Wishes and Dreams: Poems about another life

1. Wishes and Dreams: Poems about another life I wish I was a car I wish I was a big race car so people can drive me crazy - Pierre Cobb I wish I was I wish I was a garden I wish I was a beautiful garden I wish I was a beautiful garden with flowers A beautiful garden with flowers and a man watering it I wish I had a beautiful garden with flowers and a kind and trustful man watering it - MuskaanVazir I wish I was a book I wish I was a small book I wish I was a fat book A fat book being bought I wish I was a fat book being bought by the same child being bought by the same child every single day - Ema Reis da Cunha

2. I wish I was a dragon I wish I was a green- blue dragon I wish I was a beautiful green- blue dragon A beautiful green –blue dragon protecting my rider I wish I was a beautiful green-blue dragon protecting my rider from evil My rider and I would fight off all evil Together -Christiana Gorenflo I wish I was an airplane I could fly from place to place I wish it was Christmas I could get as many gifts as possible I wish I was on my own without a group I could get all the good slips for myself I wish I was a dragon rider I would have magic and my dragon would save me from danger I wish I could read minds I could hear what everyone thinks I wish I had normal legs Like everybody else. -Ivan Tchamou

3. I wish I was a shelf I wish I was a straight shelf I wish I was a straight clean shelf A straight clean shelf with books on it I wish I was a straight clean shelf with sad books on it -Muskaan Vazir I wish I was an eraser I wish I was a blue eraser I wish I was a thick blue eraser I wish I was a thick blue eraser erasing mistakes of people I wish I was an eraser that erases pictures of cats Cats meowing all night long I wish I was a pencil I wish I was a yellow pencil I wish I was a skinny yellow pencil I wish I was a skinny yellow pencil drawing fish Fish that don’t disturb anybody Fish that are colorful Fish that are quiet Quiet all night long -Zeenia Ajani

4. Definition Poems- Who we used to be, who we are now and who we’ll never be I used to be in my mom’s tummy But now I am in my crib I used to be in preschool But now I am in elementary I used to be in Belgium But now I am in the DRC I used to be a child But now I am a teenager I used to watch family movies But now I watch PG-13 I used to be in college But now I am writing poems I used to have children But now I have grandchildren I used to be alive But now I am dead -Jules Deboutte I used to be a baby Now I am a super hero That saved the world From bad guys -DipokoDegrando, Jr. I used to have a pumpkin But now I have a coach I used to have ragged clothes But now I have a beautiful dress I used to have two glass slippers But now I have one I used to live in a cottage But now I live in a palace -Autumn Trapp

5. About Me I’m mean Sometimes nice Say both I am cute Say normal I love fruit I hate vegetables I’m short, you can see But not the way you think I’m short -Nour Ali Ahmad I am not a dog I am not a cat I am not a donkey I am not a book I am not a box I am not a basketball I am human -DipokoDegrando, Jr. I am not a famous artist I’m not a celebrity I’m not someone famous, popular or A star I am Jules Just Jules! -Jules Deboutte I am not Brij I am not Jules I am not Kyle I am not Paolo I am not Liam I am not who you think I am -Billy Boyle

6. Make-up is the most Amazing, beautiful, colorful, Dazzling, exciting, fabulous, gorgeous, Heavenly, instinctive, juggling, kindly, lily-scented, Meaningful, nicest, ocean blue, pretty, quoteful, Restful, sweetest, tastiest, unquestionable, vicious, Wavy, x-rayed, Yasminizer, Zoomy Thing in The Whole Wide World! -YasminSadrudin I am not a bird who soars in the sky You are not a cat who waits for me to come by I am not a rabbit who bounces in the air You are not a snake who plans to strike lovely hare I am not a buffalo wading in the water You are not a croc waiting to sneak And slaughter -Autumn Trapp Family Annoying, Merry Bright, Nosey Creative, Optimistic Dopey, Perfect Entertaining, Quick Fun, Radical Goofy, Sweet Helpful, Troublesome In charge, Uncanny Jokers, Versatile Keen, Wary Lovely, Xylophone Young Zany! -Alicia Shamji

7. Haiku, Senryu, Lune: Poems about nature, people and other silly stuff Storm, windy, cold wet Flood, dirty, stinky, muddy Dark trees broken down -Pierre Cobb The water rises Far above the earth below Then crashes back down -Jules Deboutte Snow is falling Smooth like silk and slippery Animals are gone -Alicia Shamji The peaceful grassland Horses grazing by trees Fast flowing river -Liam Venter The calm big waves Seagulls flying in thin air Sun hotter than ever -Brij Mcclure Loud noisy monkey Eating in its dirty abode Mean ugly monkey -Muskaan Vazir

