HARDWARE STALL by Jack, Misu, Timothy & Binh, age 9 & Angelina, age 8

Hardware Stall
By Jack, Misu, Timothy, Binh & Angelina 

Bottles jailed in plastic linger on the shelf, and tubes of glue dangle from the ceiling. 
Cans of spray paint roost in cabinets 
like sleeping canaries.
Behind the counter, 
the owner’s teeth 
sink into a chunk of apple.
Light pours onto her cheekbone,
eyes lock on the unknown.

Above her,
tape measures hang like 

spiders from silk.

Here is the same piece as a graphic poem with illustrations by the whole class!



PARADE OF LIGHT BY Cindy, Binh, Misu, Jack & Carmen, age 9 & Lily & Helen, age 10

Big Allaki Photo by Sergey Garifullin — National Geographic Your Shot
Chelyabinskay obl., Russia.

Parade of light

Fingers of green water grab a rock.
Swish!
A vine of amber light grazes the ground.
Stars
pop
in the sky like soda bubbles.
It’s as if
people
went to another planet,
leaving behind
a tree so lonely it thinks
its reflection is
a friend
reaching
for the specks
of light
above.

OFFICE By Misu, Binh, Jack, Tony, Nam & Timothy, age 9 & Angelina, age 8

Office
By Misu, Angelina, Binh, Jack, Tony, Nam & Timothy 

From a wire above, papers dangle.
Bandages flu
er onto the floor,
and the smell of blood and Purell leaps through the air. 

Scribbled letters dance across 
white boards
that reflect
florescent light
and sunshine
piercing through the window.
Ms. Peggy slides a drawer shut 

and paper clips 
clink and scatter across her desk.
Steam rises from a mug of co
ffee, and when 
that kid who breaks crayons 
knocks it over,
dark liquid puddles on the floor.
Ring ring ring.
Click click click.

In the corner,
balls gobble air.

WHEN YOU ASK HER WHERE SHE’S FROM By Misu, Binh, Jack & Ali, age 9 and Nhi & Daniel, age 10

Khi Tôi Hỏi Từ Đâu Em Đến
Bởi Nhóm Thơ Phòng 2 Redding


Khi tôi hỏi em
Từ đâu em đến
Em trã lời từ Tenderloin
Tôi nghĩ đến
Những bao giây kẹo
Mọc giong bông hoa
Nhô từ khẽ hỡ xi măng.
Những tíêng rào rạt của
Xe búyt 38 Geary cáng phẳng
Những chai nhựa dọc đừơng
Tịêm bánh mì Saigon gỉưa
Eddy và Larkin
Nơi đó khách hàng xếp hàng
Suot một góc đừơng
Và nơi đó những cọng ngò
Ló khỏi ổ bánh mì Baget
Như con rắn nhóc đầu

Giua khe đá.