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My Neighborhood/Mi BarrioWriting by students from the San Antonio Independent School District

in partnership with Gemini Ink’s Writers in Communities Program

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Writing by students from the San Antonio Independent School Districtin partnership with Gemini Ink, readers and writers today and tomorrow

Writers-in-Residence: Donna Peacock, Lyle Rosdahl, Rachel Jennings, and Regina Moya Artists-in-Residence: Fadela Castro, Michael Marks, and Robert Poschmann

Layout, Design & Editing: Daniel Torres, Gemini Ink internAnisa Onofre, Director, Writers in Communities

Special thanks toThe San Antonio Independent School District and the George W. Brackenridge Foundation

Rosemary Catacalos, Executive | Artistic Director, Gemini Ink

Gemini Ink’s work with the San Antonio Independent School Districtand this publication was made possible byThe George W. Brackenridge Foundation

Student work has been edited as lightly as possiblein order to honor the original voices

©2010 Gemini Ink

My Neighborhood/Mi Barrio

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Foreword   The My Neighborhood/Mi Barrio poetry and mural project was a partnership between the Gemini Ink Writers in Communities program and five elementary schools and academies in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD): Bonham Academy, Crockett Elementary, Douglass Academy, Gates Elementary, and Storm Academy. Some 120 fifth- and sixth-graders worked with professional writers and artists to create poetry and portable murals reflecting the neighborhood theme.

The twelve-week project began with four weekly meetings when writers-in-residence inspired students to write about their homes, neighborhoods, and families. Muralists joined the group in the fifth week, helping students select images from their writing to represent visually in a collaborative mural. The resulting 8x4-foot portable wooden panels are on display in each school.

From neighborhood bakeries and baseball parks to stray dogs, gangs, and the homeless, these young writers and artists have given us insightful portraits of their everyday experience and surroundings.

A full-color reproduction of each mural is included in this anthology along with poetry from each school. Gemini Ink thanks writers-in-residence Rachel Jennings, Regina Moya, Donna Peacock, and Lyle Rosdahl, as well as muralists Fadela Castro, Michael Marks and Robert Poschmann.

Gratitude also goes to principals, teachers, and administrators at SAISD who were key to the success of the project: Deputy Superintendent Betty Burks, Reading/Language Arts Coordinator Mary Dowd, Principal Janet Perez and Teacher Sheila Vardiman at Bonham Academy, Principal Bertha Rubio and Teacher Alfredo Lopez at Crockett Elementary, Principal Melanie Zepeda and Teacher Michael Avila at Douglass Academy, Principal Derrick Thomas and Teacher Cynthia Wright at Gates Elementary, and Principal Jackie Ibarra-Lanford and Teacher Brian Faro at Storm Academy.

Special thanks to the George W. Brackenridge Foundation for their generous support And finally, a very special thanks to the young writers and artists who are our future.

Anisa Onofre Director, Writers in Communities

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Table of ContentsI. Bonham Academy........................................................8II. Crockett Elementary....................................................15III. Douglass Academy......................................................27IV. Gates Elementary.........................................................36V. Storm Elementary........................................................42

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Bonham AcademyMs. Vardiman’s 5th grade class

Writer In-Residence: Lyle RosdahlArtist In-Residence: Michael Marks

Host Teacher: Sheila Vardiman

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A Neighborhood Is Like a VillageBrandy Alvarez

The lights are on night and day.The streets are awake day and night.The neighborhood is alive like the people of our city – they are a poem that grows with the neighborhood.

JaguarAshley Cortez My neighborhood is like a jaguar because of the roaring engines, tire marks and sharp turns. It tastes like smoke, and scents pray from far away. The jaguar sees lights up the hill. It is our neighborhood.

My Happy NeighborhoodAmaris Sanchez

My neighborhood is a big, bright, golden meadow. It smells like a hot apple pie. As I walk through my neighborhood, the wind chimes tinkle softly against each other as if the metal was still soft. When I breathe I taste a candy apple. As I lay my body on my neighborhood, I feel the wind pressing on my face – this is a roller coaster.

My NeighborhoodChristian Gonzalez

My neighborhood sometimes smells like wet dog. My neighborhood is loud like a bark. My neighborhood looks like a muddy dog, wet and happy. My neighborhood is soft like a dog's mane. My neighborhood is like a dog because it is ruff.

My NeighborhoodRaul Terrones In it I see cats trying to catch birds and dogs behind fences trying to get cats. I smell cut grass and dead leaves. I hear dogs barking in the distance and children screaming and laughing.

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CarnivalMariah Reyes

My dog, Chloe, and I were sitting outside our house watching people walk by our neighborhood park. As we waited we saw more people. We went to the front and asked my dad, "What's going on?" "There's a carnival," my dad said. I really wanted to go, but my dad said, "No." So I sat and played with Chloe. When I heard dogs barking, including Chloe, I looked up and saw people coming back. I asked one of them why they were coming back and they said that it was too packed. They were going to go back tomorrow. I thought my dad would maybe take me the next day. But when I asked him he said nothing. I thought maybe I was getting on his nerves. The next day, I asked my dad, "Can we go to the carnival, please, please?" My dad said we could go, but only if I washed Chloe. My mouth dropped open. Chloe stunk really bad. But that was my only chance to go to the carnival. So I grabbed the dog shampoo and wet her with the hose. When I was finished, Chloe was sparkly clean. "Yes," I yelled. I dashed to my dad and told him I was finished. He grabbed his keys and we got in the car. I had the time of my life at the carnival, playing and laughing with my neighborhood friends. I was so happy. BartJason Alderete One day I went to Edgewood Park. I saw my friend's dog, Bart. He saw me in the car. I went to the water fountain. It tasted like tarp. My friend Mart was playing with Bart. Mart fell on top of Bart and Bart bit Mart. We had to make Mart to the emergency room, so he could get stitches for Bart's bite. One week later and his leg looked great.

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SharkSophia Rojas-Rogers My neighborhood is like a shark. It smells like my baby brother's diaper -- furious. Some trees fall from a chomp. It tastes like salty sea water (blah). It sounds like a wave on the shore. Wapush. The AccidentNathaniel Centeno On one dark morning the sun was sleeping. While children slept inside their houses, one family was out in the world. The family was a mom, dad and twin boys. Jude and Alex liked the same things. Their family was going to Hemisphere Park. The were driving in the Honda Civic. Jude got mad and slapped Alex. "What was that for?" Alex asked. "Sorry, there's a fly on your cheek," Jude lied. As soon as they turned to their mom, a big tree appeared in front of the car. "Dad!" they yelled. Their dad swerved past the tree. Now they were heading for the restaurant, Tito's. They ran right smack into the wall. No one knew that they had crashed because no one was outside at the time. The next morning when the owners of Tito's got there, they saw the big hole in the wall.

CatEmma Durst My neighborhood reminds me of a cat. The grass feels soft like my cat's soft fur. My cat's rumbling purr sounds like a train in the distance. When the wind howls it sounds like my cat hissing at dogs. My gray cat looks like a shadow in the distance. My cat's food smells like fish at the restaurants in my neighborhood. His food tastes like the fish in the sea.

