Dream Keepers Blog

Welcome!

2011-09-26T16:47:00.005-05:00

Welcome, writers!

This fall we will be working on our first ever National Novel Writing Month projects. My hope is to work with students at their schools to help them start and finish a short novel during the month of November.

I am still looking for a few more schools to work with me on this project. If your classroom is interested in working with me on this project, contact me for more information.

And don't forget to check out the contest page! There are lots of opportunities for you to write and publish this year at Dream Keepers.

Six-word Scary Stories: The Winners

2010-11-03T13:25:00.000-05:00

So far, the only contest entries we've had are from our in-person group. But, they've written some might spooky entries for the six-word scary story contest. Here they are. Enjoy!

I died while drinking zombie wine. —Elly

Full moon brings scary grim reaper. —Terrance

Dark alley. Frightened boy sees face. —Armon

Mall open tonight; buffet for zombies! —Zaivonn

I creep at night, wake flesh. —Trone

Me alone. Dark desert. Large dinosaur. —Anthony

Beautiful zombies. Looks really do kill. —Elisha

Everyone dies when the devil strikes. —Elly

Six-word Scary Stories by Elisha Branch

2010-10-25T14:06:00.001-05:00

Last year we were asked to write a scary story with only six words. I know the first thing that comes to mind when I say that. It's an impossible task! But it is not. In fact, we came up with many wonderful stories about many scary things. Some stories were about entire towns vanishing mysteriously. Others were about slimy creepy crawlies coming to get you. If you just use your imagination, what seems impossible can become fun or, in this case, really scary!
—Dream Keeper Intern, Elisha Branch

Check out the contests page to see how you can enter your six-word scary story!

Urban Haiku

2010-10-13T10:45:00.000-05:00

We haven't had many entries in our Urban Haiku contest. But several of our Dream Keepers have been writing Haiku over the past few weeks on Wednesday nights. One of the Dream Keepers wrote poems suitable for publication. Enjoy!

Wanted: Tom Jackson
Wanted since June, 2000
Worried about pollution?
—Elisha Branch

Bethel Baptist Church
Rummage Sale is this Friday
How much for Jesus?
—Elisha Branch

No child left behind
Have faith in education
I'm ten; I can't read.
—Elisha Branch

Urban Haiku: Dream Keepers is BACK!

2010-09-22T10:33:00.001-05:00

Dream Keepers is Back!
Dream Keepers has been on hiatus for the past six weeks. In that time, I've been doing a lot of reading and thinking about what I want Dream Keepers to look like this year and in our future. I've become enchanted by the Young Writer's Project in Vermont and New Hampshire. Founder Geoff Gevalt started the project in his free time while working as a managing editor for The Burlington Free Press. In the beginning and still today, students from all over the two states write and submit in response to scheduled writing prompts. The submissions are then judged and the best are submitted to local newspapers for publication.

For a long time, I have wanted my work with Dream Keepers to connect with the work teachers are doing in the classroom, students are doing online, and writers-in-residence are doing in schools. To that end, we're going to try adding writing contests this year. WInners will be published at the Dream Keepers blog.

I'll still be doing an in-person gig—so if you are a student in grades 3-6—feel free to come to our program on Wednesdays from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at All People's Church. Students will spend part of their time writing, part of it gardening, and part of it with Stepping Stones, a tutoring program. Register ahead of time by emailing me (rochelle@writenowcoach.com).

September-October Contest: Urban Haiku
Two weeks ago, I came across a story in The Guardian about a poet who took his poetry to the streets of Atlanta. Artist John Morse wrote haiku poetry using found phrases from ads. Here are two examples:

Build Personal Wealth!
In the Comfort of Your home!
Read to your children.

Lose ugly weight fast!
Feel Happier! Healthier!
Dump your bigotry.

Great stuff, eh? Morse's Haiku poems have great surprise endings. Even better, they make the reader think. Morse wrote ten of these haiku poems, made fifty copies of each, and posted them all over Atlanta. Now the citizens of Atlanta see poetry everywhere. And Morse's poems must give them a lot to think about!

