BLOOMS

BLOOMSWITS students read at Discovery Green Park

May 1, 2011

BLOOMS is made possible by:

Houston Endowment Inc.

The Brown Foundation, Inc.

The Menil Collection

National Endowment for the Arts

Google

The Hearst Foundations, Inc.

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Art Direction and Design: Rebecca Wadlinger

Table of Contents

Kindergarten

Leen Aldarrab ..................... Dear Friend ........................................................... 13

Noble Benjamin, Jr. ............. I Love You ............................................................. 14

Emily Bonilla ....................... La mariposa .......................................................... 15

First Grade

Jocelyn Cardenas ................ Querida niña de Japón .......................................... 16

Ava Leung ........................... Once ...................................................................... 17

Julian Santos ....................... A Dinosaur Up In My Room [...] ............................ 18

Second Grade

Matilde Acosta .................... The Bear of Christmas Camp ............................... 19

Daniel V. Alvarez-Fedyaev ... Corazones por todos lados ................................... 20

Edwin Argueta ................... I Wish I Was a Super Hero..................................... 21

Daylen Brooks .................... Red Triangle Piñata .............................................. 22

Priscila Cardoso .................. My Mother is the Jungle ...................................... 23

Helena de la Cruz ............... Dancing Ballet Shoe No Longer Worn ................. 24

Bella Deutser ...................... Sun ........................................................................ 25

Jordan Hall .......................... Spring ................................................................... 26

Xoloni Johnson ................... I Like to Dance! .................................................... 27

Sadie Many ......................... One Around the World ......................................... 28

Truc Trinh ........................... My Wishes ............................................................ 29

Third Grade

David Avent ........................ Going to Cuba ...................................................... 30

Kassandra Cortez ............... Spring ................................................................... 31

Leyla Delorme .................... What Will Fall Bring? ............................................ 32

Mia Fares ............................ Clouds .................................................................. 33

Natalia Flores ...................... The Silent World .................................................. 34

Josseline Garay ................... El viento ............................................................... 35

Chris Gonzales ................... The Moon Came Out ............................................ 36

Grace Guerriero .................. Horses Hooves I Want to Hear ............................. 37

Third Grade (continued)

Rhemi Herron ..................... The Homework Machine ..................................... 38

Isabella Krafka .................... Horse Barn ............................................................ 39

Aamir Lateef ....................... Seven Ways of Looking at a Rose ........................ 40

Esther Le ............................. Don’t Run Away ................................................... 41

Rachel Lee .......................... Sky Blue Being Born ............................................. 42

Hugo Lopez ....................... Con mis sentidos .................................................. 43

Emely Luna ......................... The Pink Rose ....................................................... 44

Anna Miller ......................... A Dancer’s House ................................................. 45

Angelique Montes .............. Goodbye Vacation ................................................ 46

Ioana Nechiti ...................... The Rock .............................................................. 47

Grace Rampaul ................... I’m So Sorry .......................................................... 48

Jose Sanchez ...................... A Dog ................................................................... 49

Jefferson Santos ................. My House ............................................................. 50

Ana Serrano ........................ Algo que esta libre de algo ................................. 51

Jade Treviño ....................... A Strange Place .................................................... 52

Maddie Youngblood ........... Fung Fanggigi ....................................................... 53

Fourth Grade

Alberto Avila ....................... El árbol ................................................................. 54

Sady Davalos ....................... “Ish” (An Abstract Poem) ..................................... 55

Teagan Davis ...................... Sadness ................................................................ 56

Carlos Escamilla .................. Ode to Big C ......................................................... 57

Eleanor Geno ...................... Instructions .......................................................... 58

Kingston Griffin .................. Skydiver ............................................................... 59

Gracie Halperin ................... That Secret ........................................................... 60

Olivia Havre ......................... The Magic Box ...................................................... 61

Itzel López .......................... Instructions to the Artist ...................................... 62

Smrithi Shibichakravarthy ... Imagine My World ............................................... 63

Long Hoang Vu ................... Ho Chi Minh City .................................................. 64

Fifth Grade

John Boland ........................ The Truth .............................................................. 65

Alex Cope ........................... A Landscape of DIfferences ................................. 66

Fifth Grade (continued)

Anuj Jajoo ........................... The Loggers ......................................................... 67

Imnet Petro ........................ My Hands ............................................................. 68

Saul Rivera ......................... Evening Recess ..................................................... 69

Sarah Swackhamer ............. Story ..................................................................... 70

Julia Zheng ......................... Mr. Fishtacho ........................................................ 71

Sixth Grade

Genesis Cantu .................... Feeling .................................................................. 72

Emily Salinas ....................... Me ........................................................................ 73

Kevin Situn .......................... Future Traveler ..................................................... 74

Seventh Grade

Abigail Calderon ................. Beginning the Trip ................................................ 75

Graciela Carrillo .................. Eyes ....................................................................... 76

Lesly Guerra ........................ A Lady Who Has Big Plans .................................... 77

Angel Rosa .......................... Freeze ................................................................... 78

Bryanna Williams ................ About Me! ............................................................. 79

Eighth Grade

Etse Amewolo .................... Lock Away ............................................................ 80

Jose .................................... The Rock ............................................................... 81

Deandrea Stevens ............... There’s a Fish in My Dialysis Chair ....................... 82

Twelfth Grade

Estevan Rodriguez .............. El río ...................................................................... 83

Elizabeth Soriano ............... Restless ................................................................. 84

I, the greatest writer in the world, peek through that open window

From “That Secret” by Gracie Halperin 4th grade The Fay School

13Writers in the Schools (WITS) witshouston.org

Dear Friend

My mind is a tooth fairy

hiding my shiny memories

beneath a cup next to my window.

It hides the day my dad

pulled a tooth out with his fingers

and the day I screamed down the roller coaster.

It is a parrot talking and eating sunflower seeds

that help a flower grow up from my brain

and touch the sky.

Your mind is throwing water balloons

and playing with me

and blowing bubbles

and popping bubbles on the swings.

Your mind is in Riad,

Mine is far away, here.

Leen AldarrabKindergartenChildren’s Cancer Hospitalat MD Anderson Cancer Center

14 Blooms 2011

I Love You

I love my dog.

I love my guinea pig.

My dad helps me with the dishes.

My mom plays with me.

Nini takes me to the bus stop.

My uncle puts me in the headlock.

I read by myself.

I write with my mom.

I like to play games by myself.

Lele plays basketball with me.

I go to my cousin’s house.

My aunt takes me to the store.

I like rainbows.

And I love you.

Noble Benjamin, Jr.KindergartenErmel Elementary School


La mariposa

Un día vi una mariposa.

Yo me asomé por la ventana, y me salí de la casa.

Yo quería agarrar esa mariposa tan bella.

Corrí y tomé mi bicicleta para poder atraparla.

Después me subí a un avión para poder atraparla.

Luego la toqué y se sintió suave. Pude oler un rico perfume.

Yo escuché a la mariposa que seguia volando.

Mi corazon se sintió feliz de ver a la mariposa rosada tan bella.

Por eso me sentí contenta y feliz.

The Butterfly

One day I saw a butterfly.