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Neighborhood Ice CreamCatherine Martinez One morning on Alamo Street, while the birds chirped, Bob planned to eat an ice cream sundae on Sunday. He checked in the pantry for some peanuts. Uh oh, no peanuts. So he went in the bathroom and took all the peanuts off his peanut plant. He checked in the fridge for ice cream. No ice cream. He got some ketchup, onion and garlic. He mixed it up and ate it all. His friend, Patrick, came over. They were going to the movies. As they walked to the movie, Bob said "Hi" to the town. Everyone fainted. Bob had forgotten that he made ice cream with garlic and onions. He was creating a stinky cloud all over the neighborhood. "Go home," everyone shouted when they woke up, and Bob did. He brushed his teeth and never made ice cream again. Everyone in the neighborhood got along forever. My Panda NeighborhoodSadie Rodriguez

My neighborhood is like a panda. It is slow and cuddly. Sometimes all the plants, panda food, make my neighborhood look like China. I love my neighborhood like I love pandas and I love pandas a lot! It sounds like a panda swinging on bamboo. But most importantly, my neighborhood tastes like broccoli and rice! My Neighborhood Is Like a CheetahDevin Hernandez The grass is soft like their fur. When the wind blows, the tree leaves sound like a cheetah growling. At night when I look at the stars I feel like a cheetah lying down. When I smell dirt, I smell a cheetah digging in the ground. When I eat a mushroom, I taste raw animal meat.

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Kitty CitySafia Mahmood The trees look lie kitty's paws, shark and prickly. The dew in the morning feels wet and sticky like kitty's tongue. The sound of kitty purring is like the sound of you zipping up your jacket when it's cold outside. Kitty smells smoky like a barbeque. Kitty tastes feathers when they pounce on a bird.

My NeighborhoodTraci Arellano

My neighborhood is peaceful and has lots of dogs that bark, softly and smooth as glass. The fresh air is cool and feels as soft as cat fur. The plants and the houses make the neighborhood look like a rainbow. So much blue sky makes me feel like I’m flying.

My Neighborhood, the PoemDenise Idrogo

A poem is a work of art, but in your words my art is about my neighborhood. My neighborhood has roses, blue bonnets and tulips. But what I love most about my neighborhood is the smell of ribs and steak, hot dogs and burgers. Mmmmmm, my tummy is singing and dancing and jumping up and down. That is what I love most about my neighborhood.

NatureAsenath Younger

When I sit on a bench I think of America as the American robin. When I look at the American flag, I think of the bald eagle. I look at the Texas night sky and when I turn around I hear the barn owl say, hoo, hoo. When I see a larkspur I think of the Spurs playing a game. When I see the Texas bluebonnets, I think of the blue sky. When I see the Mari-mum, I think of a merry-go-round. When I smell the trees I think of paper and school. When I look at the front of my house I think of happy faces. When I see the cars I think of alien spaceships. When I see a weeny dog, I think of hot dogs. My neighborhood is full of aliens.

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My Neighborhood GardenMadeline Santiago

My neighborhood has a garden with lots of flowers. It smells like perfume. It looks like a clean, perfectly green place to live. If the garden was made out of candy, it would taste so delicious, like almonds and caramel candy. Every time I’m in the garden I hear little people scrambling around. The flowers feel as soft as a cloud and so comfortable that I could sleep on them. This is my neighborhood garden.

My Donkey Kong NeighborhoodRebekah Sanchez

When I go out walking, I think my neighborhood is like Donkey Kong. These are kings’ houses to me. It smells like a big, fat kiss. One day I might eat it. It sounds like a zoo, and it might look like one too. If feels like a rough taco shell, too, but I love my neighborhood.

HappyRolando Flores

I hear the birds chirping happily above me.I taste the new fruit that spring bears.I see the flowers blooming slowlyand I smell the freshly cut grassand I feel happiness all around me.

Pecan TreesNoah Collins The train roars.The neighborhood dogs yell.Their breath smells like dog food.The blades of grass stab the bottom of my feet.The sky is a sea of blue.Pecan trees hang over my house.

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Crockett ElementaryMr. Lopez’s 5th grade class

Writer In-Residence: Donna PeacockArtist In-Residence: Fadela Castro

Host Teacher: Alfredo Lopez

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I carry with me little things:

Street names that sing--Ruiz, Perez, and Travis;Martin (it was my uncle’s name),and Albert Street where my cousin lives.Rivas Street where my friends and I playalmost every day. Calaveras; Morales.Oh, and Navidad; it reminds me of Christmas.

The streets run among favorite trees:the pine tree in front of my house;the coconut tree over my backyard;the tree we call “Old Tree” because it is old;the tree with bananas, a banana tree; my mango tree and the tree with flowers--I could jump out of that one and others too,

like the small tree that’s been in frontof my house for years and never grows,or the one that grows over the topof my house and keeps me away from the sun.There is a tree shaped like a heart,but it’s really a lime tree. It has a hole in it. I hide my secrets there.

Walk my neighborhood and you’ll meet Guillermo with his wavy hair; Magdalena with the pretty name.

Sandra, a not very nice lady, or Guadalupe,the nice lady with black-brown hair;

Juanita, who has a good house and invites me in;the man who never moves his truck with the boat behind.

You will also meet the neighborhood pets:Panda, the black and white dog who likes to playor the black dog that eats the cat’s food,or Kassy the puppy who eats my dog’s food.Then there’s Princess the friendly poodleand Linda, the big dog who loves my kitten.Angel and Chico and Rocky the Rooster.

The sounds of my streets are yellow and redlike the bird who, with its beak, knocks on my window.Henry’s truck going “tk-tk-tk-tk;” the car alarmthat talks to say, “Step away from the vehicle.”The city bus that passes by Ruiz Street; the motorcycle speeding.My neighbor’s parties with loud music; they don’t let me go to sleep.My mom’s loud voice - “Despiertate!”- when she wakes me in the morning.

Fill yourself with the smells that surround me:camarones con chili and cheese; my mom’s tamalesor tamales from the restaurant one block away;barbecue every Monday, Friday, and Saturdayfrom my neighbor’s parties and rotten, sticky soda, too;the pizza my dad and mom bring home after work;homemade chorizo and menudo. Good!

Small pieces of where I live, small enoughto carry with me in the palm of my hand.

My Neighborhood in Small Pieces(lines written by Mr. Lopez’s fifth grade students and arranged by Donna Peacock)

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For Someone Else to SeeNahbi Cantero

I would draw a pile of leaves falling down when the wind blows hard.

I would draw roses growing in the groundwhile butterflies are going around them.

I would draw a water fountainwith real goldfish and lily pads.

I would draw the very old house in the corner.When you enter, you hear squeaky sounds from the floor.

That’s how I would draw my neighborhoodfor someone else to seewho has never, ever been here.

Many AllergiesJose Mejia and friends

My mailbox sneezes becausethere’s a cat on top of the edge,there’s a dog inside.It has allergies for outside,It has too much mail inside.

