MIDDLE SCHOOLS 

 

RAIN 
 
Rain is sort of a living personification  
of something so free  
yet trapped and uninformed  
against its own free will.  

Rain can change color, form or shape,  
attitude, or even your day. 

Alex Barron 
Talented & Gifted, 8th  Grade 
 

SUN AND MOON 
 
The day starts with the sun rising,  
and ends with it setting.  
the night begins with the moon appearing, and ends with it fading.  

their paths never meet.  
their destinies never intertwine.  
for the sun knows that no matter what,  
he must continue to rise and shine.  

the moon’s soft song drifts over the land, carrying deep sorrow that few can 
understand. the sun’s glare burns down trees,

upset that nobody can hear the way his heart pleas.

​

for they both want the same thing,  
a yearning that stems from love.  
Their hearts are hollow,  
each missing their beloved.  

Tilleli Kachenoura  
Talented & Gifted, 8th  Grade

INTERNALIZED MISOGYNY  
 
I need three strong boys,  
to help me carry these chairs.  
For girls are seen as toys,  
that only play with their hair.  
 
They need a man as president  
because a woman cannot reason and debate.  
They need a man as president  
of the White House estate.  
 
The youngest in Congress is a woman  
It shows we’re catching up,  
but the Constitution still says all-men  
We’re still running a bit late  
 

Aanya Khanna 
Talented & Gifted, 8th  Grade

 
PANDEMIC POEM 
 
So much has been taken away  
But at what cost  
Though it's for the good, is it doing more harm  
We are going through two pandemics right now  
One physical and one mental  
A constant battle quarantined inside you  
But soon one day  
We will make it outside  
 

Courtney Molina 
TAG, 8th  Grade

 

UNTITLED  
 
I step outside,  
The streets are silent.  
I listen closely,  
The birds chirp cheerfully.  
I step back inside,   
Back into the void.  
When will life go back to normal?  
Who knows.  
The Big Apple has finally gone to sleep. 
 

Ayan Pai

TAG, 8th  Grade

 
BOREDOM 
 
Before, boredom was an unknown phenomenon;  
boredom was like the moon, it was there, but I never thought I would be there.  
That was then, things are quite different now.  
 
Last year, we got a big helping of alone time.  
Every child’s dream come true,  
school’s out and it doesn't seem to be coming back for a long time!  
That was then, things are quite different now.  
 
Boredom crept up when you least expected it. 
It crept through in small helpings  
and when you least expected it, it fell on you, all of it  
Nerve racking tense moments, one by one, until it piled over you 
like a little mountain.  
That was then, things are quite different now.  
 
Now I emerge from a buried state,  
Of course, now I seem to only have my head out, nothing more nothing less,  
I emerged wiser on the subject of boredom  
and, I hope, boredom has become weary of me. 
 

Akira Ton That 
TAG, 8th  Grade

 
TWISTED TRUTHS 
 
827 days  
10,000 lies 
In all the ways 
The biggest size 
Spreading Lies 
Followers believing 
Not wise  
Self-deceiving 
 
Misinformation 
Not innocent lies 
Hallucination 
Wronging our nation 
 
Wearing a mask 
Is no freedom restraint  
When the virus attacks 
You will be in pain 
 
From election fraud 
To conspiracy theories 
Violent mobs 
Ending it all on Biden's victory. 
 

Jay Peetz Alio

M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
THE LAST FOUR YEARS 
 
I was only eight when I was fearful that my country’s fate  
would be in the hands of someone that expressed nothing but hate.  
 
I thought that I was a citizen of America, which was the land of the free, only to be 
reminded of the mistreatment of my ancestors. Oh how that stung like a bee.  
 
I watched my 3rd  grade friend go from standing tall  
to holding his head down in fear because there were threats to build a wall.  
 
This was non-stop over the last four years only causing a waterfall of tears.  
 
I saw my grandfather, my father, and my uncle feel silenced too  
because Black men and black people that complained or wanted to voice their 
injustices feared that they would be harmed by the men in blue.  

Oh that feeling was a deep feeling of pain and confusion. Only wishing that this 
harsh reality was more of an illusion.  
 
Today, I can finally start to dream big again. I can feel empowered again. I can 
smile bright again.  
 
While these last four years are stained with bad memories, I am optimistic that the 
next four years will create good memories that will be filled with love and respect. 
 

