METAPHOR

by TWILIGHT REYES

A rose                                                                                                                                       So beautiful                                                                                                                          Unique, and yet the same                                                                                                        Its petals so delicate                                                                                                         Blooms at different times                                                                                                    Fades and wilts away too                                                                                                            So happy at times                                                                                                                       Sad at others                                                                                                                          Pretty, delicate, beautiful                                                                                                          Me, don’t know it                                                                                                                   Don’t get told it enough                                                                                                             Not reminded                                                                                                                          But am, and it is                                                                                                                                        We are                                                                                                                                                       Beautiful, unique, different                                                                                                             Alike                                                                                                                                              A rose

by MCKINLEY WILLIAMS

A book you can open and close it,                                                                                             find out what secrets it holds, learn valuable information,                                                                       like an English book, you can find out what it means                                                                 when you put something in quotation marks                                                                                  or a history book you can find out who discovered a nation, or a math book                                            that has geometry or trigonometry, or even an economics book                                              so you can learn about this nation’s economy.                                                                          But see, I too am like a book                                                                                                       You can open or close me, and                                                                                                                    you may be able to find out                                                                                         what secrets I hold

MOMENT IN THE MIDDLE

 

by SARA RAY

I am in the middle of writing down my feelings                                                                          For you                                                                                                                                 When you walk in                                                                                                                            I cover my thoughts with my arm                                                                                                     As I turn to look at you                                                                                                                   You ask if I’m coming down for dinner                                                                                               Of course, that’s all it is, I give you a yes                                                                                And a smile                                                                                                                                        I would never miss one of your meals                                                                                         Your cooking is wonderful even if you don’t think so                                                                       You return a smile and leave                                                                                                     The door open just a crack                                                                                                            I stare blankly at the door wondering if                                                                                    You’re going to come back and say                                                                                      Something else. But you don’t                                                                                                                           So I stand                                                                                                                                     To head down for dinner

BY SANDRA XU

I’m in the middle                                                                                                                           of the distant sky and the rocky ground                                                                                           I stand tall for my loved ones                                                                                                          I stay strong for my dreams                                                                                                           I’m in the middle of no where                                                                                                             Lost off my path and                                                                                                               Alone                                                                                                                                                 But still hoping still striving still loving                                                                                               I’m in the middle of the positivity through the negativity                                                              The glimpse of a shining star leading me towards                                                                     The hidden trail, covered with the darkness                                                                                         In hearts of the people, the smile among the empty souls

DISTANCE  by MELEM  

4:00’ ish, gloomy sky, school afternoon                                                                                          I could see his white shirt from here                                                                                          This distance was fine by me                                                                                                      From this dusty white block I sat on                                                                                             As he and Julian slowly strolled up the slightly steep hill                                                           I became nervous                                                                                                                            Nervous to be around an old time friend, now my boyfriend                                                  Ha, I was nervous to be around the same guy I used to pick on, I used to hit

“You guys argue like a married couple, “ is what Mrs Rose told him                                              Behind my back as a joke

To be a friend to my friend bcause we’d grown older                                                                     Taller, hotter, slightly more mature, distant                                                                                  I was nervous to be his dream girl that he always used to describe to me

Thing is,                                                                                                                                      He was head over heels for me and I had the nerve to be nervous                                             Scared to be what he needed

TWO By NIA                                                                                                                                  1.                                                                                                                                                          I’m in the middle of a crowd                                                                                               Where I don’t belong                                                                                                            Stick out like a sore thumb                                                                                                              I’m in the middle of madness, uncontrollable                                                                               I’m in the middle of no where                                                                                                       Lost, confused, and unsure                                                                                                            I’m in the middle of b.s., likes, emotions

2.                                                                                                                                         It’s June 1^st, 2013                                                                                                          8:25 PM                                                                                                                                   Prom night                                                                                                                                        I have emerald and gold dress                                                                                                 Ombre dyed hair                                                                                                                           I walk with my handsome prom date                                                                                       Inside the Greek Orthodox                                                                                                  Hearing the song of Calvin Harris: “Feel So Close”                                                                        As our feet enter the room                                                                                                              My body fills with joy.