Your assignment, Dream Keepers, is to write an Urban Haiku poem using at least one found phrase from a sign, billboard, or other advertisement that you see in public. Use the traditional Haiku form of 5-7-5 syllables or do what Haiku teacher Patricia Donegan suggests: write three lines that you can say in one breath. Choose words that help your readers see what you are describing.

The assignment is open to Wisconsin students K4-12th grade. Each student can submit up to five haiku poems. Poems must be submitted in an email document (no attachments, please) via email to rochelle@writenowcoach.com by midnight on October 8, 2010. Winners poems and names will be published on the Dream Keepers blog by the end of October.

And keep an eye on this space. We'll have a new writing assignment coming for you in early October!

Happy writing!

Dream Keepers @ Freedom Schools

2010-07-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

This summer many children are becoming Dream Keepers at the Urban Roots Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools (r) Program. I've been teaching every Tuesday afternoon. We've made personal metaphors, written Haiku poems about gardens and animals, and tried our hand at writing about our neighborhood. Two weeks ago, the students read an inspiring story about Tasana Hardy titled, Teen's Award-Winning Poem Helps Rewrite Her Life. Hardy's poem, Where I'm From, was chosen for a class film project that has since won awards. The poem and the awards have changed the direction of Hardy's life. I invited the students to write their own, Where I'm From poems. Here are a few of them. When you're done reading, write your own!

Where I'm From
by Luis

Where I'm from ...
   Moms keep house
   Dads tow cars.

Where I'm from
   Sisters work in stores
   Cats vomit and sneeze
   and I play on the computer.

Where I'm from,
   people eat rice,
   sea food,
   and fruit loops.

Where I'm from
   kids camp,
   travel,
   and go to water parks.

Where I'm from,
   I'm planning to go to Puerto Rico
   to see family.

Where I Come From
by Anonymous

Where I come from
   there is no peace
   because there is too much fighting and loud music.

Parents are not watching their kids.

Where I come from
   people don't care anymore.
   because every time you look at the news,
   something bad has happened.

Where I Come From
by Marcus

Where I come from people
walk with their head down.
They shun the world out only
look within themselves.

Where I come from beautiful smiles
are hard to find but a rude stare
is always constant.

Where I come from love is just
a word thrown in the air, even if it's
family or friends.

Where I come from isn't actually
where I come from. it's a stage
I must pass in my life.

Where I Come From
by Zhane

Where I come from I like to make
people laugh because you barely
see people smiling, all you see is
depression.

Where I come from you have teenagers
turning to their own sex just to
find love.

Where I come from you barely see
young educated people because all
people really want is to fit in.

Where I come from fake is the
new country name because there is no
such thing as a true friend.
Just associates.

Icky Stuff!

2010-03-03T10:15:00.000-06:00

Last night, the Dream Keepers wrote about icky stuff. The assignment came from Dawn DiPrince's wonderful book, Unjournaling: Daily Writing Exercises that are NOT Personal, NOT Introspective, NOT Boring. Here are a few examples I came up with:

Icky is sharing deodorant with your six brothers. Ickier is sharing a toothbrush.

Icky is cleaning out the couch, pocketing the change, and eating the dust-covered candy.

I challenged the Dream Keepers to come up with icky stuff that would make me cringe with disgust. They did. Here's a sample of their work:

Icky is picking up gum from the ground and eating it.

Icky is when someone pops out their leg bone.

Icky is chewing on your toenails.

—Tramonta Garner, age 10

Icky is frying chalk, dirt and rubber and eating it as steak.

Icky is eating fire extinguisher foam.

—Brandon, age 11

Icky is a dead bird in the house, surrounded by flies.

—Brianna

Icky is playing with your hair while you are in line to get your food.

—Jadyn

Gross, huh? Write your own sentences about icky stuff. See if you can top these!

Long Titles, Short Poems

2010-02-23T17:00:00.000-06:00

Tonight the Dream Keepers tried to write short poems with long titles, an assignment from Dawn DiPrince's wonderful book Yoga For the Brain. Here's the example I wrote:

What Happened when John decided to Do His Laundry the Old-Fashioned Way:

with a Bar of Soap, a Rock, and a River.