Summer-Zaire Bell 
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
THEY DID NOTHING WRONG 
 
When you knelt on his neck 
There was no respect 
When will this ever stop 
The pain, the tourture 
Ideas filling our heads until we pop 
POP goes the guns that shot all of those people 
After you did these bad things 
You felt so gleeful 
Felt like you did something special 
Felt like you did something helpful 
It is so evil 
The bloodshed on your hand 
Please don’t do it again 
And that is a demand 
 

Sienna Carey 
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
MIRTH IN SNOW  
 
Bits of tiny snow, 
Like tiny diamonds in the sky, 
Tears of clouds as small as ants, 
Tiny particles contained in them, 
It’s the particles of mirth. 
 
The crunching sounds, 
When it falls to the land,  
Waited for a million years, 
Land awaken, covered in white, 
That’s when kids elated. 
 
But even though there’s a pandemic, 
Nothing can stop the mirth, 
Families enjoy their time together, 
With a warm snack and treat, 
And a movie continues. 
 
Throw tons of snowballs, 
Snowman competition, huge as pillars, 
Slate a million miles, 
Get tons of fun as you can, 
Before this day goes away. 
 
Snow piles, thousand feets deep, 
Buried treasures, like buried memories, 
When night falls with one minute, 
And sun rises, 
They’ll say goodbye. 
 
Snow, unexpected snow, 
White as crystals and artic, 
Crunching sounds as they fall, 
Tiny as tears, tastes like ice, 
Snow is here, beautiful nature. 
 

Selina Chen 
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
THE DEMON AND ANGEL IN THE CLOSET  
 
What would happen if they didn't accept me? What would I do? 
They'll never accept you. Who are you kidding ? 
Of course they'll love and accept you  
What do I think if they don’t?   
You’re such a terrible person 
You are so brave and strong  
Where do I go? 
You'll just burden your friends
You can't show your face around there ever again 
You can always ask a friend if you need to - they won't mind  
Will they ever want to see me again?  
They don't want to see their disgrace of a child  
It's not like you did anything wrong, so yes   
They'll love me still right? 
Who are you kidding they will never love you 
You’re still their child so of course   
Will they accept me with open arms?  
Will they or will they just hurt you?  
Of course they will love and support you  
Will they even try to act like it's all ok?  
Even if they don't think so? 
Do you think they'll put up a mask just like you did so you feel safe? 
If they love enough which they do of course they will  
They will learn to accept you even if they don't think so right now  
Or will they just leave me?  
Most likely  
Of course not. You’re their child, their own flesh and blood     
 

Lauren Gerena   
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
SNOW AND MY BROTHER 
 
I venture out into the cold 
Feeling courageous, maybe bold 
A blast of snow gets in my face 
I start to run, it is a race 
My brother claims I am too slow 
I imagine a ball of snow 
Slamming into his smirking expression 
I hope the ice will make an impression 
Some snow bounces back at me 
He grins again with evil glee 
 

Cleopatra Greengard 
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

SNOW 
 
Snow is a small part of a winter wonderland, 
It glistens during the day and makes sure a kid’s day isn’t bland. 
Snow is beautiful and a sight to see, 
Kids make snowmen and snow angels and have some time to be free! 
Snow is also nice even if it’s too cold, 
Just sit down and relax and have some hot cocoa. 
Snow is fun and a time to spend with family and friends, 
But make sure to wear extra, because sickness and fun never blend. 
In all, snow is a blessing, 
And always be safe but have fun and that is my lesson. 
 

Abir Hasnat 
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
I BELIEVE  
 
We marched for what we believed in 
We got torn down 
We voted for what we believed 
But he says it was a fraud. 
When people march for black lives 
Police officers start to turn on us 
No protection anymore 
No one to believe in  
Just handcuffs on our wrists. 
 
He says we’re ruining it 
The system of our government 
Our democracy 
Make America great again 
He says 
But in truth  
I want to say to scream 
That when he leaves  
His white mansion 
It will only be a little better than before 
Maybe America was never 
Great 
And that we’re just making it less  
And less  
As each year passes 
 
But if his “guards” 
Run around  
Causing chaos 
In our capitol 
Breaking windows 
Of his mansion 
He wouldn't panic 
He would be delighted to have  
“Visitors” 
That are not officials 
Asking for payments 
Or coming to count the ballots to  
Presidency. 
He would tell them 
He loves them 
That they are special 
And that the election is a  
Fraud.  
 