ArtistJennifer Segovia

If I could draw my neighborhoodfor someone else to seewho has never, ever been there,I would draw the church in front of my house.I would draw the pigeons that get on topof the roof in a red and yellow house.I would draw the sunflowers outside the gate.I would draw the big yard and the housethat is next to my house.I would draw Irwinthat is one block away.

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How Will You Recognize My House?A spontaneous community response from a few classmates and neighbors in Mr. Lopez’s 5th grade class

Two trees in the front yard. Just two. You’ll see.Green windows and a white front door.A really big window in front, at least five feet high.Four cars in the driveway: a Camaro, a Chevrolet,a Mustang, and a white limo.Look for the peach-colored house.When the sun goes down,it glows like an igloo.

My Special PlaceJasmine Contreras

It’s a little room my dad builtfor me when I was small.It’s green, blue, pink, red, and yellow.It’s smaller than a restaurant.It’s in the very corner of my back yard.Everyone tries to go in itbut only I have the keys.It makes me feel like I am in a garden park, surroundedby lots of flowers and butterflies.

The Green BalloonRuben Ortega

The balloonwill popany timethen thepoems willbe free.

Calavera StreetArmando S.

No, it is not the skeleton street.It is the skull, like the crown.

Lonely StreetAlex Orozco

My street yawnsbecause no cars pass through thereand it is so lonely,it cries with cracks.

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Growing Up in the Neighborhood--combined lines of Nahbi Cantero, Alexis Torres, Jorge Ramirez, Jose Mejia, and Yulissa Hernandez

I remember the lady who always says hi to me while she is walking her dogI don’t remember the lady’s name that helps me do my homeworkI remember that I hit my brother and bumped his head I don’t remember what the name of my friend who moved or changed school in pre-kinder wasI remember when I accidentally slammed my hand in the doorI don’t remember last night when I fell out the window in my dreamsI remember when I touched my baby sister when I petted my first puppy when I met my first friendI remember that I climbed a tree so very high that I threw up

In My BackyardDaisy Hernandez

Poems hide in my backyard.They’re like butterflies flyingas I try to catch them in my little pawand put them in my journal.

Two StreetsJennifer Segovia

OnPicosoStreetThe dogs scream to my nephews.They even laugh like they want to explode.My sister says, “Leave my babies alone, you silly dogs!”

OnCalaverasStreetMy dad and his friends splashinto H.E.B. like water popping out.Grandpa claps as he whistles and says,“Good job jumping.”

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Its voice would be grouchy and he was born with it.So grouchy that he says,“Get off my lawn!”(Alex Orozco) My neighborhood’s voicewould be loud and screamat all the cars, “Get offmy street, you cars!”(Brenda Garcia) Mine would yell, “Fire Fire!”because my dad is making BBQ.(Ruben Ortega) My neighborhood shoutsto call you from far away.He whispers when there’s something wrong.His voice is always happy for a new day.He uses short words just to talk normal.(Daisy Hernandez)

The voice of my neighborhood is shybecause it doesn’t like to talk.(Jose Mejia)

My neighborhood laughs at funny commercials.(Alex Orozco)

… at funny videos.(Daisy Hernandez)

when I say jokes.(Jose Mejia) He laughs when the squirrels run around because it tickles!(Brenda Garcia)

Funerals make him cry.(Daisy Hernandez) Car crashes.(Gabino A.)

When I say that I am sad.(Jose Mejia) My neighborhood is embarrassedby his own voice.(Jocelyn Gomez)

by the pot hole that is deep.(Alexis Torres) when it looks like a dumpster.(Nahbi Cantero)

by people that make fun of our neighborhood.(Roman Garcia)

Sometimes my neighborhood is jealousof other neighborhoods that are quiet.(Alexis Torres) of everyone that has cool cars. (Roman Garcia)

because it thinks it is uglierthan other neighborhoods.(Nahbi Cantero) My neighborhood is afraidof the horrible storms.(Brenda Garcia)

of a grouchy dog.(Jocelyn Gomez)

If My Neighborhood Could Speak

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of the big dog that digs holes a lot.(Daisy Hernandez)

of my friend’s dognamed Psycho. (Yulissa Hernandez)

of bears, raccoons, wildcatsand the darkness.(Nahbi Cantero)

It loves a friendly person.(Alexis Torres)

It loves the flowers in my house.(Jocelyn Gomez)

to see people happy.(Brenda Garcia)

It loves ME.(Roman Garcia)

My neighborhood hides secrets:holes in the ground you can’t see.(Jorge Ramirez) Some people shoot guns at night.(Roman Garcia)

There’s a secret laboratorywhere every neighbormeets underground!(Alex Orozco) My neighborhood hides all the roses from bushes.(Nahbi Cantero)

It hides its lonely soul.(Brenda Garcia)

OK, I’ll tell you, but don’t tell.The secret is my neighborhoodis hiding a cat in a tree!(Daisy Hernandez)

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Have A Good DayAlicia Torres

My street yawns because it is sleepy.I hear it every morning, and I giveit a pat on the back.

My Hiding PlaceJocelyn Gomez

When I hideinside my roomI disappear like ice that melts,like the cookiesfrom the cookie jar.

The Neighborhood ArtistAlexis Torres

If I could draw my neighborhood for someone else to seewho has never, ever been there,I would draw a dog named Pepethat lives in front of my house,the big hole where the tree was,the two-story house that is old and scarythat is a lime color with white.I would draw the Ogden Elementary Schooland the two ladies walking around it,then put it all into a muralso that everyone can see.

The Dark NightNahbi Cantero, Alicia Torres, Leslie P.

Where do the colors of my neighborhoodgo in the dark of the night?There in the trees.in the streetlights,in the stars,in the movement,in the lightning bugs,in the stoplight.This is my neighborhood at night.

My House Speaks to the House Next DoorYulissa Hernandez

Are you cold insideduring the winter months?

Yeah. I’ve been cold.

How old are you?

I’m one hundred and two. Can’t you tell by my creaks?

How are you?

I’m good, but I’m old.

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No Teenagers AllowedLeslie P.

I would hide on the top of my roofso the teenagers wouldn’t see me.I would feel that I’m alone and a little bit happy.It will make me see and understand the worldand want to be there with you!

My BarrioArmando S.

If I could draw my neighborhoodand all that happens there,I would draw a rose with purple bruises.

A View From the AirRoman Garcia

The blueballoon goesfrom houseto

house and

popsinto

the air.

POP!

They HideNahbi Cantero

Poems hide in my chimney with fireIn my jewelry box with pink and red colorsIn my mom’s smileUnder my little brother’s blue blanketBy the crumbs of the cookie jar

Disappearing ActJose Villegas

In my neighborhood,inside my house,I can disappearjust like my footballand my money.

Picture ThisJazreel Dominguez

I am running downZarzamora Streetlike a cheetah getting its prey.My shoes sizzle and scream.