8. On the ice cold ice I had a sled and I crashed Then I got cut -Paolo Buccianti Sprite is falling Like hail, snow and rain Everyone drinks a lot -Alicia Shamji Nour’s candies are cool even the Rainbow Pop -Zeenia Ajani I love food I really love food McDonald’s -Jules Deboutte I bake food I’m an expert in baking stuff -Zeenia Ajani He’s very good The best man on earth He is Michael - Michael Sunguza Eat all eggs Then eat all chickens Then eat bread -Daniel Churchill

9. The Diamante: Poems exploring opposites or shades within a theme Park Nice green Fast winds, dazing grass Grass, Fountain, T.V, Couch Slow, lazy, unhealthy Grey, awful Apartment -Michael Sunguza Day Shiny, Sunny Foggy, Dark, Many Moons Brushing, Sleepy, Drowsy Stretching, Eating, Drinking Warm milk At night -KaayamSavani Life Excited, Tranquil Laughing, Running, Whispering Friends, Jovial, Culprit, Sorrow Shot, Stealing, Kidnapping Villainous, Wounded Death -HambaMwangu

10. Pierre Very fast, very funny Hard worker, striver, hard thinker He is my best friend forever He is very nice Sharing, friendly Pierre -Ivan Tchamou Sports Fun, hard Tiring, running jumping Active joyful, lazy, loud Tapping, gazing, entertaining Fun, addictive Video games -Billy Boyle Make-up Squishy, gummy Sticking, smearing, smudging Making a girl feel pretty Patting, Swaying, Rubbing Colorful, Attractive Lipstick -Autumn Trapp

11. Quiet Calm, soundless Whisper, slip, slide Silent, restful, noisy, clamorous Bellow, shout, scream Deafening, very audible Noise -Alicia Shamji Lebanon Green, Peaceful Playing, gathering, moving Playing cards, talking together Eating, buying, swimming, Peaceful, Unique Tranquil -Nour Ali Ahmad Horses Colorful, Active Running, jumping, racing Have fun when riding Playing, chasing, frisky Large, Strong Mustang -Christiana Gorenflo

12. Whale Songs: Poems created in response to their mournful cries A moan? A whine? A baby’s cry? No? Then what is it? A siren? A cow? No! It’s an aquatic giant, graceful and gentle It swims from ocean to ocean And it’s endangered Guess what it is PS: Help it -Jules Deboutte Whining High shrill calls A car trying to start Long, short, long, short calls Erie calls, high and shrill - Christiana Gorenflo We are afraid He is all the time happy to see us A superb and beautiful voice Learning is your best domain Every day you make me happy -Samuel Leprohon

13. There is danger Its trying to call the others for help Sad Someone is trying to kill them Awful Mother tries to make the baby happy Wonderful Because of danger, people killing fish Bad Leaving them to be hungry -EuphemiaNgoya Sad Scared Mad Help Come Eating Yelling Talking Looking for his momma Hungry Crying Playing Singing Alone Pink Blue Happy Stuck on a beach Purple Noisy -Brij McClure Croak Door opening Dolphin Siren Cry Dinosaur Gunfire -Billy Boyle

14. Animal Acrostics: Poems for our endangered friends Tough Shell Under the water Rough shell They walk slowly Lays as many as 1800 eggs Eggs of a turtle provide food for a raccoon -EuphemiaNgoya Major relative of humans On trees a lot Noisy Kind to their family Excellent at climbing trees Yelling but intelligent creatures -HambaMwangu Lives in the jungle Idol to its baby cubs On the run to catch its prey Never leaves its kill alone until there’s nothing but bone -Kyle Flamigni

15. Turtles have hard shells to protect them Understand why hiding is important Really good at hiding They swim very fast to get away from predators Live underwater and also above Enter their hard shells to protect themselves -Michael Sunguza Chomps on its preys neck Hates coyotes Eats with pleasure Every time it races it wins Touch its tail and your hand is gone Attacks its prey with force Handles its cubs with care -Kyle Flamigni

16. Leaps onto its prey • Ears to hear • Only likes to eat alone • Pulls its prey up into a tree so other cats can’t get it • Attacks with a razor sharp bite • Roar that can be heard up to five miles away • Dots to be camouflaged in the grass • -Liam Venter L is for leaping E is for ears that hear well O is for opponents he faces like lions and cheetahs P is for protective of her babies A is for alert R is for running so fast D is for dangerous -Brij McClure