I looked out the window, and I went out of the house.

I wanted to catch the butterfly, it was so beautiful.

I ran and took my bicycle to try to catch it.

After that I went up in an airplane to try to catch it again,

then I touched the butterfly which felt so soft. I was able

to smell a magnificent perfume.

I heard the butterfly that continued to fly.

My heart felt happy to see the pink butterfly so beautiful.

For all these things I felt so content and happy.

Emily BonillaKindergarten Ermel Elementary School

16 Blooms 2011

Querida niña de Japón

Quiero regalarte flores para que te sientas feliz.

Quiero que sientas mi corazón.

Te quiero regalar juguetes.

Un sol para que te sientas más calentita.

Una estrella para que puedas dormir más calmada y sentir amor.

Y especialmente quiero darte mi corazon.

Dear Child of Japan

I want to give you flowers so that you are happy.

I want you to feel my heart.

I would like to give you toys.

Some sun to keep you warm.

A star so you can sleep calmly and with love.

I would especially like to give you my heart.

Jocelyn Cardenas1st gradeErmel Elementary School


Once

Once I was the wind.

I swayed in the trees.

My friends were in the air.

I pushed leaves

and I blew flowers

and the flowers fell

to the ground.

I heard birds chirping.

I pushed the wood chips

on the playground

where the kids were playing

and I whistled by,

flying in the breeze.

Ava Leung1st gradeThe Fay School

18 Blooms 2011

A Dinosaur Up In My Room Who Came Down From My Closet

There is a dinosaur in my closet. I know it is there because I can smell it. It smells like a

volcano. I can’t see it, but I can smell it. I put food all downstairs to the door. It went out

of my closet and went outside. Bye-Bye, dinosaur. Go to another house.

Julian Santos1st gradeErmel Elementary School


The Bear of Christmas Camp

In front of me was a great big bear! He was brown and big and fluffy. As I

rushed back to camp, the bear asked me a question and I thought, is it me? Or did

that bear just speak? And he said, “Why does every person run away from me?”

And I said, “Well everybody thinks you’re scary.”

And the bear said, “Well, why do they think that?”

I said, “Well people think all bears are scary.”

Then the bear said, “Oh, now I understand.”

Then I said, “I have to go, or my parents will wake up.”

“Well, OK,” said the bear. “But come back tomorrow.”

The next day, my parents were already up making breakfast. I said to my par-

ents, “I have to go to the bathroom. OK?”

“OK,” said my parents.

I lied. I was going to see the bear. I met the bear in the middle of the woods.

“I was looking for my teddy bear last night,” I said to the bear. Then I looked in his

armpit and guess what? He had my teddy bear. I screamed at the bear and started

chasing him down all the way back to my... camp! My mother and father glanced at

me and said, “Why are you screaming?

“That’s a bear, for crying out loud!” Then my parents got to their feet and

started running. It was the best Christmas camp ever!

Matilde Acosta2nd gradeGarden Oaks Elementary School

20 Blooms 2011

Corazones por todos lados

Querida Luzmarie,

tus ojos son como una foca

gris y negra.

Tus aretes se ven

como una esmeralda.

Tu cabello es suave

y chinito,

como un caballo negro.

Tus botones se ven

como un ying yang.

Tu ropa esta bonita

como el mar cerca de India.

Tus zapatos son cafés

como un pedazo de tierra.

Tus manos son frías

como Alaska

y la Antártica.

Me gusta como me abrazas.

Voy a nadar en el fondo del mar

para buscar diamantes,

piedritas,

y tesoros.

Buscaré

y buscaré

hasta encontrar una ciudad,

y compraré un millón

de tesoros,

y los traeré en una red.

Sinceramente,

Daniel

Daniel V. Alvarez-Fedyaev 2nd grade Helms Community Learning Center

Hearts Everywhere

Dear Luzmarie,

your eyes are like a

gray and black seal.

Your earrings look

like emeralds.

Your hair is soft

and curly,

like a black horse.

Your buttons look

like a ying yang.

Your clothes are beautiful

like the sea near India.

Your shoes are brown

like a piece of the earth.

Your hands are cold

like Alaska

and Antarctica.

I like how you hug me.

I am going to swim to the

bottom of the sea

to search for diamonds,

rocks,

and treasures.

I will search and search

until I find a city,

and I will buy a million

treasures.

I will catch them with a net.

Sincerely,

Daniel


I Wish I Was a Super Hero

I wish I was a super hero so I could fly

to see the earth,

to fight evil

so I could help the world.

Maybe I could be rewarded with something

if I fight the most dangerous evil villain.

I could be defender of my city,

and the most famous hero in the world

and everyone would know my name!

Edwin Argueta2nd gradeEd White Elementary School

Hearts Everywhere

Dear Luzmarie,

your eyes are like a

gray and black seal.

Your earrings look

like emeralds.

Your hair is soft

and curly,

like a black horse.

Your buttons look

like a ying yang.

Your clothes are beautiful

like the sea near India.

Your shoes are brown

like a piece of the earth.

Your hands are cold

like Alaska

and Antarctica.

I like how you hug me.

I am going to swim to the

bottom of the sea

to search for diamonds,

rocks,

and treasures.

I will search and search

until I find a city,

and I will buy a million

treasures.

I will catch them with a net.

Sincerely,

Daniel

22 Blooms 2011

Red Triangle Piñata

Me and my brother will hang

my red triangle piñata from a half-moon,

and I’ll punch it in.

It will sound like a song

when it breaks

and the candy melts out and falls on me

and then it drips on me

and feels like chocolate.

Inside are my cousins

jumping on the bed,

screaming so loud my brain

starts to scream.

And JD’s throwing a pass

to Josiah who passes it to me,

and I run for a touchdown

and do a Michael Jackson dance by myself.

With shiny black Jordans flying in the air,

I fly with them.

Inside the piñata

I will sit there with my family,

eating chicken nuggets

and nobody’s talking

because we’ll all be laughing.

Daylen Brooks2nd gradeTexas Children’s Renal Center


My Mother is the Jungle

My mother is the jungle.

I say “feed me.”

She serves me mango from a clean tree.

I say “tease me.”

And she plays with a ball

made out of fresh leaves.

I say “scare me.”

She roars like a tiger.

I say “hold me.”

And she hugs me with her softest leaves.

I say “make me beautiful.”

She gives me a red flower for my hair.

I say “sing to me.”

And she sings with her fresh breeze.

I say “teach me.”

She shows me her tallest tree,

her most amazing waterfall,

and her most colorful flowers.

My mother is the jungle.

Priscila Cardoso 2nd gradeErmel Elementary School

24 Blooms 2011

Dancing Ballet Shoe No Longer Worn

The ballet shoe’s eyes

linger around looking for a pair

of feet to hide. A pink sea

on sunset smells rusty. Straps

feel like big pink waves on

high tide. Inside looks like

deep in the sand and feels like

you’re feeling a coral that’s been

washed away from the sea.

The ballet shoe used to

be dancing one of a kind on my

own two feet. Happily jumping

up and down. When I would

float, it would follow like sheep

would follow a shepherd.

