This past Monday was Lawndale’s penultimate workshop. To commemorate our time together, we are putting together a chapbook! Students returned to their favorite poems and each submitted one. Our tool for the week was the cento, a poem that combines lines from many poems and poets to create something new. Students torn between many pieces could create/submit a cento mixing lines from all the poems they’ve written this year. Below you will see some of their centos, which moved them from torn indecision to collage and self-recognition. Next week we will be celebrating our time together, and here I invite you to join us.
Ms. Barker
6th Grade
“llego el verano, llego el calor”
by Nikol Q.
llego el verano, llego el calor, frutas
y helados todo el día sol
el libro es un sol, todo lo ilumina, da luz
a la mente, da luz a la vida
anoche cuando dormir soñé ¡bendita ilusión!
que un ardiente sol lucia dentro me mi corazón
un gran destino, tiene la escuela bella, ella
me quia por el camino como una estrella
mi nombre significa victoria y victoria
conoceras como yo ninguna es ideal
el borrador es suave como un flor es de colores
sirve para borrar si te equivocas
las galletas hacemos la forma y
las horneamos y salen doradas
las cosas que mas me gusto fueron las
pinturas
Chicago Chicago no me gustan
tus carros
“Hoods”
by Morgan H.
this summer you need a gallon
of good vibes to be around
me also need 100 cups of
smelling good
in Arizona it’s hot
out there and the houses
are big and have pools in
the backyard some of the
animals are well-treated
I want to go out to see
my brother
Ms. Barker
8th Grade – Class B
“Cento”
by Jada M.
Hi, I’m Jada
and this is my life,
I’m cool, smart, and helpful
and where I come from
you have to pray to have a good
day
When I walk around my hood
it’s fun and scary so many mixed
feelings
My life is like a path, there are two ways
to life
You either pick the streets or the
books, right and wrong
(two paths your choice)
And that’s me
“Lost Cento”
by Geane C.
I remember being from a place.
Over the rainbow.
That can’t be removed.
That’s where you’ll find me.
In the comfort of my home.
Moving fast, moving slow.
Holding on tightly for safety.
Ms. Barker
8th Grade – Class A
“Life Story”
by Janya C.
You hear shots at night then it goes
quiet, silence. We hate we gotta
speak in code so others don’t know.
When I found my first pencil I never
let it go. Where I’m from everyone
hopes to make their family right or pray
they’re never found in a ditch. Only my
culture understands how we speak. Deeply
attached to my city.
“Being Me”
Kaemarion S.
My name Kaemarion and a true
thing about me is that I’m nice
my PlayStation 5 makes me happy
when I’m playing it life is
like a river because like a river
I have tributaries one day
Rod Wave retired from music
and it made me angry I
just sat down and listened
to Rod Wave all weekend
and never stopped.
