Greetings Dream Keepers' Fans! It's been awhile since I've posted the girls' writing. Well the hiatus is over!
A little over a month ago, I read that our local independent bookstore, Schwartz Bookshops, was hosting a contest based on the new book, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. I bought the book, brought it to the Dream Keepers, and read a bunch of the memoirs to the group. The Dream Keepers were immediately captivated by the idea! Over the next two weeks, the Dream Keepers created several memoirs in the six-word style. I entered the Dream Keepers in Schwartz's Six-Word Memoir Contest--and they won!
Last night, I brought five of the Dream Keepers to Schwartz Bookstore on Downer for the store's six-word slam. They were all recognized and given an honorable mention (AND PRIZES!) for their writing. The Dream Keepers read their work to a good-sized crowd of community members. And, as a special treat, the Dream Keepers were interviewed by Wisconsin Public Radio. Click here to hear their cameo appearance.
And stay tuned! The Dream Keepers have been writing away. They've written their opinions on the recent news that Milwaukee's 8th-grade African American students have the lowest writing scores in the nation. Their writing work has also protested stereotypical beauty images of teens and women. I'll post these writings soon.
For those of you who couldn't be present, here are their memoirs.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Deanna Branch
Look at me! Rude to stare.
Love is a pill; no cure.
Mad, angry, disgusted, couldn’t be trusted.
Fidelity is forgotten. Chivalry is dead.
Dead man walks on green mile.
Promises are kept. Mine are forgotten.
Why I cry? I know why.
Danger—educated black child. Wrong turn.
Love is lust, right feels wrong.
Trust is a flower. It wilts.
Be honest. Why do you lie?
Six-Word Memoirs
by Natalie Branch
A teenage non-mother with baby.
Some helpless baby hated, now loved.
A baby girl unwanted, never accepted.
Middle child, never seen—nor heard.
Happy, sad, fearful, glad—very confused.
First laugh, then cheer, now fear.
First walk, then run, then jump.
Live to love, born to die.
Homeless women and children—all forgotten.
“A” student, wrong turn, highschool dropout.
Fear of death rules my life.
My child’s name is not Ziggy.
Once was born. Soon will die.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Elisha Branch
Got greedy. Got ____. Got. got.
Story of my life best untold.
I am struggling in the ghetto.
Was born, was gangsta, got shot.
Born to care for needy children.
Wanna be the best I can.
No ordinary life, no ordinary story.
Hustle and flow the hood code.
I did the best I could.
No one loves me but God.
Don’t hate me. Everybody loves me.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Maya Montgomery
My friends. My family. My life.
Sports, boys, my life. So what?
Life, death. Which one came first?
One fall, one laugh, one lonely girl.
Stand tall, stand proud, live life.
Wrong turn, right turn, got there.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Rachel Coney
Fell down. Got up. Got life.
Found love. Lost love. Died young.
Laugh uncontrollably. It clears the mind.
When two hearts race, both win.
First cavity. Painful. Ruins my life.
Walked, ran, flew, still no air.
Boisterous and yet still no friends.
Tried so hard and got nowhere.
Kicked off bus. Can’t get on.
B-5 spelling bee. Lost first round.
Big baby only gets much bigger.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Brittene Harden
I was lost, now I’m found.
I was old, now I’m new.
I can be naughty and nice.
My blood pumps just for you.
A little over a month ago, I read that our local independent bookstore, Schwartz Bookshops, was hosting a contest based on the new book, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. I bought the book, brought it to the Dream Keepers, and read a bunch of the memoirs to the group. The Dream Keepers were immediately captivated by the idea! Over the next two weeks, the Dream Keepers created several memoirs in the six-word style. I entered the Dream Keepers in Schwartz's Six-Word Memoir Contest--and they won!
Last night, I brought five of the Dream Keepers to Schwartz Bookstore on Downer for the store's six-word slam. They were all recognized and given an honorable mention (AND PRIZES!) for their writing. The Dream Keepers read their work to a good-sized crowd of community members. And, as a special treat, the Dream Keepers were interviewed by Wisconsin Public Radio. Click here to hear their cameo appearance.
And stay tuned! The Dream Keepers have been writing away. They've written their opinions on the recent news that Milwaukee's 8th-grade African American students have the lowest writing scores in the nation. Their writing work has also protested stereotypical beauty images of teens and women. I'll post these writings soon.
For those of you who couldn't be present, here are their memoirs.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Deanna Branch
Look at me! Rude to stare.
Love is a pill; no cure.
Mad, angry, disgusted, couldn’t be trusted.
Fidelity is forgotten. Chivalry is dead.
Dead man walks on green mile.
Promises are kept. Mine are forgotten.
Why I cry? I know why.
Danger—educated black child. Wrong turn.
Love is lust, right feels wrong.
Trust is a flower. It wilts.
Be honest. Why do you lie?
Six-Word Memoirs
by Natalie Branch
A teenage non-mother with baby.
Some helpless baby hated, now loved.
A baby girl unwanted, never accepted.
Middle child, never seen—nor heard.
Happy, sad, fearful, glad—very confused.
First laugh, then cheer, now fear.
First walk, then run, then jump.
Live to love, born to die.
Homeless women and children—all forgotten.
“A” student, wrong turn, highschool dropout.
Fear of death rules my life.
My child’s name is not Ziggy.
Once was born. Soon will die.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Elisha Branch
Got greedy. Got ____. Got. got.
Story of my life best untold.
I am struggling in the ghetto.
Was born, was gangsta, got shot.
Born to care for needy children.
Wanna be the best I can.
No ordinary life, no ordinary story.
Hustle and flow the hood code.
I did the best I could.
No one loves me but God.
Don’t hate me. Everybody loves me.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Maya Montgomery
My friends. My family. My life.
Sports, boys, my life. So what?
Life, death. Which one came first?
One fall, one laugh, one lonely girl.
Stand tall, stand proud, live life.
Wrong turn, right turn, got there.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Rachel Coney
Fell down. Got up. Got life.
Found love. Lost love. Died young.
Laugh uncontrollably. It clears the mind.
When two hearts race, both win.
First cavity. Painful. Ruins my life.
Walked, ran, flew, still no air.
Boisterous and yet still no friends.
Tried so hard and got nowhere.
Kicked off bus. Can’t get on.
B-5 spelling bee. Lost first round.
Big baby only gets much bigger.
Six-Word Memoirs
by Brittene Harden
I was lost, now I’m found.
I was old, now I’m new.
I can be naughty and nice.
My blood pumps just for you.
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