Smelling like sugar looking

like pink cupcake icing.

Wondering what could be inside,

I see a vast valley with

trees that have apples still growing.

Helena de la Cruz 2nd gradeHPL Express at Discovery Green


Sun

Who would be

the sun high up in the sky?

Looking down

to make everyone hot

and give us sunburns

like fire?

Why are you so high up

in the sky so we can

never touch you?

Why can’t you be blue, red,

or even purple instead of

yellow?

But I love how you shine

down on me in the day

and how you make beautiful

sunsets at the end

of the day.

Your love is like

hot, burning fire.

Bella Deutser2nd gradeThe Fay School

26 Blooms 2011

Spring

Spring’s voice calls the birds

His feet go through water and air

His ears hear our hearts beat

Spring can catch a baseball

His eyes see us walking

His hands push the clouds

To cover up the sun

Jordan Hall2nd gradeLockhart Elementary School


I Like to Dance!

I can dance in every room.

I can dance in the park, street,

and home. There is a lot of stuff

that you can use with dancing.

I can use dancing in school,

on chair, everywhere,

and have fun dancing. I want you

to have fun and dance, dance,

dance all the time and have fun dancing.

Your mom can dance with you

and it is good to dance.

It is good for your family.

Dance in the bed.

Your mom and dad can dance

at the café with you.

You can have fun.

You can have fun every day.

Xoloni Johnson2nd gradeErmel Elementary School

28 Blooms 2011

One Around the World

I see the number one

on dogs tails,

door handles,

on the letter “I” without a dot,

in straw and grass.

I see it on license plates,

elevator buttons,

charts,

maps,

milk cartons,

phones,

street signs,

and houses.

I see the number one

everywhere.

Sadie Many2nd gradeTexas Children’s Cancer Center’s Arts in Medicine Program sponsored by The Periwinkle Foundation


My Wishes

To start, I wish I had a wolf as a pet

because a wolf can save us.

I will train it not to bite people.

I will play with it,

I will also call it Pinky if it is a girl

and I will call it Sunny if it’s a boy.

Next I want to fly like a bird.

I will want blue wings on top, and

green on the bottom.

Then I want to be the first woman

to be president, I will make good laws,

and I will be a kind person.

Truc Trinh2nd gradeEd White Elementary School

30 Blooms 2011

Going to Cuba

I will leave Houston on

a very good note.

I will go to Cuba,

walk in the 90 degree heat.

I will go to Cuba,

dance in the streets for fun.

I will go to Cuba,

make beans out of scratch.

I will go to Cuba,

swim in the warm, brown water.

I will go to Cuba,

learn how to speak español.

I will go to Cuba,

eat plantains for breakfast.

I will go to Cuba.

It will be gorgeous at night.

David Avent3rd gradeTravis Elementary School


Spring

flowers bloom

she lies down

putting a flower in her hair

flowers surround her

she closes her eyes

and faces the sky

Kassandra Cortez3rd gradeNeff Elementary School

32 Blooms 2011

What Will Fall Bring?

Every day gets windier

and windier.

I can hear the branch

hit my window in the wind,

like the sound of a spoon

banging against tin.

I’d like to go outside

and play,

even when it’s a rainy day.

I can hear the leaves falling down,

“woo woo.”

Have you heard them too?

With the trees so mighty

and tall,

when winter comes

I’m going to miss fall.

Leyla Delorme3rd gradeHelms Community Learning Center


Clouds

In the dark, gray sky, many clouds are pouring out rain. Blue clouds pour out blue rain.

Pink clouds pour out pink rain. Purple clouds pour out purple rain. The windows in

my room are all wet and blue, pink, and purple. I look out the window, and I don’t like

what I see or hear. I look out the window one last time, and I see a beautiful rainbow

shining across the sky. I see that the rain had stopped, and I run outside in joy.

Mia Fares3rd gradeDuchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

34 Blooms 2011

The Silent World –Inspired by Jeffrey McDaniel’s poem “The Quiet World”

The government has decided

to only allow us 167 words per day.

Nobody hears me.

The only one who hears me is my Grandma

because it’s silent, and she’s the one who sits with me.

And at school there is touching but not talking,

just making hand signals.

I feel like I’m not on the planet.

And when I get home nobody is talking.

I want to save my words for my Grandma

because she is so sweet.

I would like to tell her, “I love you.

You are my soul. You are my sky.”

Natalia Flores3rd gradeThe Rice School/La Escuela Rice


El viento

Estoy volando en el cielo.

Yo soplo hojas que están en un árbol.

Me voy a diferentes partes

para soplar a más cosas.

Cuando soplo a las personas,

veo los cabellos arriba

y las sombras moviendo igualito a ellos.

Oigo las voces de los niños

jugando y volando papalotes.

Me voy a otra parte,

y veo lodo por los árboles.

Oigo mi mísmo viento soplando

a las hojas y botándolas al suelo.

Vuelo a otra parte, y veo una escuala

que están construyendo con una máquina.

Oigo una alrma de una máquina,

y también oigo unas pisadas que vienen adentro

de otra escuela que está al lado.

Veo grama moviéndose por mi viento

que sopla a todas partes.

Cuando es verano, no soplo nada.

Josseline Garay 3rd grade Herod Elementary School

The Wind

I blow in the sky.

I blow leaves that are in a tree.

I go to different places to blow more things.

When I blow on the people,

I see the hair above

and the shadows moving the same.

I hear the voices of the children

playing and flying kites.

I go to another place,

and I see mud beneath the trees.

I hear myself blowing

the leaves and tossing them to the ground.

I fly to another place, and I see a school

that they are building with a machine.

I hear an alarm from the machine,

and I also hear footsteps from inside

the torn-down school that is next door.

I see grass moving from my wind

that blows everywhere.

When it is summer, I blow nothing.

36 Blooms 2011

The Moon Came Out

The sun was rising,

a ball of fire burst out.

It fell into my mouth,

it was trapped inside.

Then red lava shot out

of a volcano, it rushed

all over the ground.

Something was burning,

hot and fiery.

Yes, it was my mouth.

I said, “Can this day get any worse?”

But it didn’t because

the moon came out.

Chris Gonzales3rd gradeTravis Elementary School


Horses Hooves I Want to Hear

I hear the hooves pounding the rock

The call of the glory of the mountain

The racket of hooves of dark

I hear a sound like hooves but made with heart

The sound is calling from the mountain

Oh I seek and see a horse

Dark like coal, not like hooves

Horse-like will, horse-like soul

The heart waits to hear the pounding of the hooves

Like night, coal like soul, the mountain

Rocks hard as hooves beating

Beats of hooves pounding my soul

I can hear the soul of beating hooves

I can hear the soul calling dark

I will see the soul of rock

Will I see the soul of horse

High like a mountain side

I seek in my heart?

Grace Guerriero3rd gradeBriargrove Elementary School

38 Blooms 2011

The Homework Machine

Once upon a time there was a boy. His name was Caleb. He was always very

smart, he got A’s, and he behaved. He wore glasses, and he liked to wear bow ties.

His dream was to be the best scientist ever.

