First of all I’m tall
Face strong
Real different huh
Speak my mind
But that ain’t how they want me to be
Stressin’ but ain’t nothing progressing
But that ain’t how life’s supposed to be
Everybody wants me to be this, be that
But that’s not what it’s gonna be!
The tiger
He destroyed his cage
Yes
YES
The tiger is out
Originally published in “They’re Singing a Song in Their Rocket” and “You Will Be Able to Say a Thousand Words”
My white lie got bigger and
bigger. My white lie was that I
ate the last cookie and said that
somebody ate it. I was 8 years
old. The lie was at my house. When
I lied the house looked like it
was not safe.
I told the lie to my mom
and dad. I said, “I didn’t
eat the cookie my brother did!”
I lied because I didn’t
want my mom and dad to
ground me. I felt
unhappy because I was lieing
to my mom and dad. My mom
and dad still grounded me
because it was what I got for
lieing. I feel good right now. Now
I feel safe in my house.
The big Brown mego mansion
My Brown mansion is Brown as
it can be
new york is my favorite city and
it is so silver it’s Like a diomand ring.
while in new york if i dont get the new i phone 8t i will break
my head to peices
we are in new york at the mall
and i want the new 12’s so if
i don’t get them i will melt.
This poem is on fire.
red rose
panda’s glow
red rose
shine in the night
Panda’s sleep at the
pink shining light
As a bug quiet as a
mouse
Then they’ll see who shines
So bright
And panda’s sleep at
this quiet night.
As panda’s sleep red roses
bloom with leaps
Home to
Kids running on pilgrimages until the street lights came on,
Anacostia,
Where you were bound to see ten ice-cream trucks a day,
And a pink pickled egg in someone’s hand.
Everybody knew everybody,
From Barry Farms to Wahler Place
Why so much beef now?
I remember when I discovered abandoned buildings,
Climbing until I couldn’t anymore.
Anacostia,
Where the 94 bus came.
Could you believe it was only 75 cents?
I will never forget–
The holder of my innocent thoughts.
Every day,
I lived in a different game,
From Freaky Friday
To Shame, shame, shame.
Anacostia,
Is a possibility.
Every portion of cracked concrete has a face,
Telling the history of how rich it was and will always be.
“Pinch me because I must be dreaming”
About Anacostia.
Home to culture,
Southeast, and finger-licking memories.
Home to Go-Go.
Anacostia.
If we did not have Hispanic month, we would have no history.
Without history, we would not have culture.
Without the culture, we wouldn’t have food, dances, and language.
Because we celebrate culture, we celebrate everything.
We learn we think.
This November, 826DC is thrilled to publish our very first compendium: a collection of the best of the best from our first five years. To celebrate the release here on the blog we will be posting a weekly podcast consisting of selections from the book, read aloud by students, volunteers, staff, and other friends of 826DC. So find a comfy spot and get ready to listen, savor, and share the words of our most inspiring young authors. This project is made possible in part by support from AT&T Aspire.
You Will Be Able to Say a Thousand Words collects the best writing from 826DC’s first five years of running fun and unique writing-based programs. Spanning genres and styles, students ages 6-18 imagine dangers on the high seas, struggles with bullying, and mourn loved ones. From advice to their former selves to advice for the reader, students begin a journey that starts on the page and ends in the boundlessness of the imagination.
This week’s featured piece from the collection is “My Life as a Dog/Shark” by Christopher M., first published in our “Smell This Story!” writing workshop. Reading it for us is 826DC Programs Director Lacey Dunham, self-proclaimed book nerd and cat wrangler.
My agenda: Sniff something gross, save people from jellyfish, then poop everywhere and wait for people to step in it.
All around me there was sand and water.
“Help!” someone screamed.
“Sounds like jellyfish are attacking again,” I said. I jumped into action, ran into the water, swam over to that person, and bit the jellyfish without getting shocked. “Here comes my favorite part,” I thought.
“Thank you” said the person. “Here’s your 250 sausage bites.”
Mmmmmmm, they smelled good. I said, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to smell some butts.” I think someone farted in my face when I tried to smell their butt.
My favorite shirt was handed down to me
From my mother dearest.
I was ten at the time.
She said it came from the year 1996.
From the moment I got it,
I felt everything my mother felt.
Like the time I was in her belly,
And she was wearing the shirt
To the supermarket,
So she could pick up our food.
I wonder what it was like for her
To try to stretch it over
Her pregnant belly, because
The size was a small
And thinking about her belly
Going into that shirt is a mystery.
I could feel me in that shirt,
And I wonder how is that possible.
This November, 826DC is thrilled to publish our very first compendium: a collection of the best of the best from our first five years. To celebrate the release here on the blog we will be posting a weekly podcast consisting of selections from the book, read aloud by students, volunteers, staff, and other friends of 826DC. So find a comfy spot and get ready to listen, savor, and share the words of our most inspiring young authors. This project is made possible in part by support from AT&T Aspire.
You Will Be Able to Say a Thousand Words collects the best writing from 826DC’s first five years of running fun and unique writing-based programs. Spanning genres and styles, students ages 6-18 imagine dangers on the high seas, struggles with bullying, and mourn loved ones. From advice to their former selves to advice for the reader, students begin a journey that starts on the page and ends in the boundlessness of the imagination.
This week’s featured piece from the collection is “I Been Here Since I Been Born” by Danielle Bedney, first published in Everyone is Moving No One in Place. Reading for us this week is Sujan Sedhai, a member of the intrepid Editorial Board who helped select the great works you’ll find in this collection.
I been here since I been born
This place here is my home
I’m used to seeing ice cream trucks on every corner,
and kids outside playing hopscotch.
But now I’m seeing new buildings and stores
Prices are rising
People are struggling harder than before
This is what happens when the gentrification begins.
You think you’re helping us but you’re making money,
And at the end my people aren’t left with any, honey.