Confidence

Good:

1. Passing the state test, /believe I can write a haiku,\ that’s confidential.
2. I like PlayStation. /Telling jokes is lots of fun,\ and using laptops.

3. It makes me relax.  /I get to smack the ball far,\ and shoot basketball.

4. It’s good to be smart.  /School allows us to get jobs.  \ Sport leads to careers.

5. My teacher helps me; /friends are always there for me,\ dancing is best.

6. Happy attitude, /family love and work ethic-  \ Friends recovery-

7. Knicks will win this year.  /Sister will do well in school.  \Dad is innocent.

8. Dad don’t ever tell.  /I’m always true to myself.  \He keeps my secrets.

9. Worthiness is great.  /I can believe in my mom.  \I will trust in god.

10. He gives people help.  /Dad stops me from getting hurt.  \My mom cares for me.

11. I should have belief /in school.  Thee has credence in\ mi familia. (my family)

Challenges:

1. Supporting bad friends.  /Can’t be beatin’ at my own game-\ disbelief in friends-

2. Don’t like loneliness.  /Don’t disrespect my mother.  \ Stop yelling at me.

3. You can’t get cancer.  /Chill with tattoos and gang signs.  \ Enjoying trouble-

4. Gangs are illegal.  /Drugs can be very harmful.  \ Don’t drop out be smart.

5. Careful with blaming.  /There’s no reason to use drugs.  \ Don’t be violent-

6. Drugs can be harmful.  /Gangs can get you in danger.  Forget black and white.

7. Drugs happen to kill.  /Prostitutes spread diseases.  \Avoid crazy folks-

8. He will always tell.  /Some people hate to be nice.  \They are very mean.

9. I don’t trust strangers.  /I will not trust masterminds.  \The kid cannot change.

10. The people who died.  /I could get hurt with the gun.  \People get crazy.

11. You can’t have credence /in drugs, or in bad people,\ and in vehemence.

Suggestions:

1. Always make good friends.  /Be confident in wise friends.\  Be true to yourself.

2. Let’s play with new friends.  /Talk nicely to my mother.\  Breathe easy, stay calm.

3. Go smoke somewhere else.  /Chill with teachers and students.  \Don’t seek-out trouble.

4. Go join a school club.  /Chill with friends that don’t use drugs.  \Take care of school first.

5. Keep your conscience right.  /Playing games with friends instead.\  Stop hurting others.

6. Don’t take anything.  /Stay away from certain folks.  \Equal rights for all.

7. Apply for a job.  /Get help and use protection.  \Don’t sell your body.

8. I trust my mother.  /They’ll always be there for you.  \Friends will defend you.

9. Do not trust bad guys.  /You can’t believe within thieves.  \Help child do work.

10. Trust in the army.  /Always trust in the police.\  Medicine can help.

11. Grieving helps people /with their problems.  School assists\ in keeping you good.

1. Ali Aghayere is 13 years old.

2. Oliver  Beriguette is 10 years old.

3. Jose Ferrera is 12 years old.

4. Qwani Lanier is 11 years old.

5. Darwyn Ortega is 12 years old.

6. Angel Rivas is 12 years old.

7. William Sanchez is 13 years old.

8. Solamarie Sanchez is 11 years old.

9. Victoria Vasquez is 10 years old.

10. Ernie Benjamin Vasquez is 9 years old.

11. Neville Vaughn is 13 years old.

Clinging

What we should cling to:
1. Hold your notebook tight. /Always take your pencil case,\ and take your book bag.
2. My TV remote, /glass of my favorite drink and\ important papers
3. Hold your iPod tight, /grab on to your umbrella.\  Strap on your backpack.
4. I love to play sports.  Thou care for familia.  Do not touch my things.
5. Hold your happiness.  /Catch a baseball really tight -\ - dribble B-ball right!
6. Keep money with you.  /My family is so great!\  I have gears of war.
7. I need my homework.  /Finding or calling for help.\  Supportive changes-
8. Mom I will cling to.  /Safety rope when rock climbing-\ My Xbox console-

What we shouldn’t cling to:
1. Don’t hold onto drugs.  /People should not hold a gun.\  Do not steal a purse.
2. A sharpener cuts /and dangerous animals,\ scissors can cut too.
3. Guns scare people and /so do knives in people’s hands.\  Don’t hold strangers hands.
4. Drugs are not good for /you.  They will get thee troubled.\  Thou might have damage.
5. Don’t hold to hot things.  /Don’t exercise too hard or\ overdo pushups.
6. Drugs are very bad.  /Guns are used for violence.\  Don’t hold stolen goods.
7. Addictive bad pills.  /Bad special medications-\  Special and rare phones-
8. Electric Cables /and fully loaded gun.\  A bad memory-