When he was only five, his dad died. Five weeks later, they moved to another

city. In first grade he made a candy machine. In second grade he made a clothes

machine. In third grade he made a homework machine. It was a great success. It did

homework for everyone. He was so popular. He knew everyone on the block.

Whenever someone came over and said, “Can you use the machine to do my

homework?” Caleb went and fired up the machine. But one day it broke! As soon as

he found out, he jumped up like a very excited frog. But he thought he could fix it.

He tried and tried, but he could not make it work. So there was no more homework

machine, and he was just a boy going to third grade.

Rhemi Herron3rd gradeLockhart Elementary School


Horse Barn

When we get there

the horses in their stalls

paw the dirt.

I cough in the dust.

We grab the feed,

and they whinny at me

when I pass by.

I get a brush; very tenderly

I scrape off the dirt.

They are as dusty and steamy

as a train when it chugs

down the track.

When we feed the mares,

their babies skip after us.

They run so fast

they fall.

Isabella Krafka3rd gradeMeadow Wood Elementary School

40 Blooms 2011

Seven Ways of Looking at a Rose

I.

When the silly child messed up,

he crinkled his paper and threw it lightly

into the rose red trashcan.

II.

The stubborn grandfather gave

red roses to the mother who had just

given birth to a delicate baby.

III.

The awkward clown just juggled

a set of four roses at the circus.

IV.

When the bumpy mountain boulder

rolled down the mountain, it tore apart

eight roses.

V.

The sandy and hot desert grows cacti,

not roses.

VI.

The anxious child bent down to collect

the flower he had received for his seventh birthday.

VII.

The grumpy father poured water

on the shining violet roses.

Aamir Lateef3rd gradeThe Fay School


Don’t Run Away –Inspired by Cy Twombly

Don’t run away scrubby, long lines.

You need to be my spine to keep me straight.

Don’t run away color, soft lines.

You need to help me color from top to bottom.

Don’t run away squiggly, curvy lines.

You need to help me write in cursive letters to my friends.

Don’t run away straight, broken lines.

You have to help me make my costume scary to have fun.

Esther Le3rd grade Neff Elementary School

42 Blooms 2011

Sky Blue Being Born

Sky blue is a baby being born,

But he is dark, dark blue,

And the blue mom and dad

Love the dark blue child

And he loves them back.

They play together

And he goes into his mom’s eyes

And into his dad’s eyes.

They fall in love again,

And they think their child

Is born again.

Rachel Lee3rd gradeMeadow Wood Elementary School


Con mis sentidos

La paz no se puede tocar, pero se puede ver

La paz es como ver 100 rosas juntas

La paz sabe a comida que se nos da diario

La paz se escucha y se ve como orgullo

Lo peligroso es como el fuego, no lo debes tocar

Lo peligroso si lo ves te asusta

Lo peligroso se escucha como gritos

Lo peligroso sabe a vinagre

Lo injusto se escucha como llorar

Lo injusto no se puede tocar

Lo injusto se ve horrible

Lo injusto sabe a odio

El amor se toca con el corazón

El amor se escucha precioso

El amor se ve en los amigos

El amor huele a amistad

Hugo Lopez 3rd grade Community Family Centers at Gallegos Elementary School

With My Senses

Peace cannot be touched, but can be seen

Peace is like a bouquet of 100 roses

Peace is food that is given to us daily

Peace sounds and looks like pride

Danger is like fire, you should not touch it

Danger when you see it, you know it is scary

Danger sounds like shouting

Danger tastes like vinegar

Injustice sounds like crying

Injustice cannot be touched

Injustice sure looks horrible

Injustice sounds like hate

Love is touched by the heart

Love sounds beautiful

Love is seen in friends

Love smells like friendship

44 Blooms 2011

The Pink Rose

I am a rose,

pink and thorny.

When the sun comes up,

I shine. The bees

drink my nectar.

Sometimes on a

sunny day, my leaves

move, so I can dance.

People love to see

me and smell

my petals.

I always grow

when the water

falls.

In winter I lose

some of my blooms.

But one warm sunny day,

I lost all my petals

forever. I had no

food. In heaven,

I still remember

when I was young.

I asked my sister,

why did I have to

leave? She did not

answer.

Emely Luna 3rd gradeCondit Elementary School


A Dancer’s House

This house is very empty. There are only cleared-out spaces. But this house has something special. This house is a dreamer. It wakes me up early in the morning So that I can dance to its ancient song of praise. This house is set where two rivers meet and rush. Have you ever danced until the thieving sunset stole your light of day? Because I have, in my house. The blue stones in the rain are the music that I dance to. My house is made of brick and wood. But my house has a soul. Believe it. My house is old, but comfortable. I touch the rusted pipes that still let me live. My pliés and pirouettes are better when I’m in my house on the top floor. My blood, pumping out imagination until the day draws to its close. I leap and bound on my garden path. I skip across the quiet river. A peaceful house, a peaceful setting,

a dancer’s house.

Anna Miller3rd gradeTravis Elementary School

46 Blooms 2011

Goodbye Vacation

Goodbye playing outside

with my friends and sister.

Hello test.

Goodbye making cakes!

Hello science test.

Goodbye Mexico!

Hello T.H. Rogers School.

Goodbye vacation,

Hurry back again!

Angelique Montes3rd gradeT.H. Rogers School


The Rock

I block

the feelings that beat

against my shell.

I have beauty inside me

longing to be shown

to the world.

I am stiff with

the emotions that swirl

in my body.

I watch the butterflies

dance around me

with flaps of pride.

When it rains, I show

my shiny shell to the

lady called the flower.

She drops a warm petal on me

to show that we are no

different in soul.

For what would life be

without soul?

It doesn’t matter

what you have within,

only the soul matters.

As the sun’s rays hammer

into me, my beauty

faintly shows.

I am a rock.

Ioana Nechiti3rd gradeCondit Elementary School

48 Blooms 2011

I’m So Sorry

I’m sorry for thinking of

putting honey on a trampoline

so people would get stuck on it.

But it would be so funny

‘cause people could not get off

and someone would have to

get them off it.

I’m sorry for thinking

of going on the water slide

backwards

when it says not to.

But it would be so fun

not knowing where you are going

and coming out of the slide and

splashing in the water.

I’m sorry for thinking

of bungee jumping

off the tallest building in the world.

But it would be so fun

falling and stopping

and bouncing up and down.

I would love to

see all the people

and taxis under me!

Grace Rampaul3rd gradeBriargrove Elementary School


A Dog

A dog is playing outside...

is barking and swimming

...is playing ball

...is sleeping in the house. He is lying on his back.

A dog is playing outside...

...is skateboarding. He’s funny.

A superdog

wearing a pumpkin costume

...is happy.

Jose Sanchez3rd gradeT.H. Rogers School

50 Blooms 2011

My House

My house is warm like the feathers of a bird.

My house is strong like a boot and hard like a rock.

The kitchen sounds like rain because my mom washes the dishes.

My house tastes like a sweet cake.

I have a chimney that smells like smoke.

The yard smells like flowers,

and I sound like the wind when I run fast to get home.

