground”

Poem of the Month: January 2012

I wish the world can fly.
I wish the world is safe.
I wish everybody have a marshmallow.
I wish the city have a dog.
I wish the world have no bad guys.
I wish the earth is the good guy.
I wish everyone have money to buy books.
I wish a better place for us and animals.
I wish for a park for everyone.
I wish everyone has a happy day at school!
I wish everybody love together.

– From the Wishes Postcard Set, featuring WritersCorps students, ages 6, from Visitacion Valley Elementary School

Poem of the Month: December 2011

Some of us are not grateful
Some of us live in the dirt
While others live by the stars
Some of us learn to appreciate what we have left
And others want more smiles and laughter
Knowing that they should be grateful
Some of us are not sure if today there will be a meal
Others just have it there without
Being respectful and wasting it
Others try hard and deserve it
But others get it in a snap
I’m grateful for not having more.

– Joselin Delgado, 18

From the 2010 WritersCorps book “Towards Me From Out of Nowhere” at Hilltop School

Poem of the Month: November 2011

one small step
dancing back to the moon
dodging kisses and painted dreams
slowly
the world changes

– YR

From “Words Within the Walls: Voices from Youth in the Juvenile Justice Center”

Poem of the Month: October 2011

Four cups of determination
Eight pounds of perseverance
Twelve slices of loyalty
Sixteen ounces of reason
Twenty pints of understanding
Twenty-four sprinkled bits of love
Combine your dignity with your self-respect
And stir gently.

– DL

From “Words Within the Walls: Voices from Youth in the Juvenile Justice Center”

Poem of the Month: September 2011