Police officers seemed to enjoy the  
Visit of their people too. 
Taking selfies 
And opening doors to them 
They are the angels in their eyes. 
And the BLM movement 
Never seemed to exist to them 
So far  
5 people dead 
Because of their  
So called 
“Visitors” 
Now just ask yourself 
What did those 5 people die for 
Did they die because they 
Are so heroic 
Did they jump in front of a person  
To stop a bullet from 
Punching a hole  
Into another's body. 
No 
They died in chaos 
In sanity 
We have wasted 5 lives 
Protecting the white man 
He hasn’t apologized 
In fact all he did in 4 
Years was 
build a wall 
Separate beautiful children 
From their parents. 
And cause chaos to our world. 
So we must keep on fighting for 
What we 
BELIEVE IN 
Without causing chaos  
And covering our mouth and nose  
So we don't get 
Poisoned from  
Our invisible enemy. 
 

Sophie Iizuka 
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
UNTITLED  
 
you were a person, 
who didn’t love loudly, 
you’d rather just spend time in your room being captivated by your dreams. 
but i am a girl, 
who is in need, 
to be reassured and cared for, 
i could only wish to be the star of every dream you’ve ever made, 
so clearly we seem like a mess, 
tragic even. 
but wow, we really seemed perfect. 
i mean, 
you were my calm, 
in a loud world, 
and my safe, 
in a world of dread. 
you held the knife making sure it didn’t go into my chest and end me completely, 
but then you left, 
so now that knife sinks deeper every breath I take, 
desperate for a release out of my chest, 
so now i hate you, 
because you made me feel so secure and safe, 
yet you were the one to kill me in the end. 
 

Tyjanae Hector Jackson  
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
UNTITLED  
 
Fights, riots 
USA 
Police Brutality  
USA  
Corruption  
USA 
Chaos, Intimidation  
USA 
Fires burning everywhere  
USA  
In 4 years all of our success destroyed 
Like a finely polished shoe  
that has stepped in every disgusting puddle 
Hatred  
USA  
Like Styx is our swimming pool 
White privilege 
USA 
Blame       
USA 
 

August Kaiser 
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
DISAPPEAR  
 
The problem here            
Is very clear 
But it keeps continuing to appear 
Everyone knows what it is 
It isn’t the first time
But it keeps coming and won’t disappear 
 
We’ve tried to stop it             
We always have 
But it won’t stop 
And continues to appear 
 
This is what happens  
When you allow someone this power 
They do what they want 
And no one can stop them 
 
White Supremacy is very clear 
And their voices are here 
But when it comes to us 
Our voices disappear  
 
We spoke our minds 
We were calm and collective  
They spoke theirs 
They were rough and aggressive 
 
He knows what he did 
It affects us too 
But they forget about us 
Like we’re not affected too 
 
They did their destroying 
But it was all for nothing 
Because in the end 
The outcome they wanted never appeared  
 

Makayla Mcallister  
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
WHAT HAS THIS WORLD COME TO?  
 
Lives being taken  
I am still shaken  
By what this world has come to  
You serve to protect  
But how do you expect
Us to respect you 
You hurt people for the color of their skin  
But it's what's within that should matter 
I stand for them  
Because you won’t  
And cry but survive  
To keep fighting  
I hope for a better future  
For me and for you 
Oh my, what has this world come to? 
 

Leah Cook Olivier  
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
WHEN I WOKE UP  
 
When I woke up, I could hear the whistling in the wind 
 
When I woke up, I could see the tiny particles of snowflakes passing my window 
 
When I woke up, I could feel the warm fur of my dog as he huddled close to me in the night

When I woke up, I could smell the heater turning on to fight against the cold air 
 
When I woke up, my snow day had begun 
 
The sun is nowhere to be seen, hidden underneath the blizzard’s clouds 
 
The snow piled up against all the doors of my house 
 
My dog excitedly wanted to investigate what appeared to be a fluffy cloud on the ground 
 
When I woke up, I knew that we would never experience a traditional snow day again 
 
When I woke up, when I woke up  
 

Ben Strum  
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

​

I KNOW  
 
I believe that racism isn’t fair 
I believe that police brutality isn’t fair 
I believe that discrimination isn’t fair 
No, scratch that, I know. 
And unfair doesn’t even begin to describe it 
Disgusting. 
Embarrassing 
Disturbing. 
Shameful. 
Horrific. 
I know that racism is disgusting 
I know that police brutality is shameful and discriminatory 
I know that discrimination is outrageous 
The inequality 
The favoritism 
The injustice 
The hatred 
And I know that America today, 
Is just humiliating.