Jefferson Santos 3rd grade Neff Elementary School


Algo que esta libre de algo

Los colores estaban en el mar

con las estrellas se manó en el mar

y los colores se juntaban con las estrellas

y las estrellas eran de colores y se fueron

en el estrella y garré una del color azul

se le di a mi mamá, y se le pide a mi mamá,

“Que era?” Y me dijo que no sabía que era

y me la dio y se le dije a mi maestro y no

sabía y se movió y era una estrella

en el cielo y la estrella dijo, “Eres mi amiga.”

Something that is Free of Something Else

The colors were in the sea

with the stars that flowed into the sea

and the colors joined with the stars

and the stars were colorful. They went away

in the star, and I grabbed a blue one,

gave it to my mother, and asked my mother,

“What was it?” She told me she didn’t know

what it was, and she gave it back to me. I told my teacher,

and he didn’t know. It moved, and it was a star

in the sky, and the star said, “You are my friend.”

Ana Serrano 3rd gradeLooscan Elementary School

52 Blooms 2011

A Strange Place

I woke up one morning in a strange place. It was the North Pole with pink snow and

flowers talking to me and saying, “Stay here with us, please. You are the first guest,

and it is exciting for you to be here.” Their family all came to me, and they were all

saying, “Stay with us. We made you a room so you won’t sleep alone.” I jumped over

a building and jogged over a mouse. I crashed into a pole. Boom! Boom! I smelled

lollipops, and I saw purple clouds and heard birds singing to me. Then I found a door

that said, “Come home.” I was happy, the flowers weren’t. I said, “I’m sorry. I will come

back another day.” Then I went home and went to my room and smiled.

Jade Treviño3rd gradeLooscan Elementary School


Fung Fanggigi –Inspired by Nicolás Guillén’s poem “Sensemayá”

Fung fanggigi. Fung fanggigi

The cougar creeps in the grassy mud.

The cougar puts its paws in the water.

Tan and brown fur shimmers in the water.


The cougar growls.

His paws are silent in the forest,

claws ready for battle.

The cougar runs.

Torches light up the town.


Spears fly toward the cougar.

The cougar yowls in defeat.

Blood stains the tan and brown fur.

Men run to the cougar,

but all that’s left is bloody

mud and grass.


Maddie Youngblood3rd gradeCondit Elementary School

54 Blooms 2011

El árbol

Soy el árbol que tiene

amor y paciencia.

Tengo sueños de hablar

pero yo soy el árbol

en el bosque

que habla con los animales

en sus lenguajes.

Los perros—ruf ruf—

tirando rocas asi a mí,

el árbol del bosque.

En la noche,

los lobos—ahu ahu—

no me dejan dormer.

Me despierto en la mañana

y mira hacia arriba.

Las ardillas están

subiéndose a mí,

las dos ardillas peleándose.

Los pájaros cantan

sus canciones y

los pájaros carpinteros hacen el sonido

tic, tic, tic en mi tronco.

En el lenguaje de los animales

les digo shh, shh,

pájaros y ardillas.

Alberto Avila 4th grade Herod Elementary School

The Tree

I am the tree

of love and patience.

I dream of speaking

but I am the tree

in the forest

that speaks with the animals

in their languages.

The dogs—ruff ruff—

throwing rocks at me,

the tree of the forest.

At night, the wolves—

owoo—owoo—

don’t let me sleep.

I wake up in the morning

and look up.

The squirrels

are climbing me,

two squirrels fighting.

The birds sing

their songs

and the woodpeckers

make the noise tic, tic, tic

in my trunk.

In the language of the animals

I say shhh, shhh

to the birds and the squirrels.


“Ish” (An Abstract Poem)

Dark dream, you’re like the tornado of life.

Nose, you have to face the smell of a fish.

Rock, you hate the flower that stands beside you.

Water, you flow out of my eyes when you hear my cry.

Cry, little ghost-like heat that comes from evil sun.

Sky, you make the gods cry.

Balloon, you have to face the spine of a porcupine.

Tree, you face the danger of human fingers.

Sady Davalos4th gradeKujawa Elementary School

56 Blooms 2011

Sadness

Sadness does not wish to accomplish anything. She does not care for any-

thing. She believes everything is a joke and has no use. Sadness has long, black, shiny

straight hair. Her eyes are a dark, empty blue with no beauty. She lives underground

in a burrow but scares away all the chipmunks. She is tall and long and skinny but

terrible at sports. She has no freckles and is very pale. Her eyelashes are long and

dark like her hair.

Sadness, you see, has been weakened by Strength. Strength is rich and beau-

tiful with a luxurious life. Sadness, on the other hand does not wish to accomplish

anything. She does not think beauty matters. She wears black, tight, pointed shoes

with a shimmering purple cloak. No one knows what is underneath. It is most likely

the ghost of darkness.

Teagan Davis4th gradeSchool at St. George Place


Ode to Big C

Big C, I remember

your blistered thumb, the

sound of the mixer

whirling like an untamed

twister. I remember

the sweet scent of

gingerbread houses covered

in icing, gumdrops, chocolate

syrup, and sprinkles. I

remember the worth-it

splinters in your finger, trying to make

that one-story doghouse.

I remember the first

time swimming in

the big blue ocean in

Galveston. I remember

the flying discs of music

everywhere, like a bad

infestation of rats. I

remember the tasty soup

you made. It was

warm as a lit fireplace.

Love from your son,

Carlos

Carlos Escamilla4th gradeMoreno Elementary School

58 Blooms 2011

Instructions

As you wake up from your nightmare, open your bedroom door.

Walk through the portal of blue.

As you see the many paths, choose the orange path of stones.

When you get to the hall of swords, walk to the sword in the stone. Pull with all your might.

As you lift it up in the air, let the ruby shine your way out.

Then you will see a boat. Take the boat and go straight.

The dolphin will be waiting for you. Get on him and ride.

He will take you to the cave of beds.

Choose your favorite bed.

Lie down on it and sleep.

Then open your eyes to the light of the warm bedroom sun.

Eleanor Geno4th gradeDuchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart


Skydiver

They call me

The king of air

The thing I care

Nobody beats me

Anywhere

I don’t care

What they say

They might want

To stand back

Because when I’m

In the air

There’s no turning back

No matter where I go

The air will flow

But when I’m not

In the air

I don’t care

In my mind

I’m always there

Kingston Griffin 4th gradeLockhart Elementary School

60 Blooms 2011

That Secret

that same old chair

with that same old

woman

the air blowing

through the lace curtains

the rocking

back and forth

I, the greatest

writer in the world,

peek through that

open window

to see the same

person rocking

every minute

of every day—

does she ever stand up?

Gracie Halperin4th gradeThe Fay School


The Magic Box

I will put in my box

rocks and crystals

from the end

of the darkest well

and the black loneliness

I feel most of the time.

I will put in my box

the gleaming fire

from the center of the sun

and a piece of Saturn’s ring.

I will put the first ball

I played soccer with and

a leaf from a baby tree.

My box has blue bark

on the sides and on top

patterns and colors go wild.

The handles are of finest

silver along with shades

of purple and blue.

In my box I will go to

a magical fountain

in a garden and to

the darkest times of life.

I will go to the center

of a volcano riding

on a dragon’s back.

