I Am From by Francy G.

I am from…

Those Sunday mornings that mom would say,
“Wake up for church!”
At 12 A.M.
I am from my mom’s awesome pupusas,
I am from Maria Garcia and Julio Moran,
I am from my dad’s old Nissan Pathfinder,
I am from my same red house that I’ve lived in all my life for 13 years straight,
I am from Denny Middle School,
I am from the Garcia family,
I am from my guinea pig, 6 puppies, and 2 cats,
I am from Cartoon Network at 8 in the morning,
I am from kickball,
I am from horchata,
I am from December 14, 1999
I am from my mother passing away on September 1, 2011
Most importantly, I am from loving family and friends,
I am Francy Elizabeth Garcia Moran

Puppy to Dog by Eden G.

Puppy,
Small, cute,
Charming, helping, playing
Home, puppy, licking, retriever,
Chasing, pooping, wagging,
Large, sloppy,
Dog.

Just Because by Tanner G. (for World Water Week)

Just Because…

Just because it’s polluted water,
Doesn’t mean they don’t drink it,
Doesn’t mean they don’t use it,
Doesn’t mean they don’t need it.

Just because it’s polluted water,
Don’t expect them to boil it,
Don’t expect them not to get sick,
Don’t expect them to like it.

Just because it’s polluted water,
It makes people sick,
It makes people die,
It makes people hurt.

Just because it’s polluted water,

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For more on World Water Week, check out the West Seattle Blog's coverage of Chief Sealth's events and meet Mr. Toilet.

What's it Like to Be an Author by Ann Bausum (Sam's Mom)

Ann Bausum, a published author with National Geographic, who happens to also be (City Year) Sam's mom, visited Denny last November and shared some of her books and experiences as a writer. She's still going at it. Currently, she's in the middle of writing teen and adult books about Sgt. Stubby, a former "Badass of the Week", and hero from World War I who met several presidents and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC.

Oh yeah, he's a dog.

Sergeant Stubby wearing military uniform and decorations.

Here's a recent blog post she published about how writing each book sweeps her up. Writing can really carry you out of the everyday world and lead you into a crooked country of late nights, early morning inspiration, and marathon sessions in front of your computer or out with a pad of paper.

What's your writing process like? Have you ever fallen through a patch of time without realizing how your words were eating up the minutes and hours? Share your stories and strategies in the comments section and keep writing.

Can You Imagine by Elijah J.

Can You Imagine?

A court with no bleachers,
A school with no teachers,
The Bulls after Michael,
A place where we all recycle,
The Celtics after Bird,
Someone who can’t speak a word,
The Lakers after Shaq,
The 80’s with no crack,
The Blazers after Clyde,
Can’t we all just glide?
Basketball after the Dream Team,
I imagine the world as one big team.

I Am by Richard S.

I Am

I am athletic and determined,
I wonder if I’ll make it to the pros,
I hear the crowd screaming,
I see the ball fly over the fence,
I want the walk-off home run,
I am athletic and determined.

I pretend rounding the bases,
I feel determined,
I touch home plate,
I worry I’ll fail,
I cry when people die,
I am athletic and determined.

I understand I’m not as good…
I say, “Who cares?”
I dream of proving them wrong,
I try my hardest.

I am athletic and determined.

I Am by Eden G.

I Am

I am the juice and the sugar,
I wonder how long I will live,
I hear birds,
I see the sunrise,
I want a puppy.

I am the juice and the sugar,
I pretend to be someone else,
I feel the dew that sours the grapes,
I touch the vine that grows new life,
I worry: will the volcano erupt?
I cry with everyone.

I am the juice and the sugar,
I understand my life
I shout freedom,
I dream the tears of others,
I try to understand,
I hope for a good life.

I am the juice and the sugar.