 

Samantha Uyaguari  
M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
PREJUDICE  
 
Racism goes deep  
Discriminated by the skin  
Tarnished beliefs and thoughts 
Trampled between lies 
Dejecting of Culture 
 
Rage through the veins  
Shouts like an incompetent fool  
Whispers like some little noise  
Silent and dishonest  
 
Sneering on justification  
Positioning oneself higher   
Packing a punch of judgment 
Screams under the law of supremacy  

Silently sinking  
Buries the Truth 
Blindsides of the vulnerable 
Exploits the insecure  
Closes in and whitewashes the Truth 
 

Verna Yang  

M.S. 51, 7th  Grade

 
DESTRUCTION  
 
Destruction is near 
Destruction is all we hear 
Nothing can stop it now 
But we can slow it down 
In time it’s all we will hear 
Because when you sit under the stars 
No calm will come 
Destructive power of the tongue is all we hear 
Causing disunity and lacking love 
Under the light of the sun 
We slowly dissolve as a community 
So what we hear is 
Destruction is near? 
The population is going down 
We listen to the news 
All you hear is they lost their job 
To a virus with control nowhere to be found 
Now think about it, destruction is near! 
 

Tori Mims 
M.S. 88, 6th  Grade

 
UNPROTECTED  
 
From a homeless child: 
Where’s the sink Dr. Fauci? 
I’d like to know 
How could I wash for twenty seconds ? 

When the only fresh, running water is rivers and snow 
How can I shelter in place? 
And be six feet apart 
When my place is the streets 
These questions I'll impart 
 
I would like to stay safe 
Really I would 
But I don’t even go to school 
So how am I supposed to stay 
Safe and good 
 
Just one more question  
Dr. Fauci, please sir 
when everyone’s already down on their luck, 
When people have used up their very last buck 
How can someone who was in that situation, maybe worse 
protect themselves from  
This new reality that just struck 
 
So here is a real tricky one 
If you can answer it, please 
The cold already makes us wheeze  
This is much more deadly, 
What happened to my soap, mask, and gloves? 
 

Anna Kulik  
M.S. 88, 6th  Grade

 
SENTENCES 
 

words

crammed

together

trying to make sense 
of each other 
 

letters

strung

together

like plastic charms 
on a bracelet 
 
pieces of a puzzle 
slowly being

drawn

together

some sentences 
are wonderful 
savory 
as a steak 
sweet 
as a sugar cookie 
a blanket wrapped around 
you 
keeping you warm 
 
some are sharp 
harsh 
leaving you raw 
and cold 
 
how 
can something so small 
so short 
make such an impact? 
 

Phoebe Klein Stearns  
M.S. 88, 7th  Grade

 
DON’T JUDGE 
 
We need to stop racism 
And judging people by their sexuality and race 
We are all different and unique 
We should all accept each other 
We are all a family 
Beautiful people that God created for a reason 
But we don’t really know someone until we take the time to know them 
We should not judge people just because of the way they look 
We are created with different looks and minds 
Remember your true identity 
Because that is what makes you,

You.

​

Isabella Monares 
M.S. 88, 7th  Grade

 
MOTHER NATURE 
 
Our mother is alone 
stooped, tired in Her  bones 
sits down, expired 
and we leave Her on Her own 
 
Everything we stole 
weighs on Her soul 
until She’s no longer whole 
 
Our junk litters Her world  
 
When She asserts we must clean up our house  
“Okay, okay! geez,” we complain without gratitude 
Her dismay, disarray an afterthought to our rude platitudes 
 
We try to believe  
We relieve Her  
but no 
though we  
put Her feet up 
greet Her, clean up 
 
when we see Her truly in need 
we convince ourselves not to impede  
 
in the end we 
can never justify our actions —  
we deserve to be vilified 
we sap Her energy supply 
 
and I know why we don’t  
rectify 
no one cares enough 
until they die 
 

Ivy Morris  
M.S. 88, 7th  Grade

 
AS I GO UP 
 
As I go up  
I feel the excitement 
The excitement a child may get on Christmas day. 
As I go up 
I see a bird, a bird of magnificence 
And beauty 
It descends and ascends every obstacle. 
It flies, fluttering with grace. 
As I go up, 
My surroundings shrink, 
Yet it lasts only seconds. 
As I go up 
I feel as if I am the bird I saw a few second ago 
Flapping its wings 
In such elegance that can only be seen on nature channels 
As I go up, I feel free 
As if there are no rules or any boundaries that can’t be broken. 
As I go up 
I feel that all my memories and all worries have been forgotten, 
Yet it only lasts but 
Seconds. 
 