No matter where I am,

I will have my magic box.

Olivia Havre 4th gradeSt. Michael Catholic School

62 Blooms 2011

Instructions to the Artist –Inspired by a visit to the Menil Collection

Paint me with long, soft, straight hair

all the way to my heels.

I want to lie by the pond.

It has to be as light as the blue sky.

It needs a lily pad.

The pond must shimmer like a

diamond in a jewelry store.

I want my pupils to be light green,

like spring grass.

I want my toenails to be

painted dark red, like a

sunny red rose.

Certainly, the last thing I want

is to be holding a cobra.

Itzel López4th gradeMoreno Elementary School


Imagine My World

Oh, my world, how lovely you are!

You contain even a best friend’s heart,

that’s how lovely.

Why do you contain many colorless things?

Oh, that’s right, you are my imagination.

I color you, and to me you are real.

The rose of the gods,

a rainbow not possible,

an eye looking at me,

a hand trying to find you,

but you are already here.

I’m already there.

That’s how real you are.

Pink, white, blue,

what are you?

It’s a mystery.

Two TVs,

a baby rockstar,

the most silly things, you are.

I think of something.

You contain it because you belong to me.

My imagination is a party,

so many crazy things,

but you, Imagination,

you are just me!

Smrithi Shibichakravarthy4th gradeHerod Elementary School

64 Blooms 2011

Ho Chi Minh City

If you are about to go to Ho Chi Minh City

There are a few things you should know.

The language will be musical

Like everybody singing all day long.

Everybody walks a lot

Through the streets, blocks and blocks and more.

Veggies we eat a lot

So we always stay strong.

Fewer people get sick here

Because we like to exercise

And we eat the vegetables.

Motorcycles are cheap

And it is mighty hot here,

Especially at noon.

You may think you’re on the sun!

But on some afternoons

You just may find

A few new friends at the park.

Oops! I think I’ve told you too much.

So goodbye until I see you

In Ho Chi Minh City.

Long Hoang Vu 4th gradeChildren’s Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson Cancer Center


The Truth

Sliding past the eyes,

the sudden shifting of light and shadow.

But even years from now

it will remain a pure hard glimpse of reality.

What’s first and final is the truth.

It had been led up the winding,

red-carpeted staircase.

Honor the hard truth.

John Boland5th grade St. Michael Catholic School

66 Blooms 2011

A Landscape of Differences

Today I am different.

As I view an ant on a gentle leaf,

I feel as if I am strangely different.

I feel like the ant is normal, crawling

on a leaf like a paper.

The paper would be a magnificent landscape

with ink and lead as grass and trees.

As the grass grows, the pencil works harder and

it’s the same for shimmering green trees with

the red and fiery cardinals.

The spring brings flowers up like me jumping

on a trampoline, the winter brings snowflakes like

a man that is parachuting, the summer brings

the sun like giant fireball, and the fall

brings leaves like a blockade of fiery arrows.

As this beautiful paper world grows, I become

more unlike my past self. This is the constant

meaning: when my imagination grows,

the whole world grows with it.

Alex Cope5th gradeThe Regis School of the Sacred Heart


The Loggers

The graceful, gentle wind combed

his vibrant and colorful leaves.

In the middle of the first day

of the second week in autumn,

he was a tree.

Then, the orange-coated man

came, intruding in the forest,

blowing a whistle that ruffled

his leaves.

He was a tree.

More of the men came,

carrying axes and

huge splinters.

They spoke of breaking him

and carrying him away.

He was a tree.

With a booming voice that only nature

could hear, he called

to all the animals who lived

inside of him. Then,

all was quiet.

He was a tree.

Anuj Jajoo5th gradeT.H. Rogers School

68 Blooms 2011

My Hands

My hands can plant flowers

And wash dishes

My hands can make chocolate chip cookies

And feel textures both rough and soft

My hands can type on the computer

And sign my name

My hands can eat pizza

And brush my teeth

My hands can make up my bed

And draw a star

Imnet Petro5th gradeCatholic Charities at Collins Elementary School


Evening Recess

Between the school

and the park

I noticed the number 9

in green on

a white bus.

The

door opens,

and the

windows close.

Kids leave

and the

bus is empty and drives away.

Kids run and kick a ball

under the crystal sky.

Saul Rivera5th gradeTexas Children’s Cancer Center’s Arts in Medicine Program sponsored by The Periwinkle Foundation

70 Blooms 2011

Story

I will spin you a story from the air

you breathe, each word shining

with tiny silver drops.

I will mold this story

in the shape of the clouds,

so that when you look up,

the phrases will blow in your ear.

I will spread this story through

the fierce blowing winds

so that when they rustle the leaves

you will think of your courage.

And before I leave our story,

I will share it with the sun,

so that when I leave this world,

the sun’s bright light will pass my story on.

Sarah Swackhamer 5th gradeThe Fay School


Mr. Fistacho

Corello Fistacho was an elderly man in his sixties who used to keep me com-

pany. But it had been several months since he last stopped by, so you can imagine

how surprised I was when his stubbly figure popped up in front of my door. I had just

gotten up and was busy pouring milk into my cereal. I opened the door, and we said

our hellos. I was still in shock when he started to grab random things for the beach,

so I asked him why he wanted to go. He said my parents had planned a surprise there,

and he was sent to fetch me. I was amazed. I hadn’t seen my parents in two years.

The sky was streaked with dandy clouds as we drove to the water. We made

little conversations. Before, Mr. Fistacho used to take me to “educational” places,

like museums and libraries. Not that I don’t like to be educated, but why the beach?

I kept my eyes pinned to the floor of the car and filed through my past memories:

Mom, Dad, my little sister Carrie. That was all before my parents sent me to a board-

ing school. Since then, I yearned to return but never got the chance. Mr. Fistacho

would take care of me sometimes; he would bring cake on my birthdays, share

stories about my family with me. I never knew how he knew about my parents, but I

didn’t think to wonder until that day at the beach.

Just then, Mr. Fistacho announced that we had arrived. He sounded a mil-

lion miles away. We got out of the car and started to walk talklessly to the beach.

My caretaker had carried most of the stuff, so I was left with some beach towels

and clothes. But there, on the horizon, were my parents! And even little Carrie! Was

I dreaming? I rubbed my eyes, once, twice, three times. Nope, they were still there.

I ran down the slope, not caring how hot I was. Not until I went closer did I see that

they were just statues. Statues!!! I looked back, but Mr. Fistacho was nowhere to be

seen. That crazy ghost of a man!

I felt my cheeks burn red. I cursed as I tried to follow him, but it was to no

avail. The sun was high in the sky, but it would not be for long, and I had nowhere

to go. Just as I began to lose all hope, Mr. Fistacho appeared. I wanted to ask him

why he had tried to fool me with statues of my parents, but he seemed troubled, so

I didn’t press the issue. Strangely, I felt I knew the answer already. I can’t be sure, but

I think he wanted me to be happy, as if my real parents were there. Maybe I should

have gone along with it. Then at least one of us could have been happy. I tried to

smile, despite the sad atmosphere.

