Selected poems
Sky
Stars, a mystical thingTwinkle, twinkle they shineLike the eye of a mischievous childWith a secretLike the spitting flames of a camp fireIn the dead of nightLike the shine of water in late afternoonLike the jewels on the lady's neckYou saw striding down the street today Clouds, a miraculous objectMoving, blowingThey come togetherThey run away againLike a special game only clouds can playThey block out the blinding sunOn overcast daysAnd when not thereThey make the dayLook so glamorously clear of everythingYou are forced to stop and admire it We can all experience these thingsAll over the world. — Estela Pintos-Lopez (age 12)
I remember those green fields I remember those green fieldsThose vast and luscious plainsThose never-ending winding roadsThat loud and shattering rain. I remember those busy townsThose quiet empty streetsThose long and sandy beachesThose cities, so unique. I remember those crashing wavesThat fresh and chilling breezeThat crystal sparkling waterThose giant towering trees. Although it was nice to have this changeTo discover all things newTo see places unfamiliarMany different things to do I will always love my countryAlthough I loved those plains:My home, my town, my cityThere's nothing quite the same.
— Aiva Johnson (age 12)
I bite into a crispy golden croissant I bite into a crispy golden croissantPerched underneath the Eiffel TowerOn my chequered picnic blanketThe smell fills me with open fieldsAnd warm firesMy fingers slip on the buttery shell The cherry blossoms dapple the sunlightAround me,Creating playful shadow puppets,Controlled by Mother NatureThe cold sushi sends chills down my spineFresh and deliciousAnd one small sip of miso warms me upLike the sun on a winter's dayThese delicious foods caress my taste budsLike oriental silks. I scoop up curry with my dahlAnd breathe in the tingling aroma of spicesTickling my nose andBurning in my mouthDown my throatWarming my whole body. I start on a crunchy banh miWeaving in and out of the busy trafficThe traffic flows with me, trusting meI trust itIt leaves me to eat in peaceMy teeth crunch past the warm rollReaching the tender, soft porkMoving on to the perfectly cooked eggThe yolk exploding in my mouthFresh green lettuce tips the scalesAnd balances everything out. I pull the cheesy strings of my pizzaStretching them on for milesStarting at the tip and working my wayTo the crustWhile expressive conversationsAnd kegs of wine arePassed around the room. All around the world there are culturesAnd languages, trtaditions and dressAnd always good