Sebastian Romanello  
M.S. 88, 7th  Grade

 
THE SUN 
 
The sun, 
The way it hides in the clouds,  
Soar through the sky,  
And sting in my eyes, 
Invading my home with its light. 

Let me compare you to a bright balloon, 
You are more deadly, aesthetic, and stronger. 
The bright sun heats the cement sidewalks of June, 
And summer time has the whole of New York outside. 
 
I love your hot, bright, sunny mornings, 
Thinking of going outside and catching some sun, 
All day, every day. 
 
But now I must go inside, 
See you another day. 
 

Jarissa Mercado 
MS 140, 8th  Grade

 
UNTITLED  
 
I haven’t seen my best friend 
since March 13, 2020. 
I haven’t seen my family 
that live in the D.R. in four years. 
I write a letter to Leslie, 
because she was my first best friend. 
Leslie, my cousin, 
far away. 
 

Diana Nunez 
MS 140, 8th  Grade

 
THE REAL LOWER EAST SIDE 
 
Smile because you have feelings  
The Avenue doesn’t define you or who you are  
Stand tall don't give in, be 
stay open-minded 
So when you dance your November dance  
You will feel this UNEXPECTED HATE  
Inside you sleeping  
you wake up cause you’re drawn to it like food 
You wake up think about it  
like wow but you don’t  
you think it's just a dream  
When you wake up all you hear is  
CALL YOUR LAWYER 
 

Tiffany Thorne 
MS 140, 8th  Grade

 
COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE HERE WHEN WE NEED YOU 
 
Could you possibly be here when we need you 
Like a police officer needs a bulletproof vest 
When the conversations are loud enough 
I wish I was so carefree of the worries 
As weird as I may be 
It’s fun most of the time 
But the words said are not important 
Because you can just sneeze them all away  
No matter how fake, toxic or vile a person can be 
You can still celebrate those around you, who are pleasant and amazing 
The food you eat can also be a sanctuary from the troubles 
Or scream them out with an “Ahh!” 
But most of the time, the comfort you receive 
Can also come from a friend 
 

Jazelle Vazquez  
MS 140, 8th  Grade

 
HOMAGE TO MY SMILE 
 
My smile 
Can create 
Its own fate.  
 
No direction, 
It takes its own path. 
It changes with every reaction.  
 
It smiles,  
When there is nothing to smile about.  

It smiles,  
When no one can see.  
 
It smiles,  
When people can’t take it anymore. 
 
It smiles, 
When there are tears raining down from my eyes. 
 
But no smile leaves the same mark.  
 
Every smile,  
A new experience,  
A new impression on my life. 
 
This is why my smile, 
A great power, 
Can change someone’s day. 
 
This is why I honor that smile. 
 
My smile 
Has new personality, 
Everytime 
It wakes up. 
 

Ramona Weinstein 
East Side Middle School, 6th  Grade

 
WHAT CANNOT BE FORGOTTEN  
 
There it goes again, annoying me. 
Seriously, this little pesky piece of tape 
has so much history. 
 
It’s the kind that can easily come off of walls. 
My mother never allowed us to use any 
other kinds of tape on the walls, so we 
stuck with this type of tape even though 
the other tape didn’t take forever to find, unlike this one. 
 
We used it to attach our Fujifilm photo to the wall. 
It was taken on my father’s birthday, 
when we all went to a fancy Indian restaurant to celebrate. 
I remember how I was so proud of my newly acquired camera. 
I used it to take pictures of everything, longing to capture our joy. 
 
We loved the ambiance of the restaurant; 
it was so calm and dark, 
but little did we know that would be its failing point. 
That picture came out way too dark 
and we were way too tiny to see in it. 
So whenever friends came over, they would squint 
as if trying to figure why the photo was there anyway. 
 