SPRING INTO SUMMER

By SANDRA

It’s spring and I‘m surrounded by the beauty of nature                                                          It’s spring, bounded by floral prints and pastel pinks                                                                    I hear birds chirping in the air                                                                                                        It’s spring and I, allergies and pain                                                                                               It’s spring I sang, breezing through the flower patches                                                         Breathing beneath the trees                                                                                        Embracing my love and everyone around me                                                                             It’s spring and I, a new ending and soon to be beginning

It’s spring and I….

BY SAIDE                                                                                                                                      In spring I dance                                                                                                                           And sing                                                                                                                                    In spring I think                                                                                                                                Of Easter

 By ANONYMOUS

Summer is wide and hot, not my type

History has taught me to love myself and fly like a bird and dream like it’s reality and sing out loud

Summer is dead and I’m alive                                                                                          Too bad I ain’t died either. Well at least I’m still here.                                                                            The summer seems to love me when I’m gone but pretends to hate me when I’m there Beating her hot untouchable rays of endless glory

BY MCKINLEY

Spring is supposedly a happy time

And for some it is, but for others it’s not

I would say spring is a happy time for me

Then I would be lying

Spring is to me, my allergies

A time when I can’t be with my friends

Can’t hang out form sunrise to sunset

But luckily, for others,

Spring is the best.

COURAGE

By SAIDE

By SAIDE

Courage is lik a smoothie                                                                                                Courage is a great roller coaster ride                                                                                Courage is a part of taking chances                                                                                             And staying strong                                                                                                            Courage is laughter and full of comedy                                                                             Courage is fun and awesome with friends.

I’m afraid when I lost John to AT/RT                                                                                          I’m afraid when my mom is in the hospital                                                                                   I’m afraid when I lost all 14 of  my loved ones                                                                              I’m afraid of losing another car                                                                                                    I’m afraid when I lose my friends.

By MCKINLEY WILLIAMS

I was afraid first day in kindergarten                                                                             I was afraid going to my first dance

I was afraid to have a job for the first time                                                                                   I was afraid of having sex for the first time

But these things I was afraid of, I did and                                                                                Had nothing to worry about after                                                                                      Except for maybe                                                                                                                      Having a kid.

By SANDRA XU

Courage is an ever standing tree

I stand alone but still so strong

I dance away through the falling leaves

Courage is an ever standing tree

She fought to survive

She fought to stay

Courage is an ever standing tree

His heart was broken by the girl he loves

His soul is yearning to be free

Courage is an ever standing tree

There’s things we cannot have

We have the things we need

Courage is an ever standing tree

I’m afraid when the sun goes down and

The sky turns dark

What my country needs is peace

This nation consists of many who suffered

For the pride and victory of their country

If I were President I would be the miracle

in people’s eyes, which show sorrow and pain

I was brave when I stood alone with no one

Standing beside me

CHRISTMAS CAROL

By Saide

I’m dreaming of

A Justin Bieber Christmas

I’m dreaming of a

Selena Gomez Christmas

I’m dreaming of an

Under-the-mistletoe Christmas

I’m dreaming of a

Jelena Christmas

By Sara

I’m dreaming of a

Snow filled Christmas

With crystal ice

Falling from the sky

Jack Frost

Guardian of fun

Nipping at my nose

And playing in the sun

Starting snowball fights

Making snowmen

Freezing the lake

So we can go skating

By Sandra

I dream of a white, romantic, yet joyful Christmas

A cheerful time of the year filled with beautiful light

A time you spend with your loved ones and

Find warmth in the cold, light in the gloomy-ness

I dream of a mythical miracle this Christmas

 

By Twilight

I’m dreaming of a White Christmas

Where Oakland gets a blanket of snow

We can have snowball fights, make snowmen

Have lots of fun

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, of a winter wonderland

 

By Sharron

I’m dreaming of a Christmas full of mysteries

Don’t really know what I’m going to do but I hope it’s nice

I’m dreaming of a home for Christmas 

and a brighter beginning

I’m dreaming of a cold winter day 

that’s drowned in smiles and laughter.