Julia Zheng5th gradeT.H. Rogers School

72 Blooms 2011

Feeling

Today I feel a tiny bit mad.

My father fusses with me,

and I push my sister.

Today I feel sad.

Other deaf students

gossip, complain, and whisper.

Today I feel happy.

Nobody is gossiping or complaining.

My friends socialize,

and there are no groups.

Today I feel excited!

I am excited...

I like to socialize and chatter.

I play with Lanique and Raven because

Lanique makes me laugh.

Lanique is a good actress.

Genesis Cantu6th gradeT.H. Rogers School


Me

I am from walking in the park,

from swinging back and forth,

high,

from kicking the soccer ball,

Nerf guns in the yard,

a tree to spin around.

I am from pickles and Funions, salty,

from my mom’s tostadas, and

my dad’s spaghetti.

I am from watching TV,

playing with my dog, Rocky, a boxer, wild.

I am from Eric and Marian,

from my sister’s splinters.

I am from constant disease,

from my mom calling me out of my room

to take my medicine,

from boring dialysis.

I am from the good moments,

as I’m growing up,

falling down with my sister,

in my house,

laughing.

Emily Salinas6th gradeTexas Children’s Renal Center

74 Blooms 2011

Future Traveler

I’m the brightest parrot flying in the jungle.

I’m the sugar in the coffee,

maybe the salt to the sour salad.

I’m the moon that glistens in the dark;

he’s like the sun to the sunset.

We are the peak of a cold mountain.

You are the skyscraper to the breeze;

I’m the greatest spark in the crystal, shining

like when the sunlight touches a diamond

and it starts to blink brightly. I’m a big ball of

fire, made from hot lava that comes out of

a volcano of courage.

I’m the future traveler,

and I will meet you in the future.

Kevin Situn6th gradeWilliams Middle School


Beginning the Trip

The sizzling sounds and the great smell of the BBQ caught my attention. My

dad called us to go outside. He said that he was going to tell us something impor-

tant. At first my sisters and I thought we were going to get in trouble for throwing

the cat in the water. So I yelled out, “It was all Edith’s idea!” My dad smiled and said,

“You’re not in trouble. What I am going to say is that you should start packing your

suitcases because we’re going to Michigan.”

We were all so happy that we started jumping like rabbits. My dad explained

to us what we had to do. He said, “Pack your suitcases right now because we are

leaving at midnight.” My sister ran like the wind to our room. When I got there, she

was almost finished. She was whining because she said that her clothes won’t fit in

her suitcase. I told her, “Don’t be silly, you have to fold your clothes first, and then

put them in.”

When we were finished, my dad told us to help him clean the truck. Out of

nowhere, “boom!” My face got red. I screamed at my sister. She had dropped a box

on my foot.

As I was cleaning the truck, a short-sounding wind kissed my cheek. When we

were finished, my sister and I went to the kitchen to help my mom pack the sodas

and some snacks for the long trip. By the time we were all finished, it was 8pm. My

dad said, “Get some rest. I will wake you up at midnight.” And just as quickly, my

sister and I fell asleep, dreaming of our trip.

Abigail Calderon7th gradeE.O. Smith Education Center

76 Blooms 2011

Eyes

My mother’s eyes are brown as a bear’s fur, waiting and watching your every move.

My father’s eyes are green, green as the leaves on a tree yelling out for the wind to

blow and take him away.

My sister’s are the same as my mom’s but different. Her eyes are light brown eyes like

a creamy chocolate ice cream on a hot sunny day wanting to cool you down.

My great-grandfather’s eyes were dark brown, so dark you couldn’t tell the brown

was there. Eyes full of sadness, he suffered. Waiting, wanting to be free from the

devil’s chair that cursed him for eternity.

My grandma’s eyes, brown, too, but full of sadness every day, feeling useless. Always

with a salty tear in her eye. Wanting for her little girl to come back home.

Graciela Carrillo7th gradeKaleidoscope Middle School


A Lady Who Has Big Plans

Do I have to be good? Do I have to be nice? Do I have to eat with a napkin in my lap?

Do I have to behave? Do I have to talk with difficult words? Do I have to dress nice? Do

I have to walk straight? Do I have to obey people? Do I have to sit with my legs closed?

“Yes you need to.” Why can’t I play like I did when I was a child? Do I have to wash the

clothes? Do I have to prepare my own food? Do I have to clean the house? Do I have to

go to school? Do I have to learn? Do I have to go to church? Do I have to be a girl that

has manners? “Yes, mija, you have to if you want people to see you like a lady who has

big plans for the future.” Oh, okay, Mom. I’ll be the lady who has big plans.

Lesly Guerra7th gradeWilliams Middle School

78 Blooms 2011

Freeze

The moment I would freeze

is the moment I saw my newborn sister.

I would touch her soft and fragile

skin. I would see her intense brown eyes that when the sun

hits them look like caramel all sweet and soft that you

would love to eat but you can’t eat them. When the

darkness hits them they are like two big dark clouds approaching

you, trying to scare you. Her eyes are soft and scary

but still they are beautiful. I would look at her face and

try to make out her expression. If I see pain, I would

try to comfort her and make her happy. If I see joy,

I would play and play with her.

Angel Rosa7th gradeKaleidoscope Middle School


About Me!

I am tall like a tree, and its leaves are my long curly weave. Every day that I

walk the streets, the wind kisses me. I am as beautiful as a pink rose booming in the

sun. “Ting!” my teeth sound as I smile. My hands are as soft as pillows made of cot-

ton, but I haven’t always been this way.

I remember that day as if it were happening right now. The roads were as

slick as ice. The gravel on the ground gave no traction and caused us to flip over like

a cartwheel. “Crash!” The car came to a sudden end. My face felt as fat as a Sumo

Wrestler. My arm had the biggest, dark green bruise on it. Sounds were all around

me. I heard everything, but no sounds of an ambulance or the police siren. My seat-

belt was about to stop my circulation.

Then, all of this was over. We were in the hospital. It was so cold; it felt like

I was in Antarctica. The constant beeping sound was making my brain hurt. As I

looked into the mirror on the left side of me, my face wasn’t as beautiful as a pink

rose anymore. My curly weave looked like nappy dreads. My hands felt rough and

hard, not soft as cotton.

I think back to my past, and I realize how much this has changed me, how

much I am changed.

Bryanna Williams7th gradeE.O. Smith Education Center

80 Blooms 2011

Lock Away

I lock away the sweet memories

of my sister

so I don’t miss her too much.

I lock away good images

of my brother

so I don’t kill him.

I lock away my best friends

who I would die without.

I lock away.

I lock away my hope

to see my grandma

someday.

I lock away all

of my mother, her funny

tales of Africa.

I lock away in a heart-shaped box

stories of my grandfather,

who has my name.

I lock away my hope

to see him

in another lifetime.

Etse Amewolo8th gradeJohnston Middle School


The Rock

I was alone. They abandoned me. They convinced me it wasn’t deep, and I

jumped.

I saw these kids jumping from a hanging vine into the water, and one told me

to jump in, but I was afraid. I couldn‘t swim. He made it look like he was on his feet in

the water, but he was actually floating. So I jumped. The cost was me drowning. As

soon as they saw, they ran. I began to panic. My father never taught me to swim. He

tried, he launched me into a deep river, but all I could do was drown. I began to sink.