And that’s what I wondered too, which is why 
I ended up ripping the photo off the wall, 
but apparently, the tape was stronger than we thought 
and now it can’t even come off, even though the photo did. 
What a rip-off! 
 
A day or two later, I found the photo lying on my desk. 
The tiny people seemed to smile right at me, 
pleading for a second chance. 
Immediately, I was back to that day at the restaurant, 
laughing and smiling and singing “Happy Birthday”. 
For a second, my ever-too-stubborn mind resisted, 
but in the end, I knew I could not stand the guilt. 
 
To this day, 
that very same photo 
(the one I almost threw out) 
is framed on my desk, 
smiling the same smiles 
I almost threw out. 
 

Ahana Chandra  
East Side Middle School, 7th  Grade

 
WORLD OF EUPHORIA AND DANGER 
 
The clock tower chimed as I stepped into my garden, 
I lower my hood and glance around the beautiful place, 
The flowers carefully dance in the wind, 
A bumblebee flies by, and I greet it with a bright smile, 
‘Morning,’ I say, 
The sunlight poured through the trees, 
And birds welcome me with an uplifting tune, 
I breathe in the sweet divine smell, 
My hair gently caressed my face, 
I open the wooden door to my home and step inside. 
 
‘Hurry,’ hissed assassin, 
‘I know, I'm trying,’ I protest, 
The castle was darker than the night sky, 
And the click-clack of our boots echoed the empty hallways, 
Our breaths were ragged, 
My legs were straining as I willed them to go faster, 
I could feel the gazes of the guards sizzling against my back, 
They would catch up soon, 
I hate to admit it, but it’s true,  
My heart banged against my chest faster than each footfall,  
As I bit my lips to keep quiet, 
I could taste the tangy, coppery blood in my mouth, 
But i knew I had to run,  
The exit was so close, if my legs were just a little bit faster--- 
A strong hand gripped the back of my cape and i lurched backwards, 
NO,  
I tried to free myself but whoever it was was strong, 
‘You have some gut to run away from me, y’know,’ 
I whipped my head towards the person and snarled, 
He had a big dark slash across his distorted features and his smile was the worst, 
‘You’re coming with me.’ he said, 
I could feel the fear and rage bubble up inside me as it threatened to burst, 
‘NO.’ I said through gritted teeth,  
He reached inside his pocket and pulled out something I couldn't identity,  
He pressed it against my mouth, 
The sweet smell filled my senses and i felt my body start to go numb, 
No, no, no, no.  
The man smiled and he----- 
 
‘Good book?’  
The Man started to fade, the castle started to fade, everything was fading, 
I cocked my head to the familiar voice, 
I felt a cold gust of wind kiss my hot cheeks, and my fingertips were glowing, 
‘Good book? Good book? Good book?’ the voice echoed,  
Bright tiny lights surrounded me, 
Trapping me in a colorful dome, 
There was a sudden flash, 
Many high-pitched voices filled my throbbing head, 
I snapped my head up and saw someone smiling---no, it was my friend, 
Her dark hair was flowing in the wind,  
Her eyes like a storm, yet curious, 
I slowly turned my head,  
Many kids were running around, 
Some with basketballs, and some with a group of friends, 
I took a deep breath in through my nose, and a deep breath out through my mouth, 
I sighed and pulled my hair to cover my face, 
‘Yeah,’ I breathed.  
 

Rinoha Isetani  
East Side Middle School, 7th  Grade

 
CONTEMPLATIONS OF A FANTASY NOVEL  
 
I wish I was treated a little bit better 
For my pages are torn and missing 
Stained an ambiguous shade between yellow and cream 
With crimson fingerprints that, sadly, aren’t even covered in blood 
(Mystery and Horror get all the fun, although they’re tossed under the bed in a fit of fear) 
But only of spicy chips which smell of chemicals and hot sauce 
And my spine is broken in, with the stitches that held it together unraveling  
(I really should get a chiropractor) 
I’m faded, with the absurdly bright jewel tones of the cover 
That illustrate magic, knights, villainesses, knights, royalty, and knights 
Turned to a vaguely grayish version of itself. 
I was once dignified, fake leather stretched tight as I puffed my chest and straightened my back 
Proud and haughty, the cream of the crop 
But now I’ve aged a thousand years in a thousand minutes 
A decrepit old man, going senile, shedding paper like wispy silver hair 
The price of being loved is steep, although better than being forgotten 
And shoved into an eternal void of fallen blankets, discarded candy wrappers, and unfinished homework. 
 

