grimy golden arches
harsh light plastic seats
the air stained with salt
a woman begs
for change
and hershey’s kisses
in a city rooted in restaurants
here are scavengers
who clutch fistfuls of pennies and dimes
that spill onto countertops
the food
flimsy as greasy paper bags
lining trash cans outside

– Annie Yu

From the 2010 WritersCorps anthology “City of Stairways: A Poet’s Field Guide to San Francisco”

Poem of the Month: October 2010

My homework
Looks perfect
Neat
And well-written
On a clean page
The blue curves of my handwriting
Contrast well with the straight lines
Running parallel on the beige-white of my paper.
Nothing is squished, cramped;
No white-out marks or cross-outs
Mar my work of art.
It took me countless hours
Shut indoors
On nice, sunny Sundays
To achieve this masterpiece.
I turn it in
And it comes back
Only one day later
Defigurized by angry, biting red marks
Written in careless, sloppy handwriting.
Vandalism.

– Gabrielle Roberts, age 13

From the 2010 WritersCorps anthology “Wonder Turner” at the San Francisco Main Public Library

Poem of the Month: September 2010

Your name is like a car that appears in a sideshow.
Your name is like someone’s favorite song.
Your name is like a cover fresh out of the dryer
on a cold day. Your name is like feeling
the adrenaline while on a roller-coaster, like
a two time loser’s second chance at life. Your name
is like a repetitive poem and the energizer bunny that
gets stuck in my head and keeps going and going and going.

– D’Mario Webb

From the 2009 WritersCorps postcard anthology “Swap Meet” at Ida. B. Wells High School

Poem of the Month: August 2010

Pluck an eyelash and make a wish
Play in my head with sweet strings
Take away the tears
Ahlen Violin
Play me a lullaby
As I sleep in those Arabian nights
Paint me a picture of sound to dream in
Persian Violet Violin
Give thanks to your parents that made you
Father pearl
Mother silk
The sunshine’s on you
Making us all color-blind
As we watch the light bouncing off
Your delicate design
Won’t you play me a lullaby
Save me from the quiet Arabian nights
Paint me a picture to dream in
My true love — Persian Violet Violin

– Arrgitu Osman, age 17

From the 2010 WritersCorps anthology “Paint Me a Picture to Dream In” at Ida. B. Wells High School

Poem of the Month: July 2010

Gangster Biker Chicken
never that bird who
starts snitchin’

The coolest person in the
hood just chillin’, he’ll shoot
other birds if they slippin’

If he sees cute birds
he’s tippin’, if you fought
him you would end up limpin’

When it comes to school
it’s Mission — I’m done telling
stories, thanks for your attention.

– Phillip Adams, age 14

From the 2010 WritersCorps project “write/walk” at Mission High School

Poem a Month: June 2010