Thursday, October 20, 2011

Trust Your Instincts to Fly: Family Writing Day, Christakis











Christakis happens to be my favorite restaurant here in Orange County, yes. They happen to serve the most delicious and authentic Greek food, yes. And, the owners happen to be some of the loveliest people I know, yes (but not just because they're Greek, no.)

Well, in August, Christakis became something even more to me. A Family Writing Experience.

As a pretty large group, we settled around the angel (fountain) in the charming patio. Sure, it was a SoCal heatwave --but thanks to Sarah Wallace, one of the generous owners, we had lemonade (fresh,) strawberries, and hummus and veggies. To top it off, we had a community of writers--7 years old to...let's just say-- the age of wisdom. Together, we were ready to write, share, learn, and take risks.

We dove into the writer's toolbox, discussing powerful verbs, sensory details and how to show not tell. Brainstorming. Sharing. Creating. After a sense memory activity, the group got busy and wrote--and what arose was something beautiful. Rich, textured experiences, read proudly, under the sunshine, with our muse standing guard at the door.

It was a magic that I hope lasted well beyond our three hours together.

I am proud of this community of writers. Willing to leap off the cliff and trust their instincts to fly.
Courage, passion, and perseverance.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Emergency, Escape, by Mallory, Gr. 7


"Emergency"

It's a dull, dismal
pounding in the back if my skull.
How it came about
does not matter, only
how to get it out.



"Escape"

I sit
here. My back
cramping,
from the
position I
am in.
Living their
lives, at their
sides.
But a book,
isn't an
escape route.
It's only
a
dream.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Strawberries, a poem

STRAWBERRIES

Strawberries

Strawberries

Scatter in fields, stuffed in baskets, in my bowl

Strawberries

Strawberries

Thick and ripe, twin to a heart and rose

Tiny as a button, big like plums

Strawberries

Strawberries

Yum, yum, yum. O’h yum say the slithering slugs and snails

Sweet as sugar in my mouth or tasty lemon limes

Wrinkled noses from the spring smell

Strawberries

Strawberries

Oh I love strawberries

Saturday, March 12, 2011

I'm Going to a Place


I’m going to a place


Where I choose my path


Where the road to success or failure lies in my hands


I’m going to a place where life is dull and gray


Where sugar tastes bland


And everyone who cares for me


Will turn their backs on me


I’m going to a place where I’ve become nothing


Where my future has crumbled


Where the clouds of doubt and hopelessness follow me around



I’m going to a place


Where life is at its best


Where sweet sugar flows in abundance


Everyone I love surrounds me with care


Where life will have trials with rewards


I’m going to a place


Where my whole future is set in front of me


Doubt does not exist in a mind ready for success


Where failure is never an option


I may not know what my future has in store


But only I decide what my next move is


I’m going to a place


Where I choose my path