 

By Keonnia

I’m dreaming of a wonderful Christmas

Wonderful because I’ll be spending time with my family

And the ones I love

I’m dreaming of a wonderful Christmas

where everyone’s happy and smiling

I’ll be eating Gumbo that my papa made

Sharing stories with my family

Christmas is about spending time with the ones you love

Christmas is the time for giving. 

CONJUGATION

by SAIDE

I see music notes, I see blue skies                                                                             You fear dropping off the Drop Zone                                                                                          He understands the Believe Tour                                                                                                She loves Justin Bieber and being a Belieber

We change thrill rides                                                                                                                 You dream of singing in the choir                                                                                                     We hope that you enjoy the years in choir.

by SANDRA

I understand your tears and pain

You pretend to be someone you’re not

She loves your shining eyes

Like the stars above the sky

He cherishes the smile on your face

We hope for peace and

Better lives for people who are in poverty

You all fear losing the ones you love most

They dream of becoming stars beyond the darkest nights

AISHE NADYA

I understand that life is crazy

You pretend that you’re okay

She loves him; he loves her

(But they don’t know)

We hope it all gets better

You all fear that you won’t be able

To handle it any more

They dream of raindrops on roses

Whiskers on kittens and happiness

For everyone

SARA

I understand the abstinence of things

You pretend to know

She loves whom she loves

He loves her the way she is

We hope you all enjoy the show

You all fear what you don’t understand

They dream of lovely things

 

SHARRON

I understand that sometimes we all are misunderstood

You pretend that there’s such a thing as normal

She loves to hear words like, “you’re beautiful”

He loves to abuse her with the words “I love you.”

We hope to all succeed and be applauded

You all fear that obstacles will stop you from

Getting what you want and desire

They dream to see us fail, but we won’t let them fail

We’ll all just go higher

 

KEONNIA

I understand that me graduating is a big deal

To my family

You pretend like you don’t want to see me succeed

She loves to see me push myself to succeed and

Do my best

He loves to help me succeed and do what he can

To help me

We hope that I graduate from college and become

Successful

You all fear that I won’t make it across the stage

They dream that they see me get my diploma

At graduation

 

CINDY

I understand music

You pretend to be fine

She loves to sing

He loves to see her happy

We hope for a better tomorrow

You all fear the unknown

They dream of peace.

BORROWED WORDS

We introduce ourselves, using words borrowed from other people’s poems and from the dictionary.

MERON AREFAINE

Her sign of beauty is non-existent to the galleries of people

She is obedient, yet she sinks; her journey inside

Farewell to the feeling of distance

Lies and despair vanish with the love of her savior

Her identity is captured by the hunger of peace

Her soul is free. Her heart will no longer violently beat

ZOE ROUNTREE

I am the participant

Of midsummer dreams

I am experience before

The structure of a poem

 

BRIANA PHILLIPS

I am a flower that blossoms

Near the big icebergs

I am fluttering with happiness and joy

With my desire to sing and dance

 

SANDRA XU

I am a twinkling glimmer of life

Who is longing for

A warm embrace

I am a fluttering insect that searches

For a voice among the world

 

E’NIYAH WILSON

I am a person

I am okay

I am hungry

I am E’Niyah

 

SARA RAY

I am wonderfully decorated

But not a green finch, am I

Destitute concentration

I am categorically indolent

Pouter-pigeoned vulnerability

Is not part of my humanness

 

CARMELITA JOHNSON

I am the soul that cries and yearns

And hope for change

I am a star gleaming in the sky

That captures love and laughter of starving souls

I am the lips of the ocean

Whose mouth flows with love.

 

LOVE, AISHE NADYA

I am Twilight, as the evening whispers through the wind from the moon and the stars to the hearts and the laughter in the orchard, each breath from our soft lips rises fairy like sweet spell chances to each of us as we make wishes through our hidden tears that would glisten in the blooming starlit night and the moments make memories as it gets later and more stars come out.

 

SHARRON PAYNE

I am lifting off a road of melancholy

Going down a road of golden discoveries

I am a determined spirit who keeps on lifting

When failures try to break down my road

I am a marvelous creation whose soul is like

Sweet honey

CINDY HUEY

I am a blossom that blooms in a twilight sky

Perfume, radiance, beauty flow through me

I am a heart, delicate, emotional, hungry for love

for a home.

