OUT OF PRINT, NO LONGER AVAILABLE
This kid's-eye view of the world celebrates the creative life and vision of Hawaii's children. Eric Chock, poet and coordinator of Poets-In-The-Schools, has compiled this selection of poems written by students who participated in a week-long enrichment program. Most of the poems were written by eight- to twelve-year-old public school children, others by intermediate and high school students. Chock also includes a brief commentary on his approach to teaching poetry.
untitled by an anonymous 5th grader
In my body there are caves
leading to different places.
I see blood and nothing but blood and dark.
Sometimes I see bones.
And veins and meat.
I am scared to be in the dark
so I think of my dog Pierre who died of heartbroken.
He's a poodle and is not supposed to be alone.
I let him go and he walked out of the gate.
Usually he runs.
I cried and cried
and I cannot forget about him.
My best dog I ever had for a long time.
Now I only have my cat Timothy
who is still a kitten that would want to mate.
And that's why I feel so lonely inside of my great big body.
Nobody to love and care for.
Nothing but dark and death.
Sometimes I miss my father who left me
in Kindergarten. I visit him in summer.
He has his own family.
Now I am nothing to him.
But a body of dark and blood.
I live with my mother
who cares for me.
What else can anybody expect.