Crazy StreetAlexis Torres and friends

On my street, I’ve never seena monster covered in chocolate with a big sundae,a million bucks, a dog jumping four feet in the air,a monster truck grave-digger,an alien from Mars, a parade of dogs,a person running around in circles for a week.I will be happy to see them.

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My Kitchen MagicianJazreel Dominguez

My sister was washing dishes.Then she was folding clothes in triangles ,and she was cooking enchiladasat the same time!

A Bite of HeavenRuben Ortega

I remember the smell of huevo con chorizo,At first I didn’t love it, but then my mom gave me huevo con chorizo con frijoles on a taco.One bite from the taco made me love it.I said, “I have eaten something good and have gone to heaven!”

Questions Asked From a Bedroom WindowRoman Garcia

Who can open my heartwithout the key?Who can open my heartto fix me?

SecretGabino A.

Poems hide in my house.There is a secretin the closet.Don’t ask.

MovingJocelyn Gomez and friends

If I moved away from my neighborhood,I would miss my friends and the yawns of my house,the moon’s light glowing at midnight,the stars glowing like glowing sticks in the sky.But I will move on to a new neighborhoodand make more new friends.

Maybe, Maybe NotAlex Orozco

My poems hide In my house, In my closet in a box, In the television, Even in the back of my jacket.

My poems hideOn the kitchen table,On my hands, In my backpack.

Maybe poems don’t hide, They’re scattered all around my house.

No One KnowsJorge Ramirez

In my own roomunder my roofNo one knowswhere I hide,where I feel safe.No one knows but me.

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The ArtistRuben Ortega

I would draw the leaves atop my house,and my neighbor who has three petsa turtle and two dogs.I would draw the white carthat comes by everydayand the motorcycles, too,I would draw the gardenthat my mom has in the backand front of our house.Then everyone could see.

The Streets Where I LiveJasmine Contreras

I laugh and shout on Rivas Street like a person in the football games. I play soccer with my family, going up and down screaming and blaming the other team that they are cheating. My mom shouts out loud, “You’re cheating!”

At Morales Street, David Crockett Elementary is located. It’s a street where I have lots of friends and it feels like a second home. We shout, laugh, clap, and hide when we go to P.E. “Get away from me!” I yell.

On Navidad Street my sister and I knock on doors playing pranks on people. When they open the doors, we start to run and all we hear is “Y’all are in so much trouble, young ladies, I’m gonna call the police!”

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If I Could Draw My NeighborhoodJocelyn Gomez

I would draw the dog across the streetthat always barks at cars, who livesin a green and white house.

I would draw the store three blocks awayand the lady from across the streetthat never leaves her house.

I would draw the cat my little brothertries to catch, then put it all into a muralfor everyone else to see.

Horton StreetJoe Mejia

On Horton Street, I jump, run, and skip. I am exercising. I am playing with my friend.“I’m going to get you!”“No, you can’t!”We start playing catch with a football on Horton Street.

SurpriseAlexis Torres

Outside my windowI see an old womanat her windowlooking back at me.

Shhhh...Roman Garcia

Poems hide, In my room, Inside a secret chest. All of the words, For the poems, Hide there.

Martin StreetBrenda Garcia

I go to Martin Street because my friends are there and I play hide and seek with them.“1,2,3,4,5” me counting to thirty and yelling to the top of my lungs, “Ready or not, here I come!”

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Douglas AcademyMr. Avila’s 6th grade class

Writer In-Residence: Rachel JenningsArtist In-Residence: Fadela Castro

Host Teacher: Michael Avila

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Shevonne Elizondo

Every hour I hear the rumbling of a train on the tracks in my neighborhood.In my neighborhood you can hear mocking birds crowing in the trees.My neighborhood has beautiful grass and flowers.My neighborhood is peaceful at night.My neighborhood has a great view of the dark, starlitsky with slowly moving clouds.My neighborhood is where we all get along and we smell homemade tortillas in my house for a get together.

April Y.

I see and hear the VIA buses passing by.I feel the cold breeze against my body.bus, cold breeze, wet pavement, very light drizzle,bakery and washroom,lots of flowers and other plants,the tires of cars driving through puddles of water in the street,the other students talking,the commotion of the chatteringof us students.

Mariana Miramontes

The child flew off of the swing set, broke his arm, and started crying to the back door, but he couldn’t open the door because his hand was broken. He could feel the beast of his heart on his hand.

Angelina Barrientes

A little boy fell off the tree, and he started to cry loud when his mom came out. The boy couldn’t move his arm, and they took him to the hospital.

Amanda Laguna

My mom and I had to walk to the barbershop to pick up my cousin and his dad. When we had picked them up, my cousin and his dad looked totally different cause they both shaved their heads. Then we went to the ice cream shop to buy an ice cream cone. We all go the same flavor, strawberry. It tasted good. The day was already over, so we went home and watched a movie.

Damian Granado

My little cousin likes to play with the clothesline, always making it fall. My cousin’s mom gets mad at him and asks me if I can help him pick it up.

Paul S.

The barber loves to cut hair. He wants to cut hair till he dies. A kid made him mad, and he strapped him to the chair and cut his hair.

Andrew Villareal

The beautician entertained the little boy by giving him an ice cream. The boy was happy. It was his favorite, chocolate. He didn’t know he got a haircut.

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Angelina Barrientes

My mom took me to Supercuts. After that I cut my hair right next door at a beauty salon instead. Doing her hair they shared something.

Enrique M.

With my twisted mind, I create murals. I twist my fingers because I can’t draw any murals. I can’t think of a subject to draw. I don’t know what I should draw because it has to be a nice, clear picture with a good story to explain it.

William E.

Outside I saw a sweeper truck washing the streets.

Eathen O.

I spent a dollar at a dollar store. This is what I bought from the store: a big rocket ship. I couldn’t fix it in my car, so I tied it up to the top of my tower.

Mario G.

It was cold outside, and I saw a guy curl up in the dumpster. I saw a lady curling her hair next to a dumpster. There were three kids going to put a prank on a lady that lives in a dumpster. They saw her curling her hair with a long cord, so they went to unplug it and ran away. She screamed, “You rotten kids!”

Rene D. The boy fell off the fence, and peopled laughed at him, and he said “Stop!” and started to cry.

Elijah

As I was riding my skateboard, I tripped and fell. As I got up, I realized my leg was broken as I yelped I pain.

Shevonne Elizondo I want to see kids playing around Animals running happily all around Dogs and cats, birds flying the in the air

I want to see our school and us learningAnd people helping stray animals because It shows people caring

And also people recycling, it’s important to help the environment!

I want to see two to three kids playing football or jumping rope and animals running around in the yard like cats and dogs.

April Y. I would like to see animals like a cat—a cat that is skinny when you cut its hair but fat with its fluffy hair that sheds everywhere. I would like to see the cat creeping up on a pigeon or ready to hunt it down. Also, I would like to see the cat when it’s running up a tree in panic because of a dog.

Jose N.