 

 

DOORWAY

By Zoe
I walked through the door and there it lay
This non existence thing but I knew, it was there
I could feel the weight that it put on my shoulders
Not with force but with pressure
No one know what it is other then me.
No one sees what’s behind this door.

Outside of that door it’s gone.
I wake up to await the moment where I escape being behind these doors
I push away the weight. I forget about the pains it gives me
The marks it leaves.
I have had enough with simply not getting enough.
I’m through with the absence.

I walk through the door and there. I’m done.
The deed is placed.

By Azuri
Life is like a hallway
There are many doors
but not all of them are numbered
We take chances
by turning the handles
praying for a good outcome
I’ve been stuck in a doorway
No moving forward or back
But now I feel free
I can finally take a step
Towards my future, maybe
I don’t know but
I’m ready to close that door
and move on.

By Jessamin
I walked through the door
Praying to our God above
To let me see his bright light
And let me pass through his gate
I walked through the door.
Touching the soft clouds
Feeling the warm sun
I walked through the door
Where my love awaits
I see that bright yellow light
I see the tall silver gate

By Sara
I walked through the door
And what did I see?
I saw me, back then
I walked through the door
And what did I find?
I found time, stood still
As it waits patiently
for me
I move on, away, gone
And I come back to see me
As I am now
And I’m proud.

By Kaliyah
I walk through the doorway
No one there, just me
I walk alone
Nobody by my side
I stand alone
I don’t know what is on the other side
I can only dream, hope, imagine
I hope for the best on the other side of the door
There’s only one thing to fear when you’re at
the final door
Once that door opens and you enter
that door shuts right behind you.

By E’Niyah
I walked through the door
and I saw my best acquaintance
Future
She’s always there for me.
Then I saw her second cousin twice removed
Fate.
Fate can be my enemy
I haven’t met the day when Fate and I were akin yet
But I’m sure it will come soon.
Future scares me sometimes
She’s so vague with things
It’s never possible to know what’s coming
next

By Twilight
When I walked through the doors
and I saw your face,
My heart beat fast, skipped a beat
tried to leap out of my chest
But I held in my feelings as best I could
wanted to smile, but all I could do
was hold in my tears
The pain is so strong, gotta hold on
Gotta stay strong, make sure I don’t let go
Can’t let you see, even if I’ve told you
You don’t know, you can’t know, you mustn’t know
But you do know
I am in love with you

By Briana
I walked through the door
And I saw a bright light
A better world for me and you
Somewhere, where we all shine
A place where we belong
At peace with our minds
Now we feel free
A place where I need to be

By Cindy
I walked through the doors
the lights beamed down on me, dancing on my skin
warm, blinding, exhilarating
I take the first step toward the center stage..
the sound of my heels ring through the entire audience
My heart beats out of my chest
My breath fast and short
I’m in front of the mic
Same lights beating down on me
Everything fades to black
One light… one mic …. one voice …. one me

By Tailini
I walked through the door
past the fear and anger
Inside I find another maze
just to find the other door
Where is it?
I can taste the panic in my head
I can hear the voices of my haters
See the disappointment ahead of me
I hate it
I want to leave, but
I can’t find the other door

LULLABY

By KALIYAH
Go to sleep, little darling
Sleep peacefully ’til morning
Even if you are snoring

Go to sleep, lovely baby; lovely baby, go to sleep

Don’t you cry or weep
Not even a little peep
Just rest your eyes and sleep

Go to sleep, lovely baby; lovely baby, go to sleep

Relax your mind, little dreamer
Shine all night, you can stop if you like
When you wake everything will be all right.

By JESSAMIN
Close your eyes, fly away
Into the night sky
Dance with the stars, sing with the moon
Sing this sweet lullaby

Stop your crying
Hear my voice
Soft and gentle
Silence your noise

Close your eyes, fly away
To the land of happiness
Go to sleep, hear my voice
Sing this sweet lullaby

By CINDY
Hush, little baby
Hush, my little child
Close your eyes, my baby
Close them for a while.
When you wake I’ll be here
I’ll be by your side
I’ll be here to wipe your tears
If you were to cry
Sleep, little baby
Sleep here for a while

By LUWAM
Sweet little baby, close your eyes
Escape this world, just for a while
Dream of joy, happiness and love
Of flowers and trees and little doves.