Threadbare

Underwear.

The assignment is harder than it sounds, and the Dream Keepers had a tough time with it. But they still came up with some good samples. Read their work, and then try writing your own!

By Elly:

What Elly Was Left with After She Ate A big Juicy Hamburger in Two Bites.

Yummy

Tummy.

By Leroi:

What the Owner Said When He Took His Pet to Meet the New Vet, who Already Had Met

a Dog, a Frog, and a Bunch of Cats.

No.

By Daquan:

What Happened When I Took A Bone from a Dog Who Had Had It a Long Time.

Fight.

Bite.

By Tierra:

The clock stopped at 11 O'Clock.

Tick Tock?

The Urban Legend

2010-02-02T05:45:00.000-06:00

You know what an urban legend is, right? You've probably even fallen for a few. Here are some I found while visiting Snopes, the go-to site for discovering if that warning email you got from your Auntie is true or a hoax. Here are some interesting legends I pulled off the site:

*Disposable chopsticks are loaded with carcinogens.

*Canola oil is toxic.

*Coca-cola was originally green.

Tonight's Dream Keepers had the opportunity to write their own urban legends—or at least the teasers to go with them. Here's what they came up with. When you're done reading, I hope you will be inspired to create your own!

Beware of crooks using video games to steal your pants. (I want your pants.com) --Terrance

Beware of crooks using the tooth fairy to steal teeth. --Terrance

Don't leave your house! Killer squirrels on the loose! --Elly

Beware of crooks taking coats. They're cold, and they're coming. --Shay

Beware of sticky fingered crooks. They're stealing honey! --Shay

Warning!

2010-01-27T10:42:00.000-06:00

At this week's writing group, I sent the young people to different corners of our writing space to think up sill warnings. You know the kind. When you see them, you want to shout, "Duh!" My new hair straightener came with the warning: Do not use while sleeping. Most peanut butter jars now have the warning: Contains nuts. I challenged the Dream Keepers to come up with their own warnings. Here are the best ones:

On a bathroom door: Warning: may contain smells.

On the library: Warning: contains books.

On jelly: Warning: May jiggle.

On book: Warning: May contain challenging words.

On boys: Warning: May giggle like a girl.

On bicycle: Warning: Do not sleep while riding.

Now it is your turn. Can you add some silly warnings to our list?

Dear Santa

2009-12-15T06:51:00.000-06:00

On Monday night, the Dream Keepers met for their annual holiday party. We ate cookies, drank lemonade, and wrote letters to Santa. Afterwards, each of the children chose a book to take home. One of the younger Dream Keepers asked me, "You mean I can keep it forever?"

"Forever."

"Yes!" she cheered.

All of the young people—eight boys and two girls—were equally thrilled to take home a book.

This year's collection of books for the young people came from generous donations by the Zonta Club of Milwaukee, people who purchased books through our Amazon Associateprogram, and two individuals who donated their own gently used books. Many, many thanks!

I was thrilled to read their letters to Santa. I hope you are, too. Enjoy.

Dear Santa,

I want things to change. Let there be peace instead of violence. I want everybody to have a house and a car. I don't want anybody on the street.

Sincerely, Damarious

Dear Santa,

I want God for Christmas.

I want to meet Hannah Montana for Christmas.

I want the world to be better for Christmas.

Love, Mikila

Dear Santa,

Things need to change because there is too much violence instead of peace and quiet. Things need to go right instead of wrong. And this is what I want for Christmas: a playstation 3. And the controller and a game to go with it.

Sincerely, Tramonta

Dear Santa,

I want peace, and I truly want a DSI.

Sincerely,

Mr. DeQuan

Dear Santa,

This year I want the violence to stop. Also, I want everyone to have presents and erevyone to spread some Christmas cheer. I want everyone to be a good person and I want Brandon Jennings (a.k.a., my dad) to win a championship and everyone to be happy.