On the mural I’d like to see the ice cream man A person on a skateboard Dogs, cats, and cars with people in them People riding bikes and the Alamodome

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Damian Granado

My neighborhood has a lot of loose dogs running around. The dogs are bad. They knock down everybody’s trash cans and everybody gets mad at them. The other bad thing about them is that they mess with the dogs in their fences. And all the barking makes me really mad. I don’t like those dogs. There are about seven to ten dogs that do that. Oscar B.In my neighborhood, I see the Alamodome and the Tower of the Americas and the parking lots of the Alamodome. And when something important takes place, like a game, there’s a lot of people in front of my house.

There are some trees on my neighborhood, and sometimes I hear the train passing close to the Alamodome.

Ragina R.

My dog’s name is Tinkerbell. She is a Yorkie terrier mixed with Chihuahua. She is so cute because one of her ears is down and the other is up sometimes. I think that her ear is broken and she doesn’t like shots. Her name was Tinkerbell when we got her. This is who I want in my mural.

Eathan O. On the mural I’d like to see a kid putting a toy boat in the lake Three people jumping rope A rose bush And kids doing nothing on their lawn

William E.

In my neighborhood I see a lot of crime. Once a week I see police on the street. There are also good things about my neighborhood, like when I play with my friends.

Elijah

My home would be black on one side and white on the other, but next door it would be four different colors. As seasons change, colors get covered: yellow, green, blue, and red.

Shevonne Elizondo

My neighbor is my friend. He says the front of his house is haunted so they live in the back. My neighbor has four dogs and five puppies. They bark and cry as loud as the train. The other house is smaller yet big on the inside. My neighbor’s name is Rico. He is twelve years old. He has two sisters and one brother. Rico is my best friend. We have our fights, but we always work it out. My neighbor’s house is haunted, old and grey with the paint peeling off. The house is really creepy. There are so many windows with bars. It’s really scary. It feels like someone is watching me. His grandma and grandpa died in there.

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Paul S.

I see maybe four or six dogs looking for food and lying down. I saw a black dog and I wanted it, but my mom said no, but I see it every day. There’s a big brown dog that follows him.

Angelina B.

My neighborhood is where a lot of gun shots happen.My neighborhood is where a lot of gang members hang out.My neighborhood sometimes has drunk drivers talk about their life.My neighborhood is where my friends live.My neighborhood has a lot of speeders.

Amanda Laguna

My neighbor is my friend, and her name is Ingrid. She’s eight years old. She has two sisters and one brother. Astrid is ten, Sophia is a baby, and Diego is seven years old. They are very special to me. They always help us out, and we always help them. We always spend time with each other. We invite them to do everything like barbecues, birthdays, holidays, and so on. We’re just like one big family that loves each other. They have a medium house. It’s a pink and orange house. The door is white. They have two dogs. The first is black, and he is small. The second is big and white. They have a big tree with a swing and a big trampoline. I always go there.

Destiny Sherman

My neighborhood is full of friends and dogs.It is like a junk yard.My neighborhood is a stray animal neighborhood.My neighborhood is full of people.My neighborhood is your neighborhood.

Zayra B.

My next door neighbor’s house is white and an apricot color. My next door neighbor’s grass is green and pretty. They have toys in their yard. In the backyard they have a pretty dog that is brown and white. They have plants and one tree in their backyard. They have a slide and swings on the front yard. It’s a one-story house with three rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. There are two men and two women with three kids. They have a gray van, a white car, and a green car. On the house, the corners around the window are an apricot color and the house is white. The dog is big, and he has his little house in the yard.

Damian Granado

My next door neighbor has been there since I was one year old. The colors of his house are blue and white. That house has a lot of tall old trees. Their yard always has been clean. They have a big dog that always barks a lot. That’s the bad thing. They also have a very big house. It’s two stories tall. The people there are very quiet. They always come over to have parties, and it’s very fun. Their lawn is very green and clean because they wake up early to water their grass every day. Also, the dog is a light brown color. The ears are a medium size. The roof of their house is white and the rest is a sky blue color. Their lawn has a lot of flowers. They also have lawn gnomes that surround the whole house.

April Y.

The house next door looks the same as my house on the outside. It’s tan with borders of a brown color. It’s the same size as my house. It might be different on the inside, but I’ve never been in it. People I’ve seen come in and out, but I never got a chance to talk to anyone. I’m not sure if it’s the same inside as my house. The house next to me is like the twin to my house because the color, the lawn, and the size of the house are the same. They both look the same.

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Rene

My neighborhood is good and full of animals.My neighborhood is colorful and cool.My neighborhood is fearful.

Ragina R.

There is a church next door, and when all the people are gone from the church I practice my skating or I just ride my bike or run with my sisters. The church is white and one of the knobs is missing at the front. It has a beautiful window. I have never been to church before—only this one time when I went with my friend Andrew Villareal, the one in this class. We have been friends since kindergarten.

The church next door has bushes on the side of it, and the bushes are trimmed like a rectangle. The windows are made of very colorful glass like red, green, yellow, and blue, and it reminds me of a see-through lollipop. The church is made of light colored bricks, and it is pretty big. It’s not a two-story building, but the parking lot is big. Sometimes I still see people there at midnight.

Oscar B.

My neighborhood is always alive.My neighborhood is close to my school.My neighborhood sometimes has burning houses.My neighborhood has a lot of traffic.My neighborhood is very noisy.My neighborhood is close to the Alamodome.My neighborhood has a lot of big trees and sometimes we have a lot of green plants.

Enrique M.

My neighborhood is calm.My neighborhood is big.My neighborhood is a place to relax.My neighborhood has a lot of grass.My neighborhood is quiet.My neighborhood is full of dogs.

My neighborhood is a dog city.My neighborhood is where I go to school.My neighborhood is very quiet and peaceful.My neighborhood is a very friendly neighborhood.My neighborhood is very messy.My neighborhood is where I live.

Mariana Miramontes

My neighborhood is so cold in the winter but so hot in the summer.My neighborhood is filled with kids playing on the streets with other kids.My neighborhood is people walking the streets just to get out of the house.My neighborhood is every Friday a man comes drunk down the street and yells out to the dogs. My neighborhood has lots of strays.My neighborhood is not so pretty.

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Zayra B.

My neighborhood is so fun they have music on the weekends.My neighborhood is full of adults and no kids.My neighborhood is quiet at night and sometimes during the week.But sometimes dogs are loud at night.My neighborhood is scary,People walk at night talking to themselves.But still I love my neighborhood.

Mario G.

My neighborhood rocks.My neighborhood is bright at night.My neighborhood is very clean.My neighborhood is fun.My neighborhood has a baseball park.My neighborhood helps each other.My neighborhood is very quiet at night.My neighborhood is close to the school.My neighborhood smells good.My neighborhood has little bid cars passing by.

Andrew Villarreal

We went on a walk today. I wrote down everything, but I will say a few. I saw graffiti. My dad’s friend’s house a fake snake in the front yard. I saw a TV set, but after a while it got boring, so I wrote whatever so that maybe it wouldn’t be boring, but it was still boring. I saw a Ram 1500. That was probably the cool part. Even a classic car in somebody’s yard.