By BRIANA
Go to sleep, my little angel, don’t you cry
Dream my little angel, close your eyes
Rest your little body, don’t make a peep,
Just relax and let me speak
See your big future, see the stars
See the lights and the shiny cars
My little angel, time to go to bed
Sleepy head, see you in the morning
Long day ahead
Oooooo, ahhhhh, oooooo, ahhhhh

By TAILINI
My love, my star, my diamond in my heart
Sleep tight, all night
You will be all right
My crystal ball, my angel in the sky
Oh, how much I love you
Sleep tight, all night
You will be all right

By MERON
Hush, my little baby
Hush, my little child
Dream of happy endings
Of things so hard to find
In this world, my darling
Dreams are worth your while

By TWILIGHT
Don’t you cry
Little baby
You don’t deserve to be sad
Please be happy
Little baby
You don’t need to cry
Let me hear your laughter
Little baby
Please don’t you be sad
I need to see you smile right now
Little baby
Please be happy
Don’t you cry
Little baby
You don’t deserve to cry

By ZOE
Shh little baby / Look at the sky
Stars are out / No need to cry

Shh little one / Time to lie down
Look at the sky / Moon white and round
Shh little baby

By AZURI

I watch you smile and it makes me think
That in a moment faster than a blink
Soon you’ll be big enough to stand
without me.

You may not remember this tomorrow
But that’s okay
I’m willing to take your hand and
Every day.

You’re not in a box,
You have more sides than 4
You were made for so much more
When you are grown, all shall be shown
Believe me

You may not remember this tomorrow
But that’s okay
I’m willing to take your hand and sing for you. Every day

I’ll sing for you.

By E’NIYAH
Hush, little baby, hush my little child
Close your eyes, my baby,
Close them for a while
Dream, child, dream and find your peace
Soon you will find the treasured melody

IDENTITY

AS ONE, By Sushi

I’m in a peaceful place

inside my mother’s womb

I can hear her heartbeat

I can feel her breathing

while she exhales and inhales

I can taste the food she’s eating

through my umbilical cord

I can feel her movement while I float inside

As each day passes by

I am one with her,

the animals, the trees, the stars

I am floating inside her belly

as one

with the universe

FREE, By Tailini

I was traveling inside myself

A place no one’s ever been before

So scary, exotic and beautiful

A place I bet you dream of

My eyes were amazed as I gazed inside

To find my life away from lies

Everything I could’ve ever wanted

No place like me in mind

There was no fighting time

Free to do me. ME, can you believe it?

I stay inside full of pride

Just to wake up and open my eyes to cry

It’s only inside a place you won’t know or go or hold

Only for me to see and you to dream

I never tried to let them in,

Scared they might break me deep

6 feet deep, down in the ground,

dark, but I’ll be proud, because I won’t be found.

THE ANSWER, By Jessamin Flores

I was traveling inside myself

Hoping to find an answer

Walking along a rough path

As the waves on my right smoothly dance in the sea

I see myself sitting on the grass

Grass that has a bright color and fresh smell

The breeze slowly touches my face

Tears of joy fall to the ground

The trees dance from left to right

I get up, forget about my thoughts

I finally found my answer:

This is where I belong

LOST, By Dani

I was traveling inside myself

and I saw nothing

pure black shadowy mist

I haven’t been here in so long

I don’t even recognize myself

always thinking

    of others

         you lose

                    yourself

A LONG PATH, By Twilight

I was traveling inside myself

It’s dark, I see forks in my path, a long path

Signs keep appearing before me

warning: Caution, Do Not Go Ahead

Strange

I walk further, it gets darker, colder

Scarier

I see myself as if I was projected on a screen

Ha! My first word. I look to my right, I see

my first kiss. To my left, my first heartbreak

I walk further, my first car accident

I run

My fears appear before me

I SEE, By Zoe

Traveling inside myself

I see my selfish side

Where I look at him with anger

Whoa, I thought I was nice!

The rudeness I can’t explain

In the back corner lie those memories

That wait to be sparked up again

Hi there, dust covered memos

There’s my butterflies waiting

For me to get nervous.