Your friend,

Leroi May

a.k.a. Leroi Jennings

Dear Santa,

I want the world to be happy. I want everyone to have fun on Christmas day, and the only thing I want for myself is to see Lebron win the championship and get MVP again.

Sincerely, Davonn May

Dear Santa,

This year all I want is a digital camera and for the world not to end in 2012. I would also like for the world to be a better place.

From, Tierra

Dear Santa,

I want the world to stop fighting each other. And come together and help each other out. I want a PSP Go.

Sincerely, Robert.

Dear Santa,

I would like the world to change and things to go right and the gas prices to go down. I would like a lot of things to be better, and I want everybody to have a happy holiday. The world has a lot of things that need to be changed, and we want you to help us.

Steven Johnson

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-28T07:52:00.000-05:00

Last week, one of the Dream Keepers wrote a scary story and shared it with the group. He had us all looking over our shoulders for ghosts. The author, Jaimie, is pictured above. His story follows. Enjoy!

Little Lyric

by Jaimie Bogard-LaMar

“Come on, Lyric,” said Deseree. “The last bell just rang.”

“I’m on the homecoming committee, remember?”

“Oh yeah. So you have to stay. Well, I’ll see you later. Just don’t be here alone,” said Deseree.

"Wonder what she means by ‘Don’t be here alone,’" thought Lyric.

After Lyric and the homecoming team were done for the day and about to leave, Lyric remembered. Uh oh, she thought. I left my jacket in the locker room. My mom said if I left it one more time, she wouldn’t let me go to the homecoming and all of my work would be for nothing. So, Lyric rushed to the locker room and saw her jacket lying on the bench. As she was about to grab it, she heard a banging sound. She looked around to see what it was. And she saw a locker door opening and closing by itself. Then she heard footsteps. Lyric grabbed her jacket and ran out of the building.

The next day she told Deseree what happened.

“I told you not to be here alone. Didn’t you hear what happened at this school?”

“What are you talking about,” asked Lyric.

Deseree said, “A long time ago, a girl was killed at this school. She was here alone in the locker room. A robber saw her and cut out her tongue before he killed her. This is why no one is ever here alone.”

“Stop playin’,” said Lyric.

“Seriously,” said Deseree. “Never be here alone.”

So that day, after the bell rang, Lyric was in the library working with the homecoming committee. She was so busy working she hadn’t noticed everyone was gone. Lyric jumped up and ran out the door. But then she remembered. Her jacket was still in there. So she ran back in to the locker room and grabbed her jacket. As she was about to leave, she noticed a duffel bag fill of money.

“Now you have to die,” said a voice.

She ran from the building and started towards home when she heard footsteps behind her.

Lyric made it all the way home, locked the door, and yelled, “Mom! Dad!” No one answered. She ran to the kitchen and found a note. It said, “Dear Lyric, We won’t be home for a few hours because we are working late. See you soon.”

"NOOOO!," thought Lyric, as she heard a loud scratching noise. She realized someone was cutting through the screen door. She ran upstairs to hide, as she heard him break the glass of the other door. She crawled under the bed and waited. Lyric looked out from under the bed and saw the ghost of the little girl holding her tongue in her hands. At that moment, the robber burst in and said, “Now you’ll end up just like she did.” He moved closer. Lyric’s parents came rushing into the room, catching a glimpse of the robber as he jumped out the window.

“What happened?” Asked Lyric’s parents.

Lyric said nothing. She never spoke again.

The end.

Six-word Scary Stories

2009-10-26T14:36:00.000-05:00

We've done six-word memoirs. Tonight the Dream Keepers wrote six-word scary stories. Read and enjoy! (Then write and submit your own in the comment field!)