Lola Kravitz 
East Side Middle School, 7th  Grade

 

SHADES OF OUR SKIN  
 
I’m watching a movie, 
no big deal 
Except I am small, and the theatre is big 
Suddenly lightning zaps, I cling to my daddy 
He tells me it’s okay, it’s just a movie 
I look away from the screen, 
I see my mom and dad holding hands 
Their colors contrast, then blend together 
now it is my shade 
 
The movie is not scary anymore 
Though when all is quiet, 
I hear a candy wrapper being squeezed  
It’s loud, and I can’t hear anything else 
Someone asks them to stop, 
and so they do 
Everything is silent 
 
The noise from the wrapper starts again, 
as the movie approaches the end  
This time my dad asks them to please stop 
The character says you will forget everything, 
once the rain starts 
As the movie ends, the yelling starts 
 
The woman with the wrapper screams at my dad, 
what did he do,  
ask them to stop making so much noise 
But why do they scream at him,  
there were multiple people, 
who asked them to stop 
 
Or is it that they scream at the people, 
Whose shade is not theirs, 
whose shade is not white 
 
Yet while they scream, my daddy does not 
He tells me not to be worried, 
as I cling to his hand 
I wonder, is this racism  
 
I’m only seven, 
And this is not something I know 
My whole life I have never known what it was, 
to hate upon someone solely due to their shade  
For I have always lived in a place, 
where most see the wrong in this 
But right now I am not in that place, 
Currently I am in a place where this, 
is normal  
 
And then as my daddy says again, 
he asked because he and his family, 
could not hear the movie 
The woman with the wrapper, 
looks at him, and screams, 
“Go back to your country” 
 
But why, 
why do they scream at my daddy,  
when there were many others who asked the same thing  
Is it because there shade is white and his is not 
Why do they tell him to go back to his country, 
when there are so many others, 
in this theatre who are not from here 
Is it because their shade is white and his is not 
Why do they not see him as a person, 
when he is just like everyone else 
Is it because there shade is white, 
and his is not 
 
And I start to cry, 
Why do I cry, I don’t know 
But when I start to cry, 
My daddy holds me tight 
 
And I cry into his arms, 
Why do I cry, I don’t know 
 
Yet while my eyes are blurred up, 
A woman comes up to those with the wrappers, 
And yells “how dare you, you should be ashamed, 
Go back to your home” 
 
And while the candy wrapper people roll their eyes at her, 
I know that she is right 
 
I still cling to my daddy, 
As we walk out the theatre 
I still cry, 
Why do I cry, I don’t know 
 
It is raining outside 
The droplets touch my cheeks, 
I can’t feel them,  
the rain has mixed with my own  
My dad walks outside, 
I still cling to him 
I remember the character saying 
“you will forget everything once the rain starts” 
 
The rain is dropping on me, 
but I can’t forget 
I still hear the yelling 
 
This wasn’t a dream, 
and if it was, 
then I am still living in it  
 

Anna Patnaik  
East Side Middle School, 7th  Grade

 
“GAI, TENTEN, NEJI, AND ROCK LEE!” (INSPIRED BY NARUTO AN 
ANIME AND MANGA)  
 

Gai, TenTen, Neji and Rock Lee,

spending a rainy day inside as bored as can be,

 

Neji suggested to turn on the TV,

But everyone just fought on which channel they should see, and

 

Then Gai and Lee decided that instead, everyone should do some workouts,

But TenTen and Neji objected in the form of screams and shouts, and

 

So TenTen suggested that they should instead play with some darts,

But no one wanted to be bested by TenTen, for it leave them with saddened hearts, and

 

So Lee decided to take another shot,

For if they couldn’t agree on anything, boredom would be all they’ve got, and

 

Lee suggested that maybe they should play a boardgame,

And everyone agreed, as everyone finally had an idea that was the same, and

 

They picked monopoly,

But that ended very horribly, and

 

With everyone turning their back on everyone else,

No one was willing to talk or suggest anything else, and

 

The unwanted evil called boredom came once again, 

But feeling bad about monopoly, the only one to speak right then, was TenTen, and

 

She started to talk about the many fun and funny times she’s spent with the team,

Like how Neji always joined Lee in his skits, no matter how crazy they seemed, and

 

Even though at first everyone was still angry after some stories, TenTen continued on as she said,

“Man, Lee, you were too wild with those nunchucks! I knew trouble would come and I was filled with dread, and,

 

“The nunchucks finally flew from your hands,

Hitting Lady Tsunade’s statue! Making her bald and leaving her with just a few strands! And,

 

“Everyone in the Village saw!