I had to breathe: I was taking in water.

I awoke on a rock, no one around me. To this day, the only explanation I could

think of was that I was saved by the hand of God.

Jose8th gradeTexas Children’s Cancer Center’s Arts in Medicine Program sponsored by The Periwinkle Foundation

82 Blooms 2011

There’s a Fish in My Dialysis Chair

There’s a fish in my dialysis chair, slipping and sliding everywhere. Where oh where do I stick the fish? He looks to the left. He looks to the right, sees his uncle, aunt, and cousin clearly in sight. Aunt Joetta, Uncle Clyde, Cousin Josephine swimming nearby in water so clean. The fish out of water, very ungraceful, flopping around, very disgraceful. This fish, it tries to watch television but is unsuccessful. To stick veins so small, you would need a magnifying glass. The next thing I know, he’s on my machine! What’s next? My nurse or maybe my candy? We talk for a while, me, in English, he, in Finglish. But we understand each other. It’s a silent yet coherent conversation. I invite him for dinner. Sad to find out we’re having fish sticks and macaroni. Imagine the look on his face! I bet when I go back to dialysis, he won’t be in my chair. He’ll only give me a cold stare from his place in the aquarium toward my place in my chair.

Deandrea Stevens8th gradeTexas Children’s Renal Center


El río

I was at the frontera, el Rio Grande. I’m going to drown myself en el Rio; I’m tired of mi

vida. A voice spoke behind my ear and told me, Que esperas, que no te mueras, guey. I

won’t let you jump. I will turn you into a pescado. I’ll give you a second chance to live

and have freedom. Vas a nadir cuando amanesca y vas a ver la reflección del sol. Gra-

cias, I said, for giving me a second chance. ¿Qué va a pasar in the future? Vas a tener

felicidad, said the voice, el resto de tu vida. Then the voice disappeared like the sound

of the water passing through seaweed.

Estevan Rodriguez12th gradeTexas Children’s Renal Center

84 Blooms 2011

Restless

As I lie here, my legs grow restless,

and I just want to get up and run.

They feel trapped,

as if vines with thorns were wrapped

around them.

They would jump up

and run and go crazy

and take me anywhere

but here.

They would dance me back

to three years ago,

when they would move every night

until the party was over

and then they would go

to sleep.

And the next morning

they took the Metro

and walked

and took another Metro

until they would rest

with all the other legs,

the feet in Jordans and Pumas and Polos.

Elizabeth Soriano12th gradeTexas Children’s Renal Center

WITS is proud to present Karen Walrond, renowned writer, photographer, speaker, engineer, and attorney. Her parenting and photo blog, Chookooloonks, has won several awards including “Best Eye Candy Blog 2010” of the 2010 BlogLuxe awards, and the judg-es’ pick for “best photo blog” by the 2010 Black Weblog Awards. She has appeared on both local and national television shows and other news media, including CNN.com and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Karen is the author of the bestselling book The Beauty of Different, a work that celebrates our unique superpowers through imagery and powerful storytelling.

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WITS extends its thanks to the following WITS writers:

Thank YouGloria Alvarez

Miah ArnoldCarolyn Bolton

Nancy BonsembianteLauren Burrow

Marcia ChamberlainCarina Christensen

Evan ClevelandSara CooperRyan DilbertEric EkstrandKathy ElliottMischa Enos

David FeilSharon Ferranti Casey Fleming

Deborah FrontieraSarah Gajkowski-Hill

Lauren Genovesi

Kasten GloverMaryann Gremillion

Autumn HayesStephanie Hruzek Carmen Jacobsen

Chris KajanderRob KimbroEric Kocher

Emily KoehnWeezie Mackey

Melanie MalinowskiKimberly Moore

D’Lynn RubioYolanda Schulte-Ladbeck

Analicia SoteloGabriela Villegas

Rebecca WadlingerDeborah Wiggins

Amy Williams

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Special thanks to the following schools and projects for their participation:Thank You

Briargrove Elementary SchoolCatholic Charities at Collins Elementary School

Children’s Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson Cancer Center

Community Family Centers at Gallegos Elementary School

Condit Elementary SchoolDuchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

Ermel Elementary SchoolThe Fay School

Garden Oaks Elementary SchoolHelms Community Learning Center

Herod Elementary SchoolHPL Express at Discovery Green

Johnston Middle SchoolKaleidoscope Middle School

Kujawa Elementary SchoolLockhart Elementary School

Looscan Elementary SchoolMeadow Wood Elementary School

Moreno Elementary SchoolNeff Elementary School

The Regis School of the Sacred HeartThe Rice School/La Escuela Rice

T.H. Rogers School (Vanguard and PDHH)School at St. George Place

E.O. Smith Education CenterSt. Michael Catholic School

Texas Children’s Cancer Center’s Arts in Medicine Program sponsored by

The Periwinkle FoundationTexas Children’s Renal Center

Travis Elementary SchoolEd White Elementary School

Williams Middle School

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Thank You

Robin Reagler, Ph.DExecutive Director

Bao-Long Chu

Associate Director

Jack McBrideProgram Director

Kate Rybka Brennan

Development Associate

Jennifer WatsonCommunications Manager

Angie Coats

Accounting Manager

Gayatri ParikhOffice Manager

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Writers in the Schools (WITS) is generously supported in part by:

Houston Endowment Inc.The Brown Foundation, Inc.

The Menil CollectionNational Endowment for the Arts

the City of Houston through Houston Arts AllianceGoogle

Texas Commission on the ArtsShell Oil Company

Copy.comThe Hearst Foundations, Inc.

Shell Houston OpenKroger

Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable FoundationThe Susan Vaughan Foundation, Inc.

TravelersThe Simmons Foundation

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H-E-B Tournament of ChampionsKinder Morgan Foundation

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King & Spalding LLPVinson & Elkins LLP

Ray C. Fish FoundationBP

CenterPoint EnergyJenny and Jim Elkins Family FundTexas Medical Center Orchestra

The Samuels FoundationKHOU-TV Channel 11

Edward & Helen Oppenheimer FoundationTexas Children’s Hospital

Zimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Stern and Wise, PCCommunication Axess Ability Group

Poets & Writers, Inc.Robert T. and Patricia N. Pando Fund

Brazos BookstoreMission Fish

BuildASign.comEl Paso Corporation

Microsoft Matching Gifts ProgramRandalls

KPFT

And individuals who value the strength that comes from reading and writing.

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phone: 713.523.3877 | fax: 866.793.4865 | email: [email protected]: witshouston.org | blog: witsblog.org

Robin Reagler, Ph.DExecutive Director

Bao-Long Chu

Associate Director

Jack McBrideProgram Director

Kate Rybka Brennan

Development Associate

Jennifer WatsonCommunications Manager

Angie Coats

Accounting Manager

Gayatri ParikhOffice Manager

WITS Staff

Writers in the Schools (WITS) 1523 West Main Street

Houston, TX 77006 713.523.3877

witshouston.org witsblog.org

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