A vampire destroys the city with power. —Tramonta Garner (pictured above)

One virus. One town. No survivors. —Jaimee Bogard-LaMar, 14

One girl. Many monsters. What's next? —Jaimee Bogard-LaMar, 14

Big zombie eats eyeballs. City blind. —Elisha Branch, 14

One house. One family. Both gone. —Elisha Branch, 14

Knock, knock. Who's there? Killer mysterious. —Derranesha, 12

Baby cries. No answer. What happens? —Derranesha, 12

Ring, ring. "Hello." Please help me. —April, 12

The spooky monster ran towards me ... —Sonya, 17

The worm crawls into the brain. —Sierra

The slippery, slimy monster grabs two. —Quintoya Eskridge

Write a Job Description

2009-10-19T17:29:00.000-05:00

Each week in October, the Dream Keepers have been meeting to write scary stories! None of those are quite ready to post yet. Until then, I thought I'd give you all an assignment. (That's what writing teachers do!)

When we met tonight, I put up a list of potentially scary creatures on the board. I didn't pay attention to the other writing on the board. Then one of the young people pointed out that it looked like the Census Office had jobs available for zombies, ghosts, goblins, and other creatures. Now that would be some job description! I'd love to read it.

And I can—if you write it. That's your assignment. Imagine that you are writing a job description for one of the above openings at the census office. If you like what you come up with, send it to me at rochelle@writenowcoach.com. I will post the best descriptions I receive!

Happy writing!

Follow-up

Dream Keeper Elisha Branch put together a couple of wonderful job postings:

Jobs Available

Vampires Only!!!

Black cape and fangs required (not included).

$200 paid for every bucket of blood gathered.

Tryouts Friday October 30th.

Must attend tryouts.

Must have an approachable appearance.

2201 W. Havenwood Drive Haven, WI 12345

Monsters Needed!

Do you have a freaky-looking face?

Do you have eight eyeballs?

Do you have two or more tails?

If you can say yes to any of the above questions,

you are eligible for a job as a model.

Only the extremely scary are accepted.

Tramonta Garner wrote this description:

Vampires have a job to scare kids and grow-ups for their own good. Just like monsters do. Goblins scare people by a haunted house. And zombies come from the dead to scare kids that are walking to and from the store at night.

The Writing Tween and Teen

2009-09-01T15:51:00.000-05:00

When we commit ourselves to writing for some part of each day we are happier, more enlightened, alive, lighthearted, and generous to everyone else. Even our health improves. —Brenda Ueland

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. —Margaret Mead.

Writing saved my childhood. I was a skinny girl who didn't fit in. Writing gave me power and purpose. Now that I'm an adult writing books, I know that writing has the power to transform not only our lives but our communities and the world.
Stop by on Monday afternoons this fall and claim your own writing power!
See you soon!
Rochelle

I Write To Change

2009-06-15T14:00:00.000-05:00

Last week I was delighted to attend the graduation of Dream Keeper Elisha Branch from the Academy of Learning and Leadership Middle School in Milwaukee. In the above photo, Elisha is giving her Salutatorian Address. I am so proud of her. Read on for Elisha's latest poem and writings from some of the other Dream Keepers. Our theme for the day was, "I Write to Change."

I Write To Change

by Elisha Branch

I write to change the lives of others,

I write to influence my sisters and brothers.

I write to change for the sake of us,

I write because I want and because I must.

I write to say, let's make this a great day.

I write because I have a lot to say.

I write to day and preach my word.

I write because I have a voice that needs to be heard.

I write to protect equalness.

I write to fight for what is just.

I write to protect justice and peace.

I write to protect—to keep your mind at ease.

I Write to Say

by Natalie Branch

What is this world coming to

I feel nothing but anger when I turn on the news—

Murders, robberies, and child abuse.

And not much good is coming from our youth.

Yeah, sometimes they show the thing we do that's a little right.

But followed right behind is a story about someone killed last night.

I can't take much more of this violence—

raising children in a world like this doesn't make sense.

I want my son's life to be worthwhile.

I don't want him growing up with false idols.

Rapper, gang banger, or a basketball player—

None of those things sound good on or off paper.

I want him to know that you have to work hard for a brighter future—

A big house and riches aren't just going to be handed to you.

These are valuable lessons to learn.

Not just for him but for everyone.

So for all of God's children both young and old—

Work hard to brighten your future and help save our world.

One of our Dream Keepers, a ten-year-old girl, lost her baby cousin to SIDs. After she told me about his death, I asked her to write about it. These are her words about what happened.

