Three Poems
The City of
New York

In the city I see
many people getting hurt in many ways
seeing people mugging others' valuables

Homeless people on the streets
looking around for little scraps of food
Singing the song "Akuna Matata"

Words which mean no worries
I hear many different sounds in NY
such as many gunshots everywhere

Going from drugs to heads
sniffing up the drugs to their noses
No, not afraid to die

--- Jason Petrone
Sixth Grade


What is
Reality?

What is Reality?
Life formed on Earth
Does it exist with the energy of space?
Yes, no, maybe so
No one will ever know

Why are flowers used as a person's name?
Is it because they're beautiful and
have attraction
Do you think it's because they feel like it?

What is up in space?
Gases and features only?
They work in a special way
The sun as a light bulb, the stars as
fireflies, and the sky as blueberry juice

Does it exist at all?

--- Rose Garcia
Sixth Grade


Reality ---
Something
We Don't
Even Want
Reality
is a sun shining day ruined
by a
thunderstorm
Reality
is three errors
in the
bottom of
the ninth
Reality
is
beginning
to mean nothing
Reality
is
milk with orange juice
Reality is a cupcake
with no icing
Reality
is oranges
I hate oranges
Why
do I hate
oranges
Because
of
the taste
Taste
is reality
Reality is
a hand
with no fingers
Reality
is
a hand
offering me oranges

--- Daniel Cohen
Second Grade


[These poems were reprinted in the magazine of the Teachers and Writers Collaborative, which is dedicated to "sending creative writers into schools and other settings to conduct writing workshops with students, teachers, and other members of the community." They are at 5 Union Square West, New York City 10003. Subscriptions are $16 a year. They deserve your support.]
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