Glimpsing into the complicated world of a 14-year-old girl, “Hanging Fire” by Audre Lorde articulates the thoughts and worries of a teenager on the brink. Our students chose a particular age and wrote a poem looking into the thoughts of a person that age.
Room 320
Double Digits
Randy M.
Right now I’m 12
and I think of the future
how would I be. Will I be
like my brothers Roberto and Jorge.
Will I hit double digits and be like them.
Will I have two or more
jobs. Will I travel and
open new stores or will I
work at stores. Or get my
dream job?
Would I have kids and watch
them grow as I grow older?
Or have no kids? Life has
different wonders. Once I
hit double digits would my
life change as my brothers.
We can only find out…
Eleven
Maurcio C.
I am eleven
and my spirit is dying
I’m giving up hope
All the promises that I broke,
I regret them.
All those times
just trying to have a good time
to hide the bad times,
wondering what the future is like,
imagining changing bike tires
to changing care tires,
changing juice boxes to mature drinks
changing toys for contract deals,
and changing pajamas to classy and fancy business suits.
From crying ’til I was fed, to paying for food myself.
From baby cribs to adult beds.
From parents protecting you, to you protecting them.
Will I leave them?
Will I lose them?
Will I make it far?
Will I make my parents proud?
Pit of Emotion
Justin B.
I was just a toddler
did as a toddler
watching “Bob the Builder”
just a normal toddler
screaming, yelling and shouting
like a toddler
only it’s not a toddler
it’s my dad
my mom
“boom.”
The door to happiness shuts
the light is gone
and so is my mom.
We are all falling
in a pit of emotion
Fear, depression and darkness
strike me all at once.
My dad’s on his phone
sweating…
from his eyes
a pit of emotion
that is my life
Room 314
14
Jonathan O.
I am 14 years old
I sometimes can
do anything I want
but in school I can’t
I play games all the time
when I’m alone
12
Javier H.
I am 12
and the more older I get,
people don’t care the more older the more different
we 12-year-olds are an average between
small and big.
I’m always shy.
If I talk in front of everyone I’m speechless.
I have to learn one day and wake up and talk.
Five
Enrique V.
I am five and I like the computers
I’m the big one in the class
I want to go home and eat cookies
but the school bell has not rung
I’m thinking of my graduation
What if a fluffy unicorn
comes or a baby panda
What if I never grow
to be a smart one
like other kids.
What if I never get
to see or meet
the real world
and watch YouTubes.
But the school bell has not
rung.
What if I do not like me
What if I do not graduate
or go to fancy places
but the school bell has not rung
Room 322
hard time
Randy C.
I am age ten
live in a world where everything
has two options, a yes or no
It’s really hard to choose because it has connsequences
that are good or bad It’s really hard to be
on the bad side, it’s horrible.
I have a hard time trying to figure
out what to do and what to say
I live in a world that is dangerous
where no road is okay.
Five
Brandon F.
I am five
and I like Spider-Man
I feel that I am Spider-Man
and want to fly. My problems
are bad guys I don’t know
that I think I like a
girl. Well, I think, I am not
sure but I think that I am
in love Yes I am but I don’t
see her only one day a week and
she is there and leaves me alone.
I am Spider-Man
and I can fly but
when I see that girl
I fall into a death nervousing
and fall then she leaves and I
don’t see her again until
Friday and play with her
but she is there and
leaves me alone
I would save her but
she is always safe
I see her and she leaves.
Why doesn’t she care about
me? Well, it’s because I don’t
see her every day, but I care
so much I can’t resist to
go and say hi but she
is there and leaves me alone.
3 years old
Jocelyn A.
Having a great family is good
But losing family members isn’t.
How would you feel like, losing a family member?
Exactly: you would feel sad.
I didn’t really know that much because
I was a little girl.
I felt sad when I heard that
my dad passed away.
The last thing I heard him tell me
was, “My little princess, when are you going to
talk and tell me you love me?”
But I really loved my dad but he couldn’t
see it because I couldn’t talk.
12
Kiara L.
I am a 12-year-old girl
chillin at the park
looking at the clouds
lost but found
I am a 12-year-old girl
confused and lonely
but with great company
I walk alone in the halls
when my best friend is right
next to me
I am a 12-year-old girl
My hair is messed up
My face is messed up
My body is messed up
My clothes are messed up
I am a 12-year-old girl
happy but sad
confident but insecure
I am a 12-year-old girl
with mascara on in the
beginning of the day
then rubbed off by a teacher
I am a 12-year-old girl