17. Occasional Poetry: Poems to celebrate special occasions and ordinary events The first day I heard I cried. I rushed out of my house and ran out to the funeral. People sang songs Then we went home People were sad because He was important The blue sky It turned into black. -Brij McClure Ahhh, I am going On an areoplane What should I bring? My toothbrush or my Big, blue peine? I threw up All night Plus I never closed an eye I had to take 16 different medicines I wish I never did -Nour Ali Ahmad Wedding We met on the street We fell in love on sight Do you take me as your husband? -Michael Sunguza

18. My audition I have auditions this week But I know and I can I’m scared make it. I went to the candy shop and I chewed I bought some gum and chewed till it was my turn. When the teacher called Me I went in and When I was going did my best out of the cafeteria She said I sang After that I knew Real good. It could be true I won I love The part My audition It was the Best day of my life. - Ema Reis da Cunha

19. First Time on T.V. with a Ugandan Soccer Player My heart is racing Like shooting lightning I held a hand That was dark brown I stood on the field People watched me on T.V. I could not move My feet were stuck to the Ground I gave a big smile With my hand waving High, it was the Best day I ever had. -AïchaKounikorgo The Cup It’s been 35 years since we’ve won the cup But now God has blessed the Congolese players And given them courage If you try to mess with us We’ll whip your butt! -HambaMwangu

20. My Hair My hair is such a disgrace It doesn’t please me one bit I put it up in a bun And it comes back down in a race I have fits when I brush it Because if I brush it too light It says Not too light Nor rough So you don’t make me huff and puff If I brush it too rough It says Hey watch it back there! I will fall out and You will have no hair! I’ve learned to put up with it Even though its tough Maybe one day It won’t be so rough. -Autumn Trapp Write, write Finish, finish Yes, I am done With my poem -Billy Boyle Math poem Math, math, math! What’s so great about math? It’s boring, hard and do we like it? Nah! It’s annoying, terrible It’s the worst, most cursed subject ever I’d rather die than do it again! -Alicia Shamji

21. Skeltonic & Lie Poems: Things so strange they can’t possibly be true I can fly, I can dance I know I can shoot heat vision Through my eyes -Paolo Buccianti Eyes Their eyes were bright Because of the flight They began to glow When I had to blow My nose They were scary Like fairy Eyes. -Nour Ali Ahmad Green like an orange Red like a kiwi Orange like a pear Pink like a banana Yellow like a carrot -Daniel Churchill

22. Portrait Poetry: Poems about who we are today Brij Robert Mclure I’m a boy, small and fast I have dark hair and eyes and people love me I’m light and very athletic I love to do gymnastics, swim, play soccer, rugby, tennis and karate At school I’m smart, a good friend, and nice to other people I am Indian, Brij means a special place I am also American, the name Robert is for my papa At home I like to climb trees, play games with my friends, and jump on the trampoline I’m handsome sometimes like when I comb my hair after I take a shower I’m happy A Girl Is Born On a winter day a girl is born As white as snow and she has a bit Of red hair too Happiness spreads all over her family It’s a big gift They name her Nour It means light

23. Euphemia To birth me My mom and my dad had to walk to the hospital I was born in the morning at 9:00. I was supposed to be called Anyago, my second name, but my mother called me Akinyi, which means morning. I was light brown then but now I am different. December 1998 Kayaam I was born sort of white, screaming and crying. My mom was happy about having a boy. I got my name from my mom’s friend. I was a quiet baby and ate all my food. I love my life. I hope you love yours. I am a short, thin girl I like swimming, but I don’t know how to My favorite chips are Nick Nack Ketchup And my name is MuskaanVazir

24. On June 12, 1998 at 11:45 a baby came into the world. He was calm, quiet, cute and adorable. His name was William David Boyle, call him Billy for short He grew up lazy and chubby, but He always pleased his parents He was quiet but efficient. My story ends, but his life still goes on. Watch out, he might be Right there! On October 27, 1997 a beautiful girl was born. I was a gift from God and a baby with hair. My dad called me Hamba because it means Thank you God. But now I’m in 5th grade with harder stuff to think about, with tougher, more annoying people. Oh, you don’t know how much I want to be a baby again.

25. When I came out of my mom’s stomach my dad called me Yasmin. I was a really tiny girl with no hair. My mom tells me You were pretty white. That was me 10 years and 8 months ago. Today I have long hair. I am pretty tan. My attitude is O.K. I am smart You can ask anyone they will tell you that I love to sing and dance. My best friends will tell you that I am into fashion. That is me today.

26. Published Poems: Some of our favorite poetry