Category: 2023-2024 Submissions

Soy de Austin y su calor de 115°F.
I am from Crenshaws and it’s smell of chalky, sweaty gymnasts.

Soy de la pizza de mi papá los domingos.
I am from drinking boba at the Crescent with my mom.

Soy de “Nunca para de leer.”
I am from libraries flooded with books.

Soy de mi perro que me lame la cara cuando estoy triste.
I am from my parents who love me with all their heart.

Soy de galletas adornadas con países y mapas.
I am from “In what universe.”

Soy de “Trata a otros como quieres ser tratado.”
I am from “Mistakes are only happy accidents.”

Soy de mi comunidad.
I am from my community.

I used to be happy at the beginning of the day But now I’m tired close to the end of the day. I used to be upset going into the seventh period but now that I’m here I’m better than ever. I used to be lonely with no friends at the start but now I have more friends than I have ever thought. I used to be tired not woke at all cause it was the end of the day and I was drowned in my sorrow. I used to not care about all this school work but now that they put the grade in, I have to dig my brain out of the grave.

Soy de, Honduras, de México, y de mi hogar…

Soy de, mi madre y de mi hermano…

Soy de, una suaves y deliciosas baleadas en el desayuno….

Soy de, “el que madruga dios le ayuda”…

Soy de, una familia que habla solo español…

Soy de ,“no hagas lo que no te gusta que te hagan”…

Soy de unos crujientes tacos flauta,-hechas a mano hondureña…

Soy de,“COMETE ESA COMIDA POR QUE NO ES VENENO!!”…

Soy de, una hermosa familia que me ama y me protege de cualquier cosa…

Soy de un delicioso y calientito caldo de pollo.

Soy de unos tíos amables que muy pronto me van a dar un hermoso perro llamado Roy .

Soy de las dos casas que yo vivo y Esquina Tango que estaba toda mi vida. And I am from all the public pools in Austin with my friends and my family from Argentina.

Soy de empanadas con carne para la noche y Flan y tres leches para postre y huevos para el desayuno. And tacos for the day and night at Veracruz.

I am from my friends and family, mi mamá Monica y mi papá Gustavo and one kind brother Beto y mi dragón barbudo Luna que está pequeña para poquito mas y mi perro Brownie que es muy amable y grande.

I am from my parents who say all these things: I love you y te amo mucho, tenga un buen dia en la escuela y buenas noche y te veo mañana en la escuela, te extraño mucho y levanta tu plato.

I am from 100° in the summer.
Soy de una casa a otra casa

I am from pepperoni pizza and movies on Friday night
Soy de deliciosos tacos todo el tiempo
I am from making homemade enchiladas with my friends and family.

I am from “where I go my pets go”
I am from tagging along to my brother’s 5:00 a.m. baseball games
I am from birthday parties at my neighborhood pool
Soy de mis vecinos, son mi familia

I am from camping at National Parks all the time
Soy de la piscina pública en el verano, y de los Patterson Piranhas
I am from college football games every chance I get
I am from my mom yelling my full name whenever I’m in big trouble
I am from two different families with two different lives

Soy de los árboles con nieve en Oregon y Washington.`
I’m from saying “Hook em’ horns” and “Go Ducks”.
Soy de mirar partidos de fútbol americano universitario escuchando a mi mamá gritar a los árbitros.

Soy de jugando en un barco arriba de Lake Travis.
Soy de nadando y riendo con mis amigos.
Soy de cantando y bailando.

I’m from “life isn’t fair” and “try your best and that will be enough”
Soy de Phở que puedo comer sin parar todo el dia.
Soy de los tacos de mi abuela que yo como día y noche.
Soy de los buñuelos durante el tiempo de Navidad.
Soy de AMOR

We ask,
Is it I, Lord?
Is it I?
and yet
No one is ever
So sure;
those with hearts
of gold,
bloodstained
have no fear.
of the metal…
detector.
We ask,
Is it I, Lord?
Is it I,
and I think:
It might be,
me?
With this world
come the rain
And the rust,
is my heart.
forever…
unclean?

A sunflower seed starts tiny and small
A sunflower seed can get mighty and tall
A sunflower seed collects emotions and power, love and integrity
A sunflower seed might look very puny,
but it’s because you can’t see all the things it’s collecting
A sunflower seed makes friends with the earth, the ground, and his leaves
A sunflower seed grows up to be brave and strong
A sunflower seed is no longer a seed
A sunflower is now a grown up plant that will withstand the storms
Always following the warm rays of the sun.

I used to… But now…

I used to wake surf,
But now I sit on the sidelines staring into the murky water.

I used to have no troubles,
But now I worry if I’ll make it to the next day.

I used to smile,
But now I force one.

I used to love school,
But now I worry if I’ll pass the standards.

I used to be happy,
But now responsibility is taking its toll.

THE POET: A POEM
by IPGH

The Poet
cannot write a work of art uninspired.
A forced poem
Is like a forced laugh.
Sad, stale, it’s sole purpose to please someone else.

Because a poem, first and foremost, is yours.

Because beneath all the fancy words,
The synonyms and the similes,
The metaphors and the mixed meanings

Beneath all the complexities the world calls a poem,

Lies a tiny masterpiece created in your heart of hearts

Lies a sacred being forged in the depths of your mind

Lives a little you, you in your rawest form:
A poem.