We Miss You!

by Trayvece

Meekel. A two-month old baby. Dead.

Meekel died a day after a wedding.

On a Sunday morning at 9:15.

Little Meekel found dead on his stomach,

His face got smothered on the bed.

His mom woke up

because she thought her niece and nephews were making noise,

so she could tell them to stop before they woke him up.

But it was the angels giving the baby a party.

His face was purple and red.

His mom put her ear to his mouth and no breathing was heard.

She put her ear to his heart. Nothing.

She started to tap him so he cold wake up. Nothing.

We Miss You!

I Like Monkeys

by Ashawn, age 7

I am going to the zoo

to visit monkeys.

Monkeys climb trees.

They eat bananas.

They say, "Ooh-ooh. Ahh-ahh."

When I see my monkey,

I will be happy.

Then I will go see more monkeys.

Spring Dream Keeping

2009-06-01T10:51:00.000-05:00

The Dream Keepers have had a busy spring. The high school Dream Keepers continue to work on advanced writing projects. Jacque Troy of the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre visited us and presented a four-session playwriting workshop. At least two of the high school students finished plays and submitted them to Milwaukee Chamber Theatre One-Act Playwriting Festival. This is quite an achievement!

The younger Dream Keepers group continues to grow. We attract a wide group of children each week—especially boys—who are interested in writing. Here are a few of the pieces the young people have created in the past two months.

I AM

by Robert

I am black and I'm proud.

I don't care what I am

Long as God's kind work together.

To be continued ...

ALL I WANT

by Trayvece

All I want is a dad who will

be there for me. Who would love me.

Who wouldn't forget my birthday.

And ask me is it a bad hair day.

Who would call me his little angel

sent from above and

tuck me into bed.

That's all I want.

I AM

by Kenneth

I am a tall giraffe walking the street.

I am a drum hitting to the beat.

When I'm tired, I go to sleep;

I hear the birds go tweet, tweet, tweet.

Summer is like ...

by Ashley, age 9

Summer is like a big ball of fun.

Sleep is a peace.

The moon is like a big night light.

Night is magic.

Day is drowsy.

Water is like a fountain of joy.

Time is priceless; you can't get enough.

Summer is like ...

by Kyle

Summer is like fire.

Sleep is like a break.

Time is like a slide when you can't stop.

Summer is ...

by Xavier

Summer is love. Spring

brings emotion. The heart

beats back and forth to the

sounds of hummingbirds

in the summer heat.

Urban Haiku

by Faith, age 9

Fight at school

Two boys punching each other

In the face. Big bump.

March Madness

2009-03-05T11:15:00.000-06:00

On Monday, the Dream Keepers had their own version of March Madness. The young people experienced difficulty concentrating. Still, in the midst of the giggles, a few words were set to paper. Enjoy!

Our newest Dream Keeper writer an I AM poem to introduce herself to you.

I AM

by Sydney Byrd

I am light skin

5'9

happy

forgive-ful.

I am aware

delighted

passionate

proud.

I am a writer

a basketball player

a friend

a daughter.

I am Sydney Byrd.

Dream Keeper Ruthie Matthew wrote about going to see the musical CATS with her family and friends.

CATS!
by Ruthie Matthews, II

Lights appear on stage
As the dancers all appear
The crowd is restless

The music begins
And the first act is in play
The cats prance around

The various cats
Tell us about the main cats
Such as Barnabee.

Once we know the cats
The intermission begins
After the first act.

Fifteen minutes past
Everyone sits down at last
And the lights go out.

The cats come onstage
And the second act begins
As everyone claps.

After every song
The crowd offers up applause
Thanking the actors.

The second act ends
Ending the musical
Everyone liked it.

I grab all my things
And left with all of my friends
We were satisfied.

CATS was amazing
And the performance was nice
We all enjoyed it.

We went to my house
And we drank tea and coffee
Before they went home.

Writing With Pictures

2009-03-01T12:40:00.000-06:00

Last Monday, the Dream Keepers were delighted to welcome guest speaker Keri Gerlach, Director of Marketing at Clement Manor, Inc. in Milwaukee. Keri is both a photographer and a writer. She brought beautiful framed photos and invited the young people to use them for inspiration. What fun we had!