Poets give suggestions:
1. Never eat a drug.  /No one should hold any guns.\  Don’t steal credit cards.
2. Take care of fingers.  /Don’t get hurt and stay away,\ careful with scissors.
3. Help people in need.  /Don’t let others go hungry.\  Ask for help or run!
4. You should try chewing gum.  /So you can stop smoking.\  Thee play basketball?
5. Listen to teachers.  /Play baseball with friends instead.\  Talking is better.
6. Get a prescription.  /People can stop buying guns.\  Know what you holding.
7. Don’t buy those drugs.  /Don’t mix alcohol with them.\  You can’t steal money.
8. Call a cableman.  /Bring it to an officer.\  Go get therapy.

The Poets:
1. Ernie Vasquez is 9 years old.
2. Jeidy Ortega is 8 years old.
3. Mushin Aliyu is 12 years old.
4. Neville Vaughn is 13 years old.
5. Oliver Beriguette is 14 years old.
6. Raezon (RayRay) Nelson is 13 years old.
7. Victoria Vasquez is 10 years old.
8. William Sanchez is 13 years old.

The Hood

Good in the hood:
1. I like my nice hood /to meet some really good friends\ that provide me love.
2. I like having friends.  /I can play with them all day.\  I love my parents.
3. I love my grandma.  /I play on the “funnest” swing.\  My grandma’s food is the best.
4. I love family.  /They are the best friends ever.\  Best school ever! YA!
5. Love playing outside.  /I love helping all people\ when they need my help.
6. Many stores around.  /You can make friends easily.\  There are block parties!
7. Swimming in water.  /I love playing in the sand.\  Laughing with my friend-
8. Buildings are built safe.  /Stores are packed with food.\  The people I love.
9. My friends are funny.  /My hood supports me with care.\  They are good to play
10. Family loves me, /music is something special,\ girls are beautiful.
11. Those that work to help.  /Who’re polite and respectful-\  Having fun with friends-
12. The computer lab.  /My grandmother is very nice.\  Playing in the swings-

Bad in the hood:
1. Bad friends against you, /too much shooting going on,\ see families’ cry.
2. The sound of gun shots /and young kids getting stabbed up.\  People always fight.
3. Garbage everywhere-  /Spitting is a nasty thing.\  Don’t show me boxers!
4. Shooting needs to stop /and people fighting get hurt.\  Arguing just sucks!
5. There too many fights.  /People are always stealing.\  Too many gun shots-
6. Lots of crime around /many bad influences\ no jobs for people.
7. I don’t like fighting.  /I don’t like playing football.\  I hate when they shoot.
8. There’s gang violence.  /Dogs and cats just roam the streets.\  Clean up the garbage.
9. My hood won’t listen.  /They forget a lot of things.\  Sometimes they spread hate.
10. Gang wars are killing.  /Kids, they are disrespectful.\  Killing young adults-
11. Bad people like thieves.  /Some police beat people bad.\  Guns that hurt people-
12. Garbage everywhere.  /Putting soda in the trees-\  Bee paintings on walls-

Helping the hood:
1. Introduce more cops, /make sure kids are in good schools,\ and be successful.
2. Maybe they can talk.  /Put down weapons to speak words\ and do something else.
3. Throw trash in trash cans.  /Always spit in the garbage.\  Pull your pants up right.
4. Talking about peace.  /Play a game like candy land.\  You need to stop this!
5. They should play baseball.  /Earn money helping people.\  Stop selling us guns!
6. More law enforcement.  /Teach them how to do good things.\  Creating more jobs-
7. You can talk it out.  /Let’s try playing basketball.\  Talk instead of fight.
8. Stop gang violence.  /Adopt a dog or a cat.\  Lots more garbage trucks-
9. They could respect more.  /They can listen much better.\  All of them can play.
10. More cops safer streets.  /Butt whippings will save your kids.\  After school… will help!
11. Go to school and learn.  /Police need special schooling.\  Get rid of the guns.
12. Make new homes for birds.  /Paint over the graffiti.\  Plant trees in good soil.

The Poets:
1. Ali Aghayere is 13 years old.
2. Briannia Vaugn is 8 years old.
3. Ernie Vasquez is 9 years old.
4. Jakia Williams  is 10 years old.
5. Jose Hernandez  is 14 years old.
6. Joshua Jackson is 12 years old.
7. Kyla Fancies is 8 years old.
8. Markel McDonald is 14 years old.
9. Michael Dejesus is 12 years old.
10. Mikale Jackson is 16 years old.
11. Raezhon (RayRay) Nelson is 13 years old.
12. Victoria Vasquez is 10 years old.