Everyone who saw the sight dropping their jaw! And,

 

“Oh Lady Tsunade was so mad!

And when she got a hold of you, I knew that you were going to be a dead lad! And,

 

“After she was done with you, I wasn’t sure how you were alive!

Served you right, for I knew that with those nunchucks, trouble would be where you’d arrive!” And,

 

So, TenTen continued on and on, and as TenTen told each story one by one,

Everyone’s frowns turned to smiles and they told stories too, now starting to have fun, and

 

The rainy clouds let up outside and anyone could’ve said that was normal, yes,

But personally, I think it was the brilliant happiness from the bunch that had made the world become happy and at rest.

​

Ugochinyere Agbaeze 
East Side Middle School, 8th  Grade

 
LEARNING THE ART OF CLOSURE 
 
Before you know the sweet home of closure, 
You must know vulnerability like the back of your hand. 
Floating in midair, trying to grab on to anything tangible 
Feel the stake driving deeper into your heart. 
The thought of moving on, not something you can afford.  
Every moment is filled with jealousy and regret. 
The word “despair” fills your journal until no white is left. 
The self-reassuring sentence “I’m fine” becomes your life anthem. 
A song whose meaning is so desirable, so priceless, so free! 
But there is always a song that is so captivating that it envelops you in a blanket of fake hope, 
It becomes the song that is in every playlist you create- 
No—it is the only song that makes up your playlists, each an untitled title. 
Before you learn the graceful art of closure, 
You must live with the unbearable thought of loss: 
The lingering realization, much like a delayed reaction.  
You must understand the damage, accept it, and take the blame.  
The vision of Hope haunting you, leaving your mind in the darkness of itself 
Alas, the light switch is present, but not in your state of mind. 
You have to fumble, reach up and fall again, trying to dispose of the dependence you have built. 
You have to be haunted of what could have been, 
You must dream, your dreams fueled by false hope of the distant future. 
You will find the song that rips the enveloping blanket of fake hope off of you; 
The eraser with the willpower to erase eighty pages; 
The light switch to wither the regret and jealousy shadow lurking in your mirror; 
The key underneath the floor to unlock your cell door and walk free. 
It is only then that you are welcomed with into the sweet home of closure, 
For closure is the entity that makes the world go round. 
 

Nora Cassetta 
East Side Middle School, 8th  Grade

 
 
DICING WITH DEATH 
 
I’ve lived on edge, on the edge of an Upper East Side New York City apartment. 
I’ve been on rocking chairs, the ones that give you heart attacks - whenever you tilt even slightly backwards. 
I've stepped on LEGOs. 
I’ve admitted to my mother that it's too cold outside when I originally refused to wear a sweater. 
I’ve quarreled with the Brighton Beach Russians while getting salami. 
I've been to port-a-potties in Central Park. 
I've drank 2% milk that's been sitting out for 4 weeks. 
I’ve eaten strictly the Double Decker Taco Supreme from Taco Bell for a week. 
I've peed in a pool - twice (at the age of 13). 
I’ve gone to Starbucks and asked for a “medium” frappuccino instead of a “grande.” 
I’ve preemptively crossed the black cat’s path. 
I’ve licked all the new Boston Creme donuts at Dunkin Donuts. 
I've swam in the Hudson River. 
I’ve eaten gas station sushi—even the spicy tuna. 
I’ve dropped my iPhone 7 in the toilet and fished it out with my bare hands. 
I’ve sipped a bit of water from the Coney Island waterpark. 
And I’ve touched a 6 train subway rail. 
And I've lived to tell the tale. 
 

Tessa Kolovarsky 
East Side Middle School, 8th  Grade

 
SPRING 
 
The trees awaken from their winter slumber  
as the wind skips across the grass  
in happiness. 
 
The sun becomes friends with the sky  
nature makes itself known. 
 
Seeds begin their life and journey  
trees show their true colors. 
 
Happiness fills the air  
with love by its side. 
This is spring. 
 

Niko Cuprill 
East Village Community School 

​

​