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We The north:Poetry anthology

Fall 2016

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Writers in the Community ProgramFall 2016

This zine was produced as part of Writers in the Community, a program run by the Quebec Writers’ Federation.

www.qwf.org/programs/wic

Cover art by: YanniMany thanks to Greg Santos and teacher S.M. Thanks to the boys for their enthusiasm, energy, and creative talents!

We would also like to express our gratitude to the following supporters, without whom the Writers in the Community program would not be possible:

The Quebec Writers’ Federation acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.

UL

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we the north:poetry anthology

FALL 2016

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I Am a Hunter

By: Jobie

I am a hunterI wonder if the animals care about their livesI hear animals in the treesI see animals in the wildernessI am a hunter

I pretend to be an animalI feel suffering as an animalI touch a dead animalI worry about my familyI cry about feeding my familyI am a hunter

I understand how animals surviveI say it is difficult to feed my familyI dream about having a lot of meatI try to hunt to protect my familyI hope my family appreciates meI am a hunter

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Haiku

By: Yanni

It is NovemberThe weather is getting coldIt is minus 1

*

I am a heroI would like to help peopleBut I’m not ready

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I Am

By: Yanni

I am strong. I wonder how to be strong. I hear about people doing fitness. I see myself doing fitness. I want to be professional trainer. I am following strong people. I pretend to be powerful. I feel I want to be a trainer. I touch the floor all the time. I worry about my people. I cry for myself. I am strong. I understand. People want me to be strong. I say “get bigger” to myself. I dream about my body getting fit. I try hard. I hope I’m going to be a professional trainer. I am strong.

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A Story About Up North

By: Natanai

I see the North, the houses. I feel the cold and I smell the dogs. I hear skidoos. I see people.I taste the cold air, I see mountains. I see the ice, I see the clouds.I feel the sun’s heat

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By: Jobie

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Untitled

By: Randy

If a black bat crosses your path, you’ll see Batman crossing with the bat.

It is bad luck to sing at a bat.

Step on a crack, you’ll get attacked by a bat.

When a bat howls, Batman is near.

Break a law, and you’ll have a few years bad luck.

Smell a bat, wet the bed.

An acorn at the Batcave can keep lightning out of Batman.

A cave will frighten evil spirits away.

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I Am From

By: Johnny

I am from the ice, playing hockey. I came from hunting animals.

I am from a cold place. I came from a crazy neighbourhood.

I am from the music, songs.I came from singing birds.

I am from dark nights and bright days.I came from no sunlight.

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Haiku

By: Jobie

I am a hunterWe hunt in different seasonsIn summer we hunt

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Northern Lights

By: Johnny

I see Northern lights, And trees, the sky.I feel happiness and hear birds.Tastes like home and freedom.

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I Am O’connor

By: Jobie

I wonder if my parents care about meI hear a lot of things about meI see myself in a different place

I want a better place to liveI am O’connor

I pretend to be ok I feel so alone

I touch the oceanI worry about what is going to happen in life

I cry about my fearI am O’connor

I understand how hard life isI say it is hard to live with feelingsI dream about having a better life

I try hard to live in lifeI hope it will change in the future

I am O’connor

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By: Felix

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I Am

By: Natanai

I am an alcoholicI wonder if I can stopI hear music with my friendsI see cops driving byI want to say F the copsI am an alcoholic

I pretend to be blacked outI feel sadI touch vodkaI worry about what’s going to happenI cry when I’m drunkI am an alcoholic

I understand when people hate meI say F them allI dream about my lifeI try to stop myself sometimesI hope I can stop soonI am an alcoholic

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Poem

By: Johnny

Highschool to highway

Ways to live

Fight until I die

Living, shouting, knowing nothing but sports

Playing from morning to night

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Dear Hockey

By: Randy

From the moment I started to put onMy brother’s skatesAnd shooting imaginaryGame-winning goalsIn the great north of the ArcticIn our forumI knew one thing was realI fell in love with youA love so deep I gave you my allFrom my mind & bodyTo my spirit & my soulAs a seven year oldDeeply in love with youI never saw the end of the barrelI only saw myselfSkating out of oneAnd so I skatedI skated up and down every rinkAfter every loose puck for youYou asked me for my hustleI gave you my heartBecause it came with so much moreI played through the sweat and painNot because challenge called meBut because you called meI did everything for youBecause that’s what you doWhen someone makes you feel asAlive as you’ve made me feelYou gave a seven year old boy his hockey

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Dream and I’ll always love you for itBut I can’t love you forever orShould I say I can’t play you foreverThis season is all I have left to giveMy heart can take the poundingMy mind can take the grindBut my body knows it’s time to sayGoodbye and that’s okayI’m ready to let you goI want you to know nowSo we both can savour every momentWe have left together, the good and the badWe have given each otherAll that we haveAnd we both knowNo matter what I do nextI’ll always be that kidWith my bro’s skatesHockey puck on the centre:05 seconds on the clockPuck beside my stick5,4,3,2,1

Love you always,Randy

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By: Yanni

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Soccer

By: Natanai

Soccer is my life

The field is my spirit

The crowds are calling my name

I am getting nervous

My heart is beating fast.

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Where I’m From

By: Yanni

I am from Up North

I’m from cold

When I breathe it’s fresh air

I’m watching snow everywhere

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Spider-Man

By: Randy

If a red & blue spider crosses your path, you’ll see Spiderman

It is bad luck to sing at a spider

Step on a crack, a spider will come at you

When Spiderman howls, a spider is near

Break a spiderweb, you’ll have a few years bad luck

Smell a spider, wet the bed

At the end of the rainbow, there’s red and blue

An acorn in your web can keep lightning out

Big spiders will frighten evil spirits away

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Hockey Haiku

Hockey is my life.The world is my arena.Ice is my spirit.

By: Group Collaboration Poem

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WE THE NORTH:poetry anthology

Fall 2016