The first group of writings comes from a photo of a tree's gnarled roots in spring, just before the earth has come back to life.

Around The Tree

by Lamar Hobson

I walk around a tree like three

times. It looks like darkness and

big as this tree is, I think if I touch him,

he going to eat me.

Everyone Has Roots

by Olivia Bell

Some people are like leaves, unstable, always moving with the wind. The season changes, they wither and die. They take and give shade under the harshness of the sun, but rarely do they stay all year long. In your time of need, the wind has taken them, and they will not return upon your calling.

Others are like branches on a tree. Little do they move with the wind or rain, but if you need a place to rest your head, they may break under your weight, and leave you hanging high and dry.

Some, very few, are the roots that help that tree live. When you find some roots, hold onto them. When the wind blows, they'll help anchor you to the ground. Don't let go.

Beneath the Big Tree

by Elisha Branch

Beneath the big tree is where I like to be

Where I hide and no one can see.

Beneath the big tree is where I run and flee

to be alone with no one just me.

I go to the tree and be and I don't know, sometimes I'll sleep

Beneath the big tree is just like me

I can tell it anything and my secrets will keep.

I go to the tree to think about what I could be

and look at myself and see what no one else sees

There is not place like the big tree

I can't go anywhere else because anywhere else doesn't want me.

One day I decided to leave the big tree

And I saw boys and girls and they were all unhappy.

There was no protection and the world scared me

And just as she told me, I ran back to be with my friend beneath the big tree.

Roots

by Natalie Branch

As I gazed at the picture of this miraculous tree's roots, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. This simple picture contained such detail without so much as making a sound. I remember thinking as I gazed at this picture, that roots are the foundation of life. Everyone wants to know where their genetic makeup comes from, and it all comes from their roots. No one comes about as they wish, for we all have an ancestor to blame or to thank for your traits. It's because of our roots that we have the blue eyes that we love or the hairy backs that we hate. But if it wasn't for roots we wouldn't be here today. From your roots you have grown into a full grown tree. Life comes from the roots through the tree right to the new leaves. Your roots go on forever, and not many know how far. Just live your life the best you can and pass your old and new roots to the next born star.

The next two pieces of writing were inspired by a picture of an island near Door County, Wisconsin. The island looked dark and gloomy under a heavily clouded sky.

Mystery Island

by Ashley Kinnard

It was a stormy night on mystery island. No one knew what it was really called because the myths said, "If anyone tried to find out the real name, they would be cursed forever. Also, their family members would be cursed." So this is why no one comes to mystery island.. But I am on mystery island because it is a good vacation area—not many people. Also, there is another myth that Black Beard left three wishes in his treasure chest of with all sorts of goods. So I have dug for two years. I hope Black Beard's ghost gives me the wishes. Finally, I hit something in the ground! A treasure chest! I am the luckiest girl in the world!

The Storm

by Kenneth W.

When I first saw the picture, it shocked me. Look how the clouds are and how dark they are. It's like it changes color. It seems a storm is coming. A big rain storm is coming. When the clouds get like that it means that something is going to happen. It might rain or snow or you might have a tornado. I wouldn't want to be there in it, because I don't want anything to happen to me.

Learning Together

2009-02-08T18:38:00.000-06:00

Tonight we had a small group of Dream Keepers writing and connecting. The younger students wrote acrostic poems. The high school students used headlines from popular magazines to write poems. Natalie took a headline about Jessica Simpson to write her poem, She's Proud of Her Body. Before our hour was over, the High School students were delighted by a surprise visitor—Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor. State Senator Taylor encouraged the young people to work hard and send her their poems!

Both groups of students made it their mission to teach me about words and music. No matter which way you slice it, there's a lot of learning going on at Dream Keepers! If you know any young people who might be interested in writing, please send them to Atkinson Library on Monday nights.

Enjoy the poems,

Rochelle

She's Proud of Her Body

by Natalie Branch

She was used to society controlling her image.

