Underneath
A Ball

Underneath a ball there are glasses that are brown and blue.
Underneath the glasses there is a gold striped earring.
Underneath the earring there is a devil eating the glasses. The devil goes, "Hmm humm --- Yummy!"
Underneath the devil there is a panther trying to eat the devil.
Underneath the panther there is a girl tiger and a boy lion.
     They're kissing.
Underneath the kiss there is a red heart.
Underneath the red heart there is a baby lion and baby tiger sleeping.
Underneath the sleep they are dreaming of love.

--- Poem by second grade student,
from Words and the World
At a New York Public School ---
Can Writing Really Matter
To Inner City Children
Stephen O'Connor
Teachers and Writers Collaborative
5 Union Sq. W.
New York City 10003