The newest CPITS anthology was published in September and is now
available from the CPITS website.
The first poem in the book, "Toss Me into the Leaves," is written by fourth grader Briceila Avila, from San Benito County, taught by Amanda Chiado (poet-teacher). Amanda has a poem of her own, "Our Parents' Crater." (Amanda is an honorary member of Santa Clara County, as she teaches in neighboring San Benito County and works often in SCC.)
Four poems by fifth graders from Santa Rita Elementary School in Los Altos were published this year, all taught by Jennifer Swanton Brown (poet-teacher). Jennifer had her poem, "Her Multiple Sweet Tongues" publishes as well.
- "California Scenery" by Sofia Mujica
- "Sadness" by Jade Daujean
- "Secret Places" by Cameryn Krauss
- "Energy" by Aidan Brenner
The anthology is beautiful and full of many engaging and moving poems by kids from all over the state. A great team of editors worked hard to sort through the many submissions. Two of the above mentioned poems from Santa Clara County are reproduced below, with stanza formatting corrected slightly from what appears in the book.
Secret Places
by Cameryn Krauss
My secret place
The lightning yells as it flickers on and off
as the trees sing in harmony, the wind is so
faint it is a whisper in the shadow
the clouds take me to the rainbow slide and it happens
all over again.
Our secret place
We jump over the sky and sleep on the clouds
it smells like sweet sugar cane and sounds like a
boom crack
we dance on the river and lay in the trees
we fly on a cloud and land on tomorrow.
Her secret place
First she walks into a hall and drops to the floor
she disappears into the dust and junk
she goes there and waits there and no one knows
where she goes, until she tells us it was grand
that's her secret place
no one knows where
The secret place of the world
The secret place of the world
is where you and me can hide
it is where there is
fear
lurking around every corner
this secret place no one can escape
it is the world of torture
it is the it is the land of fear
it is the it is the land which no one goes to
even if it's a dare
My secret place
Is where all my fans come to
greet me it is where my castle shines
like the sun
it is the best place in the world.
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Her
Multiple Sweet Tongues
by Jennifer Swanton Brown
there is enough
envy for both the present and the past even enough for the future enough envy
for gardens that will be more beautiful friends who will be more true for poems
that could always be better for poets always younger envy like worry expands to
fill all the space you set aside all the space you imagine dream and plan with
her trailing skirts envy obliterates the landscape with her song like a happy
child she lays claim to all your listening with her baroque table envy will
tempt you and feed you and each jewel-like morsel will taste buttery and spicy
the way hunger hides a rotten seed or rancid bone with her multiple sweet
tongues
walking in the neighborhood
counting her failures
poppies wave to her
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