They didn't care what she wanted or how she was feeling.

They knew what the buyers wanted to see.

They didn't know where the frustration would lead.

They did what they thought was best for her.

And so did she—by creating the new and improved her.

She's slightly larger and isn't the same.

Eye candy, but she couldn't be more fine and dandy.

She loves herself and isn't intimidated by anybody,

She is truly proud of her body.

Birthday

by Ashley

Birthday

Reputation

Ice Cream

Too much

Honey Cakes

Ding Dongs

Ashley

Too Sweet

Pinata

All the sweets in the world

Raining Sweets

Too Loud

Yes! My present!

Pig Pen

by Lamar

P The pig is too fat.

I I know they eat a lot.

G Gate gets crushed

P When Pigs fight each other

E Earthqquake

No food, no home, no pig pen.

Visions and Dreams

2009-01-19T14:32:00.000-06:00

The Dream Keepers has been on break since mid-December. We come back together on Monday to write and vision our next year of writing together. I'll be sure to let you know what we come up with! Until then, I wanted to share with you some of the poems and essays the Dream Keepers wrote in December. This work was written in response to essays we read in The Freedom Writers Diary. As you read the poems and essays, remember that most of these are not personal declarations but creative works. The students are using their imagination to create characters and situations. But we start with an essay from one of the students about our new president, Barack Obama.

Our President

by Gregory Byrd

Wow, finally a black president. I really do hope Mr. Obama makes a change in the society. The economy really needs work. I know that's President Obama's first job. I really worry people won't even listen to President Obama. I mean, like, the important stuff he is saying. Some people won't do their part. They did half by voting but it is not done yet.

Global warming—that's also a big priority. You have to protect the earth.

Violence. It is so sad—how people have no conscience. They do anything that comes to mind. The violence in American needs to go down. Also, in other countries.

Drugs, I don't understand why there are drugs in America. If I was president, I would do something to make sure that no drugs get smuggled into America.

I was listening to some music that really made me stop and think. The person said and I quote, "What the fu** would you bring my neighbor to jail, because the reason he live next door to me, ain't the reason why I live next door to him." That really made me stop and think. The topic he was talking about was drugs. He was talking about the jails are filled with drug dealers, but the streets are filled with sex offenders, rapists, serial killers, etc. He also said, "Meaning, he didn't rap his way to get to my neighborhood. He sold crack cocaine to get to my neighborhood. You move him out, bring him to jail for life. Then you move in a sex offenders and give me one of those papers." I really hope the President can fix that. Because we don't need rapists and people like that on streets where there are little children walking around. I don't get it, when they put a sex offender back on the street. That makes me really mad.

Get Your Life Together

by Deanna Branch

You lie

You steal

And then you pass judgment on me.

Get your life together!

You make my mom cry

You make her stress

And then you hell her your "what's best."

Get your life together.

You drink

You cuss

You start arguments and fights

And then you try to make it right.

Get your life together!

You got a fake GED

You didn't go to college

So please stop tryin' to spit knowledge

Get your life together!

My mom says she loves you

You say you love her

So if you want to make it work

You have to

Get your life together!

The Hood

by Aliza Mendoza

We have different ways

to show who we are.

Tattoos, clothes, colors

even the glock I got strapped.

If you want respect

you got to go get it.

If one of us is in trouble

then it's all of us on the line.

We protect our own.

From injustice that people push on us.

You hear our sorrow

on the streets.

The screaming and crying.

We can't escape it,

even if we try.

They tell us to deal with

this pain.

And we do

By protecting our own.

School won't help you.

It only slows you down.

Gotta make those stacks

to feed momma's kids.

We are remembered

When we protect our own.

As I run

I can hear my heart beat

"I can't get caught."

Can't risk losing time.

I spin around

and squeezed my finger

on that cold 9 mm

Being in the game

It didn't phase me.

One cop went down,

seeing his blood

paint the cement.

I ain't no killer.

Just tryin'

to protect my own.

You're Good If ...

by Elisha Branch

You're good if you're straight and

you're bad if you're gay.