Amanda Laguna

I smelled rain like it was falling from the sky.I smelled gas coming from the motors of cars.I saw buses taking people where they needed to go.I saw colorful houses that looked like the rainbow.I smelled donuts coming from the bakery.I heard birds that were singing.

Mariana Miramontes

I saw the cars passing on the slippery street. The children with different ways. The street buses picking up strange people. School skippers buying things at the Palmas bakery. The dog chained up and guarding “his” property. My hands were freezing in the air. People crossing streets. The nice, brightly painted houses. The pavement wet, not dry. I saw a rattlesnake, but it was fake. The whole neighborhood practically looked like a ghost town.

Shevonne Elizondo

While we walked, there was commotion everywhere. I could feel the coldness on my cheeks and hands. I could feel the light drizzles on my shoulders. I smelled the air filled with wet grass, colorful flowers, green trees, and gasoline. I saw the bus escorting people to their location, and cars and trucks driving by. I observed beautiful light pink roses blooming. I saw junk on sidewalks waiting for the brush pick-up. I noticed an abandoned house waiting for someone to live there. The last thing I saw was the whole neighborhood doing things they do every day. I heard birds chirping in the trees. I heard wind blowing on the leaves. I heard the tapping of our feet on the pavement.

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Damian Granado

Walking around the block, I saw cars passing by me. I saw birds flying south, and smelled trash and rain. I heard plants moving because of the wind. I saw ivy climbing a wire. I saw a lot of signs, and run down houses with colorful roses. I saw fog in the air, but no sun out. I saw people wearing jackets cause it’s a cold month (December). I saw Christmas stuff hanging outside. I saw people writing. I saw people laughing. I saw people having a bad time, and people having a good time.

I smelled tortillas and doughnuts, heard cars and buses. I touched rocks and fences, and saw flowers and trees. I tasted cold spit from the cold air and saw trash and old trucks. I heard a commotion around me.

I touched wet trees and cold poles. Heard car tires on the road.Saw houses of different kindsof paint and surfaces. I touched old things on the floor and leaves.

Destiny Sherman

I felt the coldness of the air.The warmth of my jacket.I heard the sound of cars driving by.The sound of students walking and talking.I smelled food from the cafeteria.And the smell of the sewers.I saw houses and students walking in a line.I tasted nothing but my spit.The air around me outside.

Oscar B.

The air was cold. And there was a lot of cars and trucks passing on the street with different colors. The weather was very foggy with no sun. When I stepped on the floor, I felt that it was very wet. And the dirt was muddy. But most of what I heard was a lot of noise because the other students were making noise. Then I saw big, green leaves next to a brown house and a rooster that seemed to be looking for food in the back yard of the brown house. When we went further, the neighborhood was different. The houses were nice and newer than the other ones. But we were on the right side where two houses were next to the parking lot of a church. And on the second house was a neat car, but the model was a Cadillac, and it looked like the nineteen [hundreds].Then we turn to a street where on one house there was a lot of trash out front. After that we turned to the next street where we could see our school. And we got in.

Zayra B.

Today I went outside and saw cars passing by me, a bakery on the street, houses with red leaves, big yards, trash beside the fence. I saw fabulous flowers like roses, trees, rocks, grass, water on the street, a church, and way more things. What I heard were the cars passing by, a little bit of wind, kids talking and laughing. What I touched was the fence, my pencil, rocks, notebook paper. I smelled the bread from the bakery and the fresh air from the morning. I didn’t taste anything, only the fresh air. My hands were freezing because of the cold. It was a very cold today. There was a little bit of rain, so I didn’t feel like walking.

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Alondra Gomez

On my walk I heard cars and their engines.On my walk I saw the nice, big tower with an elevator.On my walk I felt the nice, bumpy branchwith leaves full of water.On my walk I saw a bakery full of fresh bread and a washeteriathe nice smell of soap and people buying fresh bread and washing clothes at the same time.

On my walk I felt water dripping on me like it was about to rain.On my walk I heard music from carsand beautiful singing from a special bird.On my walk I saw beautiful red roses that looked very cool with the house.On my walk I saw a rattlesnake and puddles of waterOn my walk I had a great timeseeing, feeling, touching, and hearing.

Andrew Villareal

I smell rain, hear cars, see water and a yellow house Lots of signs, bases, brick house, and big yardsSee trees and people outsideSee graffiti, see breath, see schoolSee hemisphere, and AmtrakTrash can, trash, brush, leavesPole, white rootsRooster, see pigeons, plantsSee climbing ivy, dump truckColorful house, rundown houseHear trash, see Alamodome, See TVMattress, blankets, recycled cansRosesWalkHouse needs work

See water, big rocks, wet grassLittle Ruben’s houseBig tree, fake snake, see trashSee church, wet street, laundromatBakerySee dump truckSee cloudsSmell donutsPeople talkingAnd water on sidewalk

Jose N.

My neighborhood is dirty.My neighborhood is bad.My neighborhood is sad.My neighborhood is quiet.My neighborhood is lonely.My neighborhood is full of birds.

Clifford P.

I love myneighborhood.

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Gates AcademyMs. Wright’s 5th grade class

Writer In-Residence: Lyle RosdahlArtist In-Residence: Michael Marks

Host Teacher: Cynthia Wright

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GlassKiana James

Once it was a blazzin’ hot day and my friends and I decided to go to the park in our neighborhood. I went to get Joseline, Sarilu and Dia’vian. They popped on their shoes and ran out the door. We had to pass all the dumpsters and yellow houses. Once we got to the park no one was there but we could see why. The park was dirty. I went around our neighborhood and asked people if they wanted to volunteer to help clean the park.

When they came we split up into five groups of two. We picked up glass, paper, plastic, and wood. And all of a sudden I heard Samantha scream, “Yeeeeeeeeouchhhhh!” She had gotten a piece of glass stuck in her foot. We got it out and walked her home. When we got back we had a nice clean park to come play at. And with only one injury. Not bad.

Neighborhood StreetsSierra Flowers

One day me my mom my granny and my auntie went to see what was going on at my neighbor’s house. Then we went to knock on the door to see what was going on. They opened the door. We watched as the dogs ran out. We thought they were somebody else’s dogs.

There were two dogs. The first one looked like a miniature chihuahua. It was light blue. The next one looked like a pit bull. It was light brownish with white spots on it. The two dogs came over my fence and started barking at our dog. Then they ran down the street barking at other dogs.

It took us all afternoon to catch them. It was fun to chase the dogs down the neighborhood streets.

Despair Al’deshon Brooks

Neighborhood is dull I see no life. I smell despair in the air. I feel the cracks in the concrete roads. I hear people crying because there is no future. I tasted fear in people hearts.

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Neighborhood WitchDa’vora Jones-Bettey

One day a new neighbor was unpacking. She came next door and asked us, “Do you have any frogs?”

I came to the door and said, “Sorry we don’t have any frogs.”

So she left. My friend and I wondered, “What did she need frogs for?”

I said, “I guess she likes to keep them as pets.”

The next day she had all her stuff in order and stacked. My mom made her some cookies. She always does that when a new neighbor come in.

Mom made me give her the cookies. My friend and I walked next door and knocked.

With a squeaky voice, she said, “Come in my pretties.”

We opened the door I said, “My mom made these for you.”

But she got mad and said, “Tell me where I can get frogs or I will turn you into one.”

I said, “How will you turn me in to a frog?”

With the snap of her fingers I became a frog. My friend ran out the door as fast as he could before he turned into a frog too.

“I’m going to ask you one more time,” the witch said, “where do you get them?”

“At the pet shop,” I said. “It has a big dog on it.”

She picked me up and put me on my broom stick and we flew up before I could scream “heehaw.”

After she got her frogs, she took me back to her house and turned me back into a person. I jumped up and ran as fast as I could.

I told my mom everything. My mom kissed me on my forehead and said, “I’m so glad my baby is back.”

“What a strange neighborhood,” my friend said. But the witch was already gone.

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TornadoHoustina M.

It was a hot day on Friday in August. Everybody was outside playing or doing something. Me and my friend Alexis were planning to go to the park on Sunday. When Alexis came to my house, we played video games, watched TV, and played outside.

“I cant wait till Sunday comes!” Alexis said.

“Me too!” I said.

When Sunday hit, I got dressed to go to the park. When Alexis came, we walked to the park. When we got there, nobody was there because it was so trashy and dirty. We were mad because it was our park. It was so trashy. It looked like a tornado went through it.

Me and Alexis volunteered to help clean up the park. We did not want to go home because we wanted to play. Then we gathered up some other kids who wanted to help. After we cleaned up the park, all the kids screamed happily and started playing. Me and Alexis felt proud of ourselves. Every since then we tried to keep our neighborhood park clean. Beautiful DayShyann Carter

Beep beep beep beeeeeeeeeep. I woke up to turn the alarm off. I got out of bed and opened the curtain. What a warm day it was. I changed then went to eat breakfast. The school bus came so I had to go. It was a warm day. I did not need a jacket. I got my backpack and went to get on the school bus. Me and my friend talked until we got to school.

First I went to P.E., then reading class. Oh, no, I forgot my homework at home on my dresser. When my teacher said everyone take out your homework, I didn’t know what to do. I was the only one who didn’t have my homework. So at lunch I could not sit with my friends. Even though I had a bad day at school, I knew that walking home would brighten up my day.

So after school, I went outside to enjoy the beautiful day. Since it was spring all the flowers in my neighborhood were blooming. The flowers smelled like cherries. I watched cars pass by. I watched dogs chase cats. I hoped the next day was just as good.

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School PlaygroundDajanek Stevenson

One day at school, me and my friends went out to recess. The workers were destroying our playground. They needed to use our playground for a dump because they ran out of room. If they used our playground for a landfill, it would smell awful and where would we play?

We all got together and decided we had a right to a playground. It didn’t make sense to put a landfill so close to the school. We made posters, banners and radio announcements to let everyone know what was happening to our playground. We even went out and laid down in front of the bulldozers. The workers were mad, but they didn’t run us over.

After many days of struggling, we finally got the mayor’s attention. He announced that a landfill was not in the best interest of the school. We had gotten our playground back.

ChicagoTerrell Graves

Once, in Chicago, IL, me, Nick and Tawan went to the park. But we saw our worst enemies, The Snakes. They were Terrell, Ravon, and last, but not least, Kevin. The were trashing our favorite part of the park.

We went to the football field and we could see yards of trash. They said that it was their turf. They said the only way to get the field back was to beat them in a game of football. We agreed to play and went out to find the best players we could.

We found two wide receivers (Anthony K. and Nicholas), one defender (Amram) and two running backs (David and Elijah). We had everything that we needed.

It was a tie game and three quarters were gone. We were on our own goal line, but we still had one play. It was a run to me and I sprinted the entire 100 yards for the winning touchdown. The football field was ours again.

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Neighborhood Aaron M.

My neighborhood isso loud and quiet but notinside my cool house

In My Neighborhood Esperanza Cardenas

In my neighborhoodI spend my time with my friends.We play hopscotchand we pick up trash and put it in the blue recycle bins.Then we walk throughthe door to my houseand we’re home.

My Neighborhood Is Like Sydney Gonzales

My neighborhood is likea hot, sunny day A rainbow with little colors Thunder with no rain Neighbors that argue

My neighborhood is like a clock with it’s ticks and tocks.

My Neighborhood Elijah B.

One summer morningit seemed kind of boringbirds singingcrows crowingsun shiningclouds scatteringmom’s cooking breakfastme playing video gamesflowers bloomingmy dog barkingmy grandfather snoringkids playingadults workingsitting all day in my roomhaving nothing to dowhile the sky is a shade of blue.

Neighborhood David Espinoza

Neighborhood is weirdNeighborhood is dangerousyet still peaceful

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Storm AcademyMr. Faro’s 5th grade class

Writer In-Residence: Regina MoyaArtist In-Residence: Robert Poschman

Host Teacher: Brian Faro

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My Neighborhood Sergio James Olveda

My neighborhood is white Like the birds flyingBig like my friend’s pecan treeIt is beautiful as my dogs And happy like my friends and family

The Wet BlueSergio James Olveda

It is the color of wet and cold and smooth When it touches your skin It’s fun to play inWhen it’s a very cloudy day

Candyland Neighborhood Sergio James Olveda

My house is made of ice creamRoads are made of beef jerky Trees and flowers and grass made of jolly ranchers Gates made out of Twix Flying cars made out of money Electric fences and poles made out of chocolate It snows marshmallows

Abuelito Elio Rafael R.

His hands are warm and big He wears a white shirt, Black shoes and dark grey pants with skinny white stripes,He smells like sweat because he is in the sun all day He used to say “I’m gonna stay at the Huasteca and I’m going to take you.”

Dreamland Rafael R.

There is a money tree In my neighborhood Protected by a 15 foot electric fence And only I have the key to unlock that fence When it rains, it rains sour skittles I have a big bag to catch them all

GrandmaSamantha Crowell

Irine L, your hands are kind of roughYou wore a purple dress With lots of flowers You smelled like peppermint You told me to be proud of myself I love you and wish you were here, Grandma, you rock!

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Black Samantha Crowell

Black is the color of the night sky Smooth and fuzzy A Brownie during the winter

Untitled Samantha Crowell

My neighborhood is red like Alice’s car And big as my dad’s truck But also small as my dog, It is beautiful as Laura’s cat And happy as my dad.

SpikeNicholas Rodriguez

He likes to sleep under the gray big rockHis shell is green, yellow, black, he is beautifulHis feet are smooth and clawyMy turtle smells like poop from the toilet.

Dark blueMarcos Ramirez

Blue is an oceanIt is a liquid with heat or coldIt is a lake in the evening

My neighborhoodAbel Ramirez

My neighborhood is purple Like the car by my houseBig like my apartment And small like my dog Fit. It is beautiful as the sun setting And happy as playing with my dog.

My Neighborhood Stephanie Gaitan

My neighborhood is green like the grass on my beautiful yardBig like my tall palm trees And small as the little green caterpillar that crawls on the leaves that fall from the trees My neighborhood is beautiful as my little niece riding her tricycle on the porchIt is happy as my mom knowing she made the good choice of moving here.

New Year’s Eve In My NeighborhoodAbel Ramirez

A whole bunch of flowers falling To the ground at nightSmoke floating through the airBurnt charcoal on SundaysBombs exploding miles awayThe touch of fire in a BBQ pit.

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Ama Ramon Ortiz

Her hands are wrinkly soft A white T shirt and sand gray warm ups She smells like Suave shampooAlways calls me “Gordo” in a good wayAma, I wish you could come back I miss your voice. I love you with all my heart And will never forget you.

New Year’s In My Neighborhood Ramon Ortiz

Beautiful colors From popping fireworks Happy expressions on my family’s facesInside Tia Janie’s house the smell thick, juicy turkey and cheesy, salty, mild nachos and outside the house it smells like fireworks everyone is happy and excited.

My Perfect Neighborhood Ramon Ortiz

The cactus in front of my house Would turn into a money tree The streets would be roller coasters I would plant a tree that gives Xbox 360’s I could sell them to Game Stop and Best BuyMy house would be sixty stories high Everyone else would have had the same house except forty stories smaller.

My Neighborhood Ramon Ortiz

My neighborhood is green Like my mom’s sillonIt is big like the palm tree in front of my houseAnd small like my dog Chiquita My neighborhood is beautiful like my home and happy like my family.

AlinaRuby Vega

Her name is AlinaHer hands are always soft She likes to be in the mudShe picks the color red to put onShe likes to smell my mom’s perfumeShe makes funny noises like a running horse

My Neighborhood Ruby Vega

My neighborhood is beautiful like the big oak tree beside my houseIt is also small like the germs that Live in our bodies It is like a rainbow up high in the sky With different colors It is happy as a little puppy when it is born

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Ariel Elizabeth Sarmiento

My Ariel has soft and smooth handsShe wears silky purple dressesShe smells like lavender roseHer favorite words are “beautiful” and “gorgeous” Ariel, you are my big sister, no matter what.

My Neighborhood Elizabeth Sarmiento

My neighborhood is purple like the flowers next doorIt is big like the pino in my backyardBut also small as the ants and flies everywhere It is beautiful like parents playing with their kids And happy as the fiestas we have on the weekends

My Wish For My NeighborhoodMarcos Ramirez

I wish the cars would be go carts And all the kids could drive them The go carts would have the power To give pizza and free drinksAnd drive us anywhere Anyone could play races There would be plenty of moneyAnd free vending machines I would have a pet dragon So I could go anywhere

New Year’s Eve in my NeighborhoodAngel Lopez

Colorful Hot spicesFireworks and happiness The sound of guns and bursting bones!

My Neighborhood Angel Lopez

My Neighborhood is blue like my roomBig like my house It is beautiful as the sunset at five o’clockAnd happy as the party we have every weekendWith dances, volleyball and the smell of BBQ

My NeighborhoodJordan Marie Rodriguez

My neighborhood is blue like my swimming poolBig as my house But also small as a pebble in my collection It is beautiful as my little cousin Angel And happy just like my family.

Blue Jordan Marie Rodriguez

Blue is the color of the skyA small blue jay bird Singing in the afternoon

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Mason Jordan Marie Rodriguez

Mason is my little cousinHe is small and chubbyHe wears basketball shorts and a red T shirtHe says Grandma when she is next to himMason, I miss you and your hug.

MamalalaAshley Gomez

Her name is Mamalala She has soft, hard and wrinkly handsShe wears a dress with flowers on itHer hair smells like coconut She always tells me “Hi mija, como ‘stas?”Mamala, I love you, please come back.

Black Ashley Gomez

It is the color of my hairAnd the sky at nightSmooth, long, straight.The color of calmness.

JuanitoEdgar V.illareal

Your hands are soft Because of the lotion mom puts on youYou wear spiderman’s clothes You smell like candyYou always say “Quiero leche”Juanito, I like playing with you.

My Neighborhood Edgar Villareal

My neighborhood is red like The paletas in my neighborhoodBig like my house But also small like an ant Beautiful as the grill in front yardAnd happy as all the pictures in my house.

It Is Blue Jacob

When the light hits the stand In Mr. Faro’s classThe curves of the globe stand turn clear and hard it is blue, it holds the world

BlueMichael S.

Blue is the color of my love for my grandfatherIt is a pale blue with clouds in the skyA winter morning’s skyHe passed away and left sadness in my heart

My Favorite SensesMichael S.

The feeling of lying down in a soft bed of flowersThe smell of fresh coffee in the morning in Christmas timeThe taste of Grandma’s cinnamon pie It feeling of moist sand on the beach

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My NeighborhoodRalph G.

My neighborhood is yellow and purple like The LakersIt is big like my school And small like a little store It is happy like my family and all the people that surround me

Star Ralph G.

She has paws with pink nailsShe wears pajamas with dots on itShe smells like dawnAnd bites my pants so we could play

WelitaMaria E.

My Welita’s hands are always smooth and soft She always wears her pink or purple robe My welita smells like red roses and her perfumeMy welita always asks if I want to eat Please come back Welita, I miss your voice.

My Neighborhood Maria E.

My neighborhood is red and green Like the roses and the grass It is big as a tree but small as a puppyIt is beautiful like the colors in my houseAnd happy as my mom and dad

The Sky In My Neighborhood Maria E.

The sky in my neighborhood at nightIs full of stars They are so bright and shiny They twinkle and sometimes I think they move but it is just the clouds.

Light GreenishEric Zapata

Light greenish is the color of my birdIt sings a song and flaps it’s wingsIt is small and flies around it’s cageI hear him singing the same song in the mornings

My Neighborhood Eric Zapata

My neighborhood is purple like marblesBig like my trampoline But also small as a quarter stuck on the groundIt is beautiful as my neighbor’s puppy And happy as the gym.

New Years In My NeighborhoodKarrigan M.

Looks like stars in the air shining from aboveTastes like cookies baked fresh from the ovenSmells like burnt fire crackers Feels like family and friends gathering together Steam, cheer and happiness.

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My Neighborhood Ashley Gomez

My neighborhood is purple And pink like my bike, Big like my school But small like the pecans It is beautiful like the flowers in my treeAnd happy as looking at the pictures That bring back memories From back then.

Tia JuanaEric Zapata

Tia JuanaYour hands are smoothYou wore a purple shirt and khaki shortsYou smell like your delicious tamalesYou always said “Hola mijo” Tia Juana, I miss you and your tamales.

My Neighborhood Stephanie Gaitan

My neighborhood is green like the grass on my beautiful yardBig like my tall palm trees And small as the little green caterpillar that crawls on the leaves that fall from the trees My neighborhood is beautiful as my little niece riding her tricycle on the porchIt is happy as my mom knowing she made the good choice of moving here.

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