For the first Poetry Session at Latino Youth High School I introduced “Casi Gato AKA Carnedechivo née Ricardo Sánchez (Sometimes!)” written by Ricardo Sánchez in 1985. We explored the history of our nicknames, thought about what makes us unique individuals, and wrote “I Am” poems.
Mr. Edilfonso, 12th Grade
I Am Lesley
Lesley
I am from the pink walls in my room
from the Apple tree that’s in my backyard
to the leaves that hit the ground every Autumm,
from the conversations outside the porch every summer,
to my mom yelling at me to close the door because it’s too cold.
I’m from Chicago
Mia
I’m from Chicago
I’m Mia
I am 17 trying to graduate on time
I be missing a lot but at the end of the day
I do show up and get a lot of my work done.
I want to be a lot of things that you think is hard but it’s not
You just have to get your mind to do it and show you wanna be that.
That’s what my family tells me.
In my home they call me by something else